Veronica Wall and Mollie Gibson. Photo supplied.Ashburton rowers, Mollie Gibson and Veronica Wall have gained national recognition by being named in the Rowing NZ Junior side today.

The pair, who are both students at Ashburton College, have enjoyed a stellar year on the waters around the country, including a domination of the single sculls and double sculls at the recent Maadi Cup championships at Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel last month.

Wall made the side last year, but it is the first appearance in the silver fern for Gibson who was one of the stories of the Maadi Cup after working her way brilliantly through to the final of the single sculls before bursting away with the gold in the final against a strong line up of scullers.

In an extra great result for rowing locally, Justin Wall has been named as one of the coaches of the national side.

Gibson will be a part of the Junior Women’s Quadruple Scull, which is also the reserve squad for the Junior Women’s Double Sculls.

Wall has been given the coveted spot of the Junior Women’s Single Scull – a further sign that her future in the sport will see her competing at the elite level in the future.

The squad was announced on Friday at Lake Karapiro and it will be straight to work for the crews before the depart for Racice in the Czech Republic in early August.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 21 April 2018

Canterbury Rugby Football Union CEO Nathan Godfrey (left), Richard Sooaemalelagi from Waihora RFC, and Head of Trades at Ara Dennis Taylor at the scholarship ceremony recently. Photo supplied.Former Ashburton College First XV player Richard Sooaemalelagi has been awarded a scholarship at Ara Institute of Canterbury.

He was one of six Canterbury club rugby players to receive scholarships to study in the building and construction fields.

Sooaemelelagi now plays rugby for Waihora.

The six are studying electrical and carpentry apprenticeships, engineering and construction management thanks to a three-year agreement between the Canterbury Rugby Football Union and Ara.

A key part of the agreement are scholarships, up to a total value of $40,000, which are open to any player who is a registered member of an affiliated CRFU club.

It aims to engage players in tertiary education, as well as help develop the skills of rugby club office staff and offer access to the high performance training facility The Zone at Ara for the Canterbury U19, Women’s and Maori representative teams.

The other players awarded scholarships recently were Korbyn Gray from the Saracens club, Harrison Proctor from Ashley RFC, Tafesilafa’I Lalaoilo from New Brighton RFC, Adam Bignell from the Sydenham RFC and Ieuan McLeod from the CRFU.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 21 April 2018

Two Mid Canterbury students have spent the start of the school holidays honing their leadership skills.Harriet Stock from Ashburton College (left), and Mt Hutt College’s Kate Braidwood, at High Country Salmon, which they visited as part of a New Zealand Young Farmers’ TeenAg leadership course this week. Photo supplied.Kate Braidwood from Mt Hutt College and Harriet Stock from Ashburton College spent three days this week in Twizel on a leadership programme run by New Zealand Young Farmers.

The girls, members of TeenAg clubs at their respective schools, were two of 18 students on the course, which was designed to enhance the skills of emerging leaders within the clubs.

They were taught how to set goals, communicate, deal with conflict, run effective meetings and write a curriculum vitae.

“It’s about producing confident young adults who can excel in the primary industries,” said NZ Young Farmers school engagement team member Mary Holmes.

Kate said the course was an amazing experience.

“I met lots of like-minded people, made new friends and learned a lot about myself.”

“Over the three days we met a vet, a shepherd and a farm manager,” she said.

“Their advice was really helpful.”

The students also visited High Country Salmon, which is one of three farms raising salmon on the hydro canals surrounding Twizel.

Kate plans to study a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln University next year.

Harriet said she got a lot out of the course, particularly finding out about different types of peoples’ characters and how they worked with each other.

Her immediate plans were to help build up the membership and competitiveness of the TeenAg club at Ashburton College.

Although unsure what her working life holds in store, Harriet said something in the agriculture field appealed, given she enjoys animals and the outdoors.

The course was the first of three planned across New Zealand this year.

TeenAg clubs are a key part of the work being done by NZ Young Farmers to attract students into the agri-food sector.

By Colin Williscroft © The Ashburton Guardian - 21 April 2018