Family dodgeball rivalry a special force on world stage
When Simon Harrison gets on a dodgeball court with his two teenage daughters, there’s no letting off the steam. Balls are flying, bodies are bending, and the trio have targets on their backs.
But that’s how the eldest, Sophie, prefers it. She’s often the outlier when younger sibling Molly and their dad team up against her, bringing a special satisfaction when she “gets them out”.
“Everyone always lets us go for each other,” Molly added.
It’s a blood rivalry unmatched in the social Christchurch dodgeball scene, but one that bonds a special force when the trio team up competitively for the mixed Canterbury Vikings team. “I’ve played in America, Mexico, and a few other countries for New Zealand, but nothing beats that feeling of walking on [the court] with them,” Simon said.
The Canterbury side is competing at the API (Asia Pacific Invitational) dodgeball event in Sydney in October.
“There’s not many sports out there that me, a 45-year-old, can play with my 14 and 16-year-old daughters on an international stage and it’s still competitive.”
Simon has played for 15-odd years both locally and internationally. Sophie, 16, and Molly, 14, began playing socially two years ago. The pair’s natural flare quickly shined through – Sophie’s strong arm and Molly’s agile at jumping up and down. They were outplaying players almost twice their age, Simon said.
The Cashmere High School students love the travel the sport has allowed them.
Simon founded the international API event a decade ago when his appetite for competitive dodgeball wasn’t met elsewhere. The word spread and the competition has “grown and grown” since it began in Wellington with just 15 teams in 2014.
The girls are pushing to make the New Zealand women’s team for the next federated world championship in Asia in 2026. This year’s worlds in Austria in August would have been a nice challenge to work towards, but the “bank of dad” can’t fund both.
The group hoped to host future world dodgeball events at the long-awaited new central Christchurch sports facility, Parakiore, which would also lift the sport’s profile, Simon said.