Sport in brief ...

A win for Finn: Marlborough mountain biker Finn Mckenzie is a national champion after claiming the national under-17 boys cross country title at the Crocodile Mountain Bike Park in Christchurch over the weekend. Fellow Marborough Boys’ College rider Cam Anderson completed an impressive podium taking second place after a tight battle with Finn, particularly in the first two laps. The local club also enjoyed more top 10 finishes from the following: Ian Thomas (Masters 3) 5th; Maddy Sinclair (Girls U17) 6th; Lachlan McNabb (Boys U17) 6th and Al Soper (Masters 3) 7th.
In the downhill, staged on Sunday, Toby McKendry finished 10th in the male sport category, Nate Washer came 17th in the under-19 male category, Lachlan McNabb was 28th in the under-17 male section while Maddy Sinclair finished 9th in the under-17 female group.  

Women cricketers up and running: The Marlborough women's cricket rep team finally got their season started when they played a friendly match against the Sydenham Premier Women's side on February 19. Highlights included Courtney Bowen taking the first Marlborough wicket, a caught and bowled in the second over, plus the batting of Anna Booker, who top scoring for the side with 35, including five fours, in their first innings. There was also some stellar fielding from Joanne Farrell, a keen advocate for women's cricket. The next women's rep clash is on Sunday, March 6, when they travel to Nelson to take on the home side in a 40-over match.

Scores: Marlborough 111-5 (Anna Booker 35, Carly Englefield 21) Sydenham 147-3 (Eden Pettigrew 2-10 from 3 overs) Marlborough 62 all out (Eden Pettigrew 21) Sydenham 32-1.

Rowers get NZ nod: Wairau rowers Kobe Miller, Reuben Cook and Logan Docherty have been named in the New Zealand under-23 team after a series of trials. Fellow Wairau athletes Kyla Otway, Brooke Pitchford and Edward Lopas also attended the trials. Meg Flanagan, Pitchford, Otway, Lopas and Fred Vavasour will attend the NZ under-21 trials in April.

Cricketers in action: Many of the province’s leading cricketers took part in a match at Horton Park on Sunday, designed to give players more match time ahead of future fixtures. Kirk Nicholas (34), Sam Boyce (27), Tarin Mason (32) and 35 from Finn Hawtin saw the Roberts XI reach 160-8 from 40 overs. Nick Weaver, with 4-30 and Josh Alexander, 2-16, were the most successful bowlers. In reply, the Stretch XI scored 164-6, rep coach Jarrod Englefield scoring 49 and fellow opener Luke Pannell 48. Corey Bovey’s unbeaten 23 helped cement the victory. Jethro Moran, 3-18 and Griffin Carter, 2-47, led the bowing figures.

Saints back in action: The Marlborough-based Saints softball team resumed their top of the south competition on February 19 with two clear-cut wins against Nelson opposition. They travelled over the hill and accounted for Pirates 15-0, then Titans 12-2. Saints had a bye last weekend before heading back to Nelson, followed by a Blenheim double-header.

College crews shine: Marlborough Boys’ College rowing crews claimed 11 medals at the South Island junior regatta, staged at Twizel last weekend. All the MBC crews reached A finals, bringing home three gold medals, three silver and five bronze. Overall, 33 three clubs competed, comprising 947 competitors.

Gold medal-winning crews: Under-18 coxed quad: Dylan Locke, Zac Jenkins, Hugh Straker, Leon Poswillo, Walter Wickham (cox). Under-18 single: Ashley James Fitzgerald. Under-18 novice coxed quad: Luke Martella, Thomas Pitts, Louis Girling, Oliver Watts, Tyran Carter (cox).

Silver medalists: under-18 novice double: Luke Martella, Thomas Pitts. Under-15 eight eight: Hamish Lindstrom, Jock Flanagan, Brodie Materoa, Te Ariki Hook, Harry Wilkin, Lorenzo Muir, Logan Flight, Blake Campbell, Jack Shaw (cox). Under-17 coxless pair: Hugh Straker, Zac Jenkins.

Bronze medalists: Under-15 coxed octuple sculls: Hamish Lindstrom, Jock Flanagan, Louis Girling, Ben Musgrove, Oliver Wakelin, Brodie Materoa, Fergus Campbell, Aston Underwood, Jack Shaw (cox). Under-15 coxed quad: Hamish Lindstrom, Jock Flanagan, Louis Girling, Ben Musgrove, Jack Shaw (cox). Under-18 novice coxed four: Luke Martella, Thomas Pitts, Tom Wilkin, Oliver Watts, Walter Wickham (cox). Under-18 double sculls: Dylan Locke, Leon Poswillo. Under-18 coxed eight: Dylan Locke, Zac Jenkins, Hugh Straker, Leon Poswillo, Jack Stevens, Hunter Nelson, Shane Henry, George Lindstrom, Walter Wickham (cox).

Marlborough Girls' College crews, under the Wairau banner, also bagged a collection of medals, six in all.

Gold medalists: Girls under-15 coxed four: Grace Straker, Mila van Reusberg, Jessica Brown-Shi, Sophie Saggers and Molly Wilkes. Girls under-17 pair: Lexi Timpson and Emma Flanagan.

Silver medalists: Girls under-16 coxed four: Jess Benet, Ella Barnes, Lilah Stallard, Hazel Glover and Olive Paterson. Girls under-17 pair: Molly Glover and Daisy Vavasour.

Bronze medalists: Under-17 coxed four: Daisy Vavasour, Lexi Timpson, Emma Flanagan, Molly Glover and Elizabeth Bowron. Girls under-15 eight: Grace Straker, Mila van Reusberg, Jessica Brown-Shi, Sophie Saggers, Izzy Brick, Stella Cornelius, Eliza Glover, Bella Rayner and Molly Wilkes.

Ella, Kobe chosen: Marlborough tennis players Ella Sowman and Kobe Hart have been named as part of the Canterbury representative team to take part in the National Teams Event 2022.