Wayne, Kate and Sharon Lloyd. Photo suppliedWhile taking on the best at the recent Netball World Youth Cup 2017 in Botswana, Ashburton’s Kate Lloyd was not alone.

Alongside her team-mates, she also had the support of her parents Sharon and Wayne.

We have all had an amazing time and are so proud,” said Sharon.

“Botswana is an amazing place and they have really turned it on for the World Cup.

“Their hospitality is fantastic and above and beyond what we all expected.

“The event is massive for the whole country and they wanted it to work well so everyone can tell the world how great their country is, and we certainly will be.”

With a strong passion for their national team evident from day one, the country was nearly sent in to hysterics when they nearly made it in to the top eight.

“Every game was like attending a concert,” she said.

“We had a school supporting us all tournament and the singing and dancing that went along with them was amazing.

“The girls were treated like VIPs throughout with police escorts to take them everywhere and kids just swamping them wherever they went.”

Lloyd said the three years of preparation and dedication that had gone in to the tournament from a lot of the players showed.

The most testing game, naturally, would prove to be the final against Australia.

“It was an amazing, close, rugged game and the girls held their composure and fought to get the win,” she said.

“Who would of thought Ashburton would have a world champ.

“I can’t explain how proud we all are of Kate and these girls.”

The trio will now spend some time in Bali for some rest and relaxation.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 19 July 2017

Kate Lloyd . Photo suppliedMid Canterbury Netball star Kate Lloyd has continued her impressive year on the court after being crowned a world champion yesterday.

Lloyd was part of the New Zealand U-21 team that successfully defended their title as the champions of the Netball World Youth Cup in Botswana.

The Kiwis downed familiar foes Australia in the final, taking out a 60-57 victory in a close match in Gaborone early yesterday (NZ time).

Australia had the better of New Zealand for much of the first half, leading 17-14 at the quarter time after a slick start to the match.

By halftime the New Zealanders were beginning to find their feet, cutting Australia’s lead back to just one goal.

While New Zealand were finding their rhythm on attack the Australian shooting line began to falter, as the pressure being applied all game began to take its toll and the Kiwi side stalked out to a 45-41 lead at the final turn.

The former Ashburton College student’s selection came off the back of strong performances in both the Beko Netball league and Mainland Tactix side in the past year.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 17 July 2017

Lachie Davidson in Brazil looking over towards Rio. Photo suppliedA year ago, Lachie Davidson was playing paintball at the abandoned lake house of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Go back a year before that and the head boy at Ashburton College in 2015 was wondering what he would do with his life. While university study was somewhere on the horizon, he opted for a gap year working in South America with the international volunteer organisation Lattitude.
Davidson, who turns 20 in November, managed to learn some basic Spanish in what was a busy Year 13 as a school leader and enthusiastic member of Green house.
He played at lock for the First XV, played basketball and volleyball, he was a rower in his earlier years. His favourite sporting memory is when the Ashcoll under 15 rugby team beat St Andrew’s in the final of their South Island tournament – teachers and coaches Mike O’Callaghan and Pete Fougere had booked the team into a Christian camp near Pleasant Point for the duration of the tournament, and there was no cellphone coverage.
Davidson remembers the haka that preceded the final against the private school and the jubilation that followed the win. Rugby was at its peak at the school about then, with the First XV making it to Rotorua for a top-four playoff with New Zealand’s best co-ed school teams.
It was rugby that helped him make friends in Ecuador last year and at Massey University this year, where he played for the university’s colts team until being sidelined with injury.
He says his volunteer stint in Ecuador and Argentina was life-changing and has ignited a passion to travel again. As a volunteer he worked in a special needs school, and in primary and high schools in the continent, helping students improve their English skills. Along the way he has picked up a love of South American languages, culture and food … and a moustache that he stubbornly refuses to shave off.
The trip also exposed him to the extremes of poverty and generosity, both to the fore in the aftermath of the 7.8 earthquake that struck Ecuador while he was there. Davidson and a group of Lattitude students made their way to an aid station where they helped co-ordinate and sort quake donations.
Davidson said he was also lucky to visit the Galapagos Islands and be a proud Kiwi supporter at a rugby test between the All Blacks and Argentina.
He said the gap year had given him a mental break and he was enjoying this year studying towards a Bachelor of AgriCommerce, majoring in international agribusiness.
He has fond memories of his years at Ashcoll, especially his final year.
He says he was lucky to have Jason Vannini as his form teacher from Year 9 to Year 13 and counts him as a friend. Ag teacher Steven Millichamp also fostered the seed for a career in agriculture (and was rewarded by finding a goat in his classroom on the final day of that school year), while he also credits teachers Claire Tappin, Michael Clark and Denise O’Halloran for other good memories.
The college afforded plenty of opportunities, he said, and helped him prepare him for the wide world beyond.

By Linda Clarke © AshColl Alumni - 17 July 2017