New Zealand Sock Company international sales manager Gabrielle Simpson and head of research and development Tony Jessep check socks on the factory floor. Photo Linda ClarkeSailors in the round the world Volvo Ocean Race are subjected to some brutal weather, but at least their feet will be warm and dry.

Ashburton sock-manufacturer The New Zealand Sock Company has supplied specially-engineered merino socks to several crews in the nine-month race, calling on their research and technology department to come up with a sock to suit the extremes of ocean racing.

The sock company uses unique technology on all its socks, with specifically-positioned padding to cushion pressure areas and promote blood flow.

Their socks are worn all over the world, by soldiers in Afghanistan and mountain climbers as well as diabetics and those with foot problems.

Owner Euan Sparrow said the company had moved from selling socks to selling sock technology, and customers all over the world were seeking socks fit for purpose.

The socks are all made, tested and packed at the company’s Ashburton factory, where 56 Italian-made machines whirr almost 24 hours a day.

Sparrow said the technology was exciting and the company relished new projects.

The company was approached in March by high-end wet weather yachting gear supplier Zhik to make socks for the Volvo ocean racing teams AkzoNobel and Dongfeng.

Long and short socks were needed for a boat shoe and a special boot worn by the sailors.

Sailors experience temperature variations between -5 and 40 degrees and are allowed only a few clothes.

NZ Socks international sales manager Gabrielle Simpson said the socks needed to be quick drying and able to wick moisture away from the foot, as well as being comfortable and snug-fitting.

Samples made of merino wool, processed using a unique yarn patented technology NuYarn, and incorporating an elastic support system were made and shipped off for the crews to trial.

Simpson said the socks needed to lock to the sailors’ feet, not slip or slide and cause blisters.

The specially-engineered black socks were a hit, the only request was to incorporate a bright colour so they could be easily found in the dark.

Sparrow said the other advantage of using merino was the socks could also be worn for several days without becoming smelly.

Head of R&D Tony Jessep said people spent hundreds of dollars on specialty footwear but often teamed it with illfitting socks.

Speciality socks that worked with specialty footwear were key for healthy, high-performing feet.

The company’s socks are worn and loved by athletes including snowboarder Freeman Andrews, recently named in the New Zealand Winter Olympics team, and ultra-runner Hollie Woodhouse.

The same sock science could be handy when New Zealand defends the America’s Cup in 2021.

The Volvo Ocean Racing fleet is due in Auckland in March, half-way through the 72,000km race.

By Linda Clarke © The Ashburton Guardian - 15 November 2017

The Ashburton High School bell has acquired a new lease of life. Photo Katie ToddA familiar soundbite from times of old has returned to echo through Ashburton College.

More than five decades since the original Ashburton High School bell last tolled, it has been restored and mounted on a wooden stand for use at special events and assemblies.

The restoration project utilised the brains of the student executive, the expert handiwork of hard technology teacher Chris Thompson, and recycled materials from the school’s science block renovations in 2011.

“Everything in it has got a connection with the college,”  Thompson said.

The bell was used at Ashburton High School to signal a change in periods, but ceased to be used when Ashburton High School merged with Hakatere College in 1965.

“It was mounted on a tower, and it used to be the task of a senior student to ring the bell to mark a change of periods,” Thompson said.

“I heard one story in which some students climbed up the tower, wrapped cloth around it so the sound was muffled and no one would hear it … they actually had to get the fire brigade to go up the tower and remove the cloth.”

College management administrator Sheena Tyrell said since its redundancy, the bell had floated around the administration block, and had even been used as a doorstop to the principal’s office.

Student executive members then came up with the idea of restoring the bell for use at special events, and Renato Poienar drafted a design.

“They came and saw me and explained they’d designed a stand but didn’t have time to complete it,” Thompson said.

“I decided to create it using timber from the old science block … then they told me it had to be done by November 6.”

He said the hardest part was laminating and sorting the usable from non-reusable materials.

“That took quite some time.”

Thirty-five hours of hard grafting later the bell was ready for unveiling, at this week’s Ashburton College Senior Prizegiving ceremonies.

“I’m sure it will go on for another 50 years,” Thompson said.

By Katie Todd © The Ashburton Guardian - 10 November 2017

Alyce Lysaght - Photo Linda ClarkeAlyce Lysaght is interested in both politics and climate change. Combined, they could take her places.
Alyce, 18, leaves Ashburton College this year with the NBS Ashburton College Alumni scholarship and a host of other awards that reflect her hard work, great attitude and natural leadership.
She is concentrating on exams right now and heads to the University of Canterbury next year to study towards a degree in engineering. She is focussed on climate change and environmental engineering.
In her final year at college she has studied calculus, physics, chemistry, accounting and English, while being a co-leader of Green House and outside school heading the Ashburton Youth Council, which is an arm of the Ashburton District Council. She’s also held down part-time jobs at Kelly’s and the Regent Theatre.
As well as leaving the Year 13 awards ceremony with the alumni scholarship, she was also awarded the Zonta Club’s community services award, the Masonic Lodge scholarship and the EA Networks scholarship for a student entering the electrical industry.
The school says she is a natural leader whose behaviour is always mature and exemplary.
Alumni board chairman Alister Argyle agreed, saying Alyce had made a positive impression on all those she had met, balancing her studies and leadership roles.
The scholarship will help pay for the many textbooks she would need in her engineering studies.
“I really love calculus and physics. I have a methodical brain and I love processes and formulas and knowing how things work. Maybe I’ll do something to do with renewable energy, that goes hand in hand with climate change.”
Alyce said her busy life had been helped by supportive family, friends and teachers, in particular Claire Bedward and Stacey Monk who had helped her during the five years at college.
“I feel I have grown as a person with a lot more confidence, building friendships and connections.”
She and mum Kerri were quickly on Facebook after the prizegiving to share the good news with dad Jim, who is in Vietnam. Alyce will be joining him in December for a couple of weeks before returning for university.
She said her youth council role had sparked an interest in local body politics and the experience had been valuable.
The $1000 Ashburton College Alumni scholarship was made possible with the support of NBS Ashburton and its branch manager Rod Fox.

By Linda Clarke © AshColl Alumni - 10 November 2017