Ryan Cockburn has been selected in the Aorangi Golf Men’s side for the upcoming Men’s South Island Interprovincial. Photo supplied.Four Mid Canterbury names feature in the recently selected Aorangi Golf men’s side who will shoot for mainland glory later this month and a chance to earn the right to compete for national success too.

Aorangi Golf announced an eight-strong team of players from across Mid and South Canterbury earlier this week, and local players featured strongly in the team to tackle the Men’s South Island Interprovincial tournament on October 17 and October 18 at St Clair Golf Course in Dunedin.

Aorangi finished third in the tournament last year and earned a place in the National Interprovincial tournament off the back of that.

No playing order has been determined for the side yet, but two local players who returned to the side last year after absences will be expected to feature highly.

Cameron Grant and Jeff Hewitt were both in the mix last year and performed with distinction across both tournaments, and their experience will be relied on when it comes to travelling to Dunedin in a fortnight.

Grant’s ability to play in any playing position is a big asset, while Hewitt has proven his worth on countless occasions at the higher levels.

The duo are joined by fellow locals Ryan Cockburn and also newcomer David Morrison, who has earned selection in the squad.

The side again features Timaru’s Daniel Perham, who last year notched up his 100th appearance for Aorangi.

The tournament is played in a matchplay format, and Aorangi will take on teams from Tasman, Southland, Otago and Canterbury over the course of the two days’ play.

Team:

Alex Kelliher (Pleasant Point)
Cameron Grant (Rakaia)
Daniel Perham (Timaru)
David Morrison (Ashburton)
Jeff Hewitt (Ashburton)
Marcus Tessier (Timaru)
Ryan Cockburn (Rakaia)
Tim Leonard (Timaru)

Unavailable:
Josh Smith (Ashburton)
Damian Rodgers (Timaru)

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 October 2020

The victorious Ashburton College 1st XI boys following their win over St Bede’s 2nd XI last Friday. Photo supplied.It may be a familiar tune, but a strong team culture delivers results.

This is what the Ashburton College 1st XI boys’ hockey team is pinpointing its success to after it completed an unbeaten title-winning run last week.

Another classy performance sealed the Canterbury Secondary School League (SSL Division 1 silverware on Friday as the team accounted for St Bede’s College 2nd XI 7-1 to record its 12th season win.

The team boasted a staggering goal differential after 13 games, scoring a total of 73 goals and conceding only 15 throughout the campaign.

Led by Jacob Gray, there were several vital contributions throughout the season, including Tim Harford who topped the goal scoring tally, and midfield linchpin Jed Cameron.

Gray said it was very special for the team.

“We’ve had a few challenging years in that competition,” he said.

“This year it was just great to go through unbeaten and see some of the younger boys really contribute as well.”

Gray said the team were able to build some camaraderie off the turf which significantly contributed to their positive results on it.

“It’s been something we’ve been lacking over the past few years.

“We’ve been really good at looking out for each other, just around school and that.”

The only time the side did not come away victorious was when they drew 2-2 with St Bede’s back in August – the same night as the AshColl senior ball when the side were missing seven frontline players.

Coach Tom Walkham echoed his skipper’s sentiments, adding that it was especially rewarding for the squad’s Year 13 pupils who missed out on tournament week this year.

“I think having the right team culture is what got them to this point.

“Everyone is included and they all look out for each other on the field and off it.

“It makes it easier to implement a game plan when everyone is on the same page.”

AshColl staked their credentials for promotion to the Canterbury premier grade in 2021 after a fearless performance against one of the hockey powerhouse schools last week.

Although the side made numerous inroads on attack, the team went down 3-1 to Timaru Boys’ High School’s 1st XI in a friendly last Wednesday, after the South Cantabrians put on a third quarter clinic.

Walkham said an elevation to the Connetics Secondary School Premier (SSP) division was worthy of consideration after the team was able to foot it with some well-resourced Christchurch schools.

“We do have seven strong boys leaving this year, but I think it’s worth a crack.

“These boys really do punch above their weight.

“We’ve won the tournament by an average of six goals a game; I think that’s pretty outstanding for an Ashburton team.”

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 1 October 2020

Russell Anstiss. Photo supplied.Obituary – William Russell Anstiss, July 4 1938 – September 6 2020.

With the death of Russell Anstiss, the Ashburton District lost one of its greatest advocates and keenest supporters.

Russell, who died earlier this month, was a man who was driven to improve his community and who put his energy behind causes, events and projects that would benefit the place he loved and called home.

He was a founder of the Paper Plus franchise, proud promoter of local retail, stalwart of the Ashburton Hearing Association, founder of Ashburton’s Boulevard Day, a Paul Harris Rotary Fellow, Ashburton Borough Councillor and member of countless community and sporting organisations, but it was as the driving force behind the Ashburton Trust Event Centre’s fundraising team that many will remember Russell best.

If it hadn’t been for the Government’s manpower scheme during World War Two, Russell’s energies may well have benefited another community.

His father, Eric, was manpowered from Waimate to the Ashburton Woollen Mills and that meant the Anstiss family, wife Dorrie and children Graeme, Russell and Maureen, was on the move to Hampstead’s Nelson Street.

Eight years later Eric and Dorrie’s fourth child Marilyn was born and Russell became her proud protector.

As a child Russell was small in stature, but big in volume and presence.

He refused to accept that something couldn’t be done and showed early signs of entrepreneurship, qualities that were to stand him in good stead in the future.

He attended Hampstead School and Ashburton High School.

His first job was in the office of W. H. Collins and Co, but he had his eyes on bigger things.

He was a regular shopper at Pickfords Bookshop and from his early teenage years had made no secret of his desire to buy the shop in the future.

That perseverance paid off, and in 1964 the owner knocked on the door and asked if he was still interested.

He was, and with financial support from his parents-in-law, Foster and Madge Magson, he and first wife Rae found themselves proud owners of a bookshop on Ashburton’s East Street.

At 26, Russell had achieved his first goal and had taken the first steps on a path that would see the establishment of the now nation-wide retail chain Paper Plus. His retail holding in Ashburton grew from the original small store to include the BNZ next door which he demolished to clear the way for the current Paper Plus store.

And over those years his family also grew to include children Suzanne, Tracey and Philip.

In 1983 Russell and four other booksellers decided to establish an independent stationers’ group, originally calling this Nationwide Stationers. The name was changed to Paper Plus in 1990 and by this time there were about 90 stores operating under the brand.

At the same time as he was establishing the national retail chain, Russell became a strong advocate for Ashburton’s retailers, acting as their spokesperson.

He was a strong advocate of keeping retail strength in the town centre rather than it spreading into satellite areas based around big box retail.

During this time he decided the district needed something special to give retail a boost.

He came up with the idea of a market style street day, and Boulevard Day was born. It has now been running for almost 50 years.

In 1974 Russell stood for and won a seat around the Ashburton Borough Council meeting table.

He was successful again at the 1977 local body elections and served six years as a borough councillor. He was delighted to top the poll at his first election.

Ever keen to see his community progress, in 1993 Russell agreed to be part of the Ashburton Performing Arts Centre Theatre Trust, a group established to raise money for a new performing arts centre in Ashburton.

That was to become a huge commitment that would run until the Ashburton Trust Event Centre opened in May 2008.

The suggested six 30-minute meetings per year turned out to be a 15 year major commitment of time and energy that Russell was willing to give.

While retirement was not a word that sat easily with Russell, he decided to step back from his business in the early 2000s and focus more of his time on community activities and his beloved greens at the Ashburton Bowling Club.

He also gave many hours and on-going support to the Ashburton Hearing Association of which he was a life member and president for 20 years.

In 2010 Russell was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for community service.

His family describe him as a man who never did things by halves, who always believed that 95 per cent of your worries will never come to fruition, and who was always positive and enthusiastic and whose passion for life remained strong until his death.

Russell is survived by his wife Olive, his three children and seven grandchildren.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 26 September 2020