The Ravensdown Aerowork team, of which former Ashburton man, Ben Robinson, is a pilot, have been working around the clock to fight the Port Hills fires Photos Wayne WilliamsAn Ashburton mother has spoken of the fear watching her son flying headfirst into billowing smoke to fight the devastating fires on Christchurch’s Port Hills.

Sue Robinson’s son, Ben, a former Ashburton College student, has been operating one of only a few fixed wing planes distributing retardant.

Now living in Loburn, he usually does top dressing distribution for Ravensdown Aerowork.

He was also friends with Steve Askin, the pilot tragically killed in a helicopter crash while he was fighting the fires, on Tuesday.

Robinson’s mother told the Ashburton Guardian she had struggled to make contact with him as he had been working long hours and
well into the evening.

“They flew until they couldn’t see anymore,” she said.

“They’ve been doing a pretty amazing job and the fixed wing planes aren’t getting much coverage.

“I’ve been watching them disappearing into the smoke; they’re very, very dedicated.”

She said Ben, 40, was working with a colleague who has come down from Masterton to help.

He was also on hand to fly in relief supplies after the Kaikoura earthquakes.

Robinson said Ben had to be at the airfield at 6.30am on Wednesday, got in the air by 8.30am and got home late into the evening.

She hoped he would be able to take a break to attend her birthday at the weekend.

By Megan Gnad © The Ashburton Guardian - 17 February 2017

Multisport athlete Matthew Clough makes his way through the jagged terrain of the Coast to Coast on his way to first place in the U19 schoolboy’s section. Photo suppliedFor local multisport athlete Matthew Clough, the top of the Xterra world is the target, but only by taking things year-by-year.

Competition has always been part of Clough’s life, starting out in competitive swimming. However, after reaching the age of 13, he knew it was time for a change and made use of his swimming skills to make the jump to triathlons.

Also competing in the sport of aquathlon, the Ashburton College student travelled to Mexico last year to compete in the U19 2016 ITU World Aquathlon Championships. There, he finished third in his field of competitors.

From then he said he chose to set his sights on the world of Xterra Events. Late last year he thought it was the perfect opportunity to give the Coast to Coast a go.

“I was going to do the two day event, but I had never paddled a kayak before,” said Clough. “Because of that I settled on just competing in the mountain run.”

Compete was something he certainly did, placing first in the U19 school boys’ section and second in the overall standings.

Clough finished with a time of 3hr and 34min, comfortably ahead of notable competitor and former All Black Richie McCaw, who ran the race in 4hr and 20min.

However, injury nearly spelt the end of his race 22km in. “I fell and heard a crack from my ankle,” he said. “I knew I just had to get up and keep on going before it stiffened up.”

Clough believed the race was a huge mental challenge.

“In those last 10 kilometres every single kilometre feels like another ten,” he said.

The next race in his sights is the New Zealand Xterra Championships. The race, held in Rotorua, is raced in three parts, the swim, a cycle and then the run.

While his main goal is to be World Xterra Champion, the Year 12 student is taking things slowly.

“Most people have a goal like the Olympics or to be world champion,” he said. “For me, I just want to take things slowly, year by year, because you never know what will happen.”

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

Connor Brosnahan in action for the college during his 6-4, 7-6 victory over Timaru Boys’ Josh Cameron. Photo SuppliedAshburton College tennis players have been swinging their racquets all the way to South Island tournament qualification.

Tuesday saw the first major sports action of the college calendar take place, with the school’s boys and mixed tennis teams taking to the court in Timaru at the Aoraki Secondary Schools’ Tennis Championships.

The first match of the day saw the boys’ team taking on Timaru Boys’ High School. The singles part of the match saw the college take two wins and two losses.

Connor Brosnahan led the way, defeating Timaru Boys’ Josh Cameron 6-4, 7-6. College’s Tyler Leonard took George McAleer to a super tiebreaker, which was lost 2-6. Bryn Looji suffered a straight sets defeat to Timaru’s Matt Ellis while one of the College’s younger players, Henrik Tawatao won in a tiebreaker 10-8.

In the doubles portion of the match, the spoils were shared again. Brosnahan and Looji won in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 while Leonard and Tawatao lost in straight sets 0-6, 0-6. With the total matches tied, Timaru Boys’ won the clash due to winning more games.

In the mixed competition, the college faced up against St Kevin’s College, and secured a comfortable victory. Dallas Scott, Cannan Elvines, Erin Connelly-Whyte and Jade Brosnahan all won their singles matches.

The only slip-up came in the doubles match of Elvines and Scott, losing 4-10 in a tiebreaker.

The victory secured qualification for the team to attend the South Island Schools’ Tournament later in the year.

After defeat in the first round, the boys’ team had the chance to redeem themselves against Waitaki Boys’ High School.

The singles section went to perfection with all four matches being won in single sets. This dominance continued into the doubles with both matches being won in straight sets.

This result saw the team to a second place finish, with South Island qualification dependent on other regional results.

Coach Michael Clark, said he was pleased with the results, especially the hard work in tough games, notably in the boys’ matches.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 16 February 2017