Soggy spring puts dampener on sports
Summer sports may be getting ahead of themselves by planning to start in spring.
While they usually start about now, the grounds are still saturated from the recent wet weather and will need to dry out so they can be prepared for summer sport.
Softball was meant to start last weekend, but was called off because it was too wet and Colquhoun Park still needs to be prepared. Club cricket is meant to start this weekend, but that may be slightly ambitious given the soggy state of Ongley and Manawaroa Parks.
Swapping jobs
The Manawatu¯ Standard’s speedway photographer Brendon Learmonth is swapping one side of the camera for the other.
For the past six years, Learmonth has spent most of his Saturday nights on the infield at Palmerston North Speedway snapping pics for the Standard during the summer months, but he is giving that up to become a full-time driver.
Learmonth bought the former 1NZ Asher Rees stockcar, which he has called Nugget.
Cycling break
Veteran Manawatu¯ cycling coach Mike Mcredmond is enjoying recharging his batteries.
Mcredmond has been involved with coaching at Palmerston North Boys’ High School for about 18 years, but took a step back this year.
Mcredmond, a former Commonwealth Games track cyclist, has been involved in a golden era of Manawatu¯ cycling, so has earned a break.
Enemy buckethead
One Northland rugby supporter committed a horrible sin when his side played the Manawatu¯ Turbos at the Arena last week.
The Taniwha supporter turned up wearing a blue bucket, rather than the customary green Turbos’ supporter lid. He then wore the offending bucket into the Manawatu¯ Rugby Supporters’ Club.
He was called out for his sacrilegious behaviour and presented with a green bucket, which he has to wear for the rest of the season.
He was a good sport and promptly put the green bucket on top of the blue one.