Cait Bassett was last week named in the New Zealand Bowls Development Squad.A long-term goal to represent her country at the highest possible level is driving Cait Bassett to succeed on the greens.

The former Ashburton-based 21-year-old, who now plays her bowls out of the Burnside club in Christchurch, was last week named in the New Zealand Bowls Development Squad for the second time.

Despite having had a taste of it before, and having also represented New Zealand at under 19 level, Bassett said the feeling of getting the phone call to confirm her selection is something that can never be matched.

“It was pretty exciting, it’s an honour to be named to represent your country,” she said.

“I had no idea if I was going to be selected or not.

“I haven’t played as much bowls this season as what I normally do so I wasn’t really sure, but when they rang and told me it was a pretty awesome feeling.”

14 players were selected in the squad with a final squad of 10 to be chosen to head to the Gold Coast in Australia in June – another achievement Bassett is obviously keen to tick off.

“I’ve been over to Australia and played before, so I’ll be doing everything I can to try and make sure I’m one of those selected to go over and play.”

The former Ashburton College student is juggling her bowling commitments with a new job, having just finished a three-year course in patisserie and is now working full-time as a pastry chef at Christchurch Casino.

“I started there as kitchen hand last year and when I finished my course I began working as a pastry chef.

“I love it, it’s going really well.”

While she creates delectable delights each day, Bassett is still thinking about bowls and what she wants to achieve.

As a New Zealand representative already, there’s only one other goal left to tick off and that is to make the Black Jacks squad.

“That’s the ultimate, to make the top team would be something really special.

“I’ve got a bit of a goal to be in the team playing for New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

“That’s what I’m working towards and hopefully if I can keep producing results and perform well in the Development Team then I might be able to get there.”

Two of Bassett’s best friends, Katelyn Inch and Tayla Bruce, are members of the Black Jacks side and seeing them and enjoying their success is a real motivator.

“To play for New Zealand with two of my best friends would be great.

“Watching them and learning and taking in as much as I can from them has been really good for my game.”

With the final squad selection still a while away, Bassett will be out on the bowling greens as much as she can in an effort to try and impress the national selectors.

She will get a chance at a national level when the Burnside Women’s 7s side head to the national interclub finals later this month for a shot at national glory.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 7 February 2017

Ashburton teen Dallas Watson has landed a job as a US Summer Camp counsellor.Ashburton teen Dallas Watson has landed a job as a US summer camp counsellor, following a nationwide job fair in Auckland.

In June, he will join 300 people aged between 18 and 30 years, from all over New Zealand, as they make their way to the American summer to work in children’s campsThe 18-year-old will be teaching boys to water-ski at Camp Owego, located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

The camp is one of the oldest overnight summer camps for boys in the United States.

Dallas found out about the Camp Counsellor USA programme through the careers department at Ashburton College in Year 13 and decided the adventure would be a perfect gap year experience.

As part of the application process, participants are invited to attend a job fair in Auckland, which is held annually in January.

Dallas flew to Auckland last week where he had the opportunity to learn about the 15 camps represented.

“In preparation for the job fair, I researched the camps that were coming and had my list of ones I wanted to interview with,” he said.

“Camp Owego really appealed to me because of the water sports they offer to the campers and I was pretty stoked to be hired straight away as a water-ski instructor.”

CCUSA NZ director Alan Perry said Kiwis from around New Zealand walked away with a job on the day, but Dallas was the first to be hired by the US camp directors.

“We were so excited for Dallas to be the first placed – but I want New Zealanders to know that this wasn’t their only chance to work at a US Summer camp in 2017,” he said.

“CCUSA works with around 1000 camps all over the USA and those camps that couldn’t make it to New Zealand are excited to get their chance to interview and hire Kiwis for the 2017 summer.

“So, if you are interested and will be 18 by June 1, then apply today to head off to summer camp like Dallas.”

The CCUSA cultural work exchange programme places people over 18 years of age in a nine to 11-week job at a summer camp and includes up to $1845 US pocket money, a J1 Work Visa (which CCUSA is an approved US Department of State J1 visa sponsor), up to four months’ international travel insurance and help with discounted airfares.

Applications stay open until March 2017 each year.

CCUSA will be holding a free information event and meeting on Wednesday, February 15 from 5.30pm to 7pm at the Upper Riccarton Community and School Library Community meeting room.

Dallas is now working on saving for his flights and is looking forward to the experience of teaching children a sport he loves.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 7 February 2017

Local cadet Ashley Kelland has been named top of his class.LC Grant Morris with Ashley Kelland after he won the WO1 Chris Tews Taiaha for top student at the under officers course held last week. Photo supplied

Kelland attended the under-officers course held at the New Zealand police college last week.

The week-long course saw 36 cadets from around the country learning skills that would allow them to carry out basic admin tasks, conduct basic trainings and to prepare them for officer training.

The students were assessed on what they had learned at the end of the course with Kelland receiving the WO1 Chris Tews Taiaha for top student.

Kelland has been a member of the Ashburton Cadet Unit for just over five years.

He said he decided to join after the cadets visited Ashburton Intermediate and the main draw to the cadets was the opportunities available.

“You get the opportunity to do things that not many people get to do.

“Not a lot of people have flown in air force planes,” Kelland said.

This is the third course Kelland had attended in the sequence, having completed the junior and senior NCO courses, both held at Burnham Military Camp.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 February 2017