History of sport in the Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy celebrated its sporting successes over four decades recently with a gathering of Navy sports champions and service personnel at the Ngataringa Sports Complex in Devonport, coinciding with the launch of the book Sailors Against the Odds — Memoirs of New Zealand Navy Sport 1941-1980 by former Navy servicemen Jack Donnelly and Graeme Pearce.
Many celebrated athletes who feature in the book’s stories and photographs were there, while the authors and guest speakers, including former All Black captain Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford, shared stories about the rich history of sport in the Navy.
They also spoke of how sport, competition and fitness laid the foundation for much of the Navy’s work, particularly when serving overseas.
Stories were told about how the Navy, through its physical training programme, had supported and encouraged many athletes to national and international success and accomplishment, along with recollections of its long, proud history in international defence forces competitions, organised during overseas deployments, a rich source of memories and stories of sporting prowess and triumph, and a celebration of the Navy’s values of courage, commitment and comradeship.
Two young Northland men were also acknowledged for their accomplishments in sport within the NZ Navy as recent recruits. Euan Sapwell, 18-yearold grandson of Pam and the late John (JC) Payne, originally from Whangarei but latterly of Cable bay, received the LPTI (leading physical training instructor) Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford MBE Award for physical training excellence from Mr Shelford, who served in the Navy for more than 10 years.
Oziah Duff-Feu’u was awarded the Donnelly/BEM Top Gun Trophy for accuracy on the shooting range during basic common training. He received his trophy from Mr Donnelly, a previous winner and of the Top Gun award.
Both young men attended Whangarei Boys’ High School prior to joining the Navy, and graduated from basic common training in December. Both continue to be involved in sport, and are pursuing their naval careers at Devonport Naval Base, Mr Sapwell in electronics and Mr Duff-Feu’u as a chef. Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc. is looking for the Ultimate Steak Connoisseur to help determine New Zealand’s tastiest steak.
The chosen person will form part of the judging panel at the 2018 PGG Wrightson Steak of Origin grand final at Mystery Creek on Wednesday June 13.
Candidates are asked to send 50 words (or a one-minute-max video) explaining why they are New Zealand’s Ultimate Steak Connoisseur, and describe how they like their steak cooked to imogen@beeflambnz.co.nz; go to www.recipes.co.nz by 5pm on May 4.
Further details are on the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Facebook page.
Head judge Graham Hawkes, owner and executive chef of the Paddington Arms in Invercargill and president of the New Zealand Chefs’ Association, said the PGG Wrightson Steak of Origin competition was the pinnacle for any beef producer, the Oscars for steaks, which set the benchmark for quality produce, helping guide chefs on where to obtain ingredients.
“The committee feels that a good quality steak is as Kiwi as cricket on the beach at Christmas, so we want to comb the nation to find New Zealand’s Ultimate Steak Connoisseur. We do not expect the candidate to be a chef, or come from a culinary background — we simply want to see passion for tender, succulent steak.
“The successful candidate will be someone whose application stands out from the herd. Kiwi steaks are no ordinary steaks, so we don’t want an ordinary judge.”
The winner will be expected to judge steaks on aroma, taste/ flavour, tenderness, juiciness and texture, alongside some of New Zealand’s top chefs.
They won’t be paid, and will have to make their own way to Mystery Creek, although ‘reasonable’ expenses will be covered. Applicants must be New Zealand residents and at least 18.