Sports

Christchurch’s Mike Phillips was the top Kiwi at Saturday’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship men’s race in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i, crossing the line in 17th position. Phillips completed the 3.8km swim, 180km ride and 42.2km run in 8:01:11, with Germany’s Patrick Lange claiming his third world title. Phillips was 31st out of the water, working his way up to 26th position by the end of the run. Once on the marathon Phillips got to work, chipping away to eventually finish 17th. Fellow Kiwi Ben Hamilton was 25th on his IRONMAN World Championship debut, finishing in 8:09:35. “It was pretty tough, but it was pretty awesome, I learnt a lot,” said Hamilton. “The swim was ok, I had to ride pretty hard and think I did equal best power on the bike in challenging conditions. First half of the run ...

An impressive team performance has seen the BNZ Breakers seal a thrilling 93-89 win over Sydney Kings in Round 6 on Sunday.With Max Darling, Mojave King and co-captain Mitch McCarron all out again through injury, the Breakers dug deep for an important result on the road.Leading the charge, Parker Jackson-Cartwright delivered an outstanding 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds, setting the tempo on both ends of the court.Karim Lopez added huge value with his first career double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, providing the Breakers with critical second-chance opportunities.Matt Mooney also had the hot hand, topping the scoresheet with 24 points, five assists and three steals.Sydney’s physical presence in the paint was felt with 28 points scored inside, but the visitors’ defence w...

Securing their first win in Australia since 2019 helped the Silver Ferns claim the 2024 Constellation Cup with a defining 61-43 win over the Diamonds in the third test of the series in Perth on Sunday.The Silver Ferns had to withstand a torrid first half challenge from the world champions, digging deep through their growing resilience and absorbing everything Australia could throw at them before unleashing with an impressive second half response during which they restricted their opponents to single-digit returns during the third and fourth quarters.The 18-goal winning margin followed hot on the heels of 14 and 11-goal margins in the opening two tests in New Zealand, the first time they have won three Constellation Cup matches in a row in the same year and just the third time the Silver Fe...

Sophie Scott has stamped her name on the FEI World Cup (NZ League) Series, taking out the Dunstan Horsefeeds supported opener aboard Waitangi Skynet at Takapoto Estate last night. Coming in for second in the premier class of the Waikato World Cup Show was Julie Davey (Hawke’s Bay) on her lovely mare LT Holst Freda with Sophie third aboard Benrose Stellar, and Luke Dee (Hawke’s Bay) on Gangster WW in fourth. The Heather McDonald-designed course proved quite the challenge for many combinations. The time proved almost impossible to get in the opening round with only Luke and Gangster WW flying round inside the time, but took two rails so finished on eight faults. Sophie was the best of the 13-strong field, going clear but picking up a single time fault with each horse. Julie and the in-fo...

Auckland’s Brigid Dennehy and Christchurch’s Oska Inkster-Baynes took out the 2024 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Marathon presented by ASICS titles as the event returned to the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau.   This year’s Auckland Marathon welcomed nearly 18,000 registered runners and walkers across five distances, the most in the event’s 33-year history.   Brigid Dennehy’s performance was one for the ages as she finished just two seconds outside of the women’s course record on her Auckland Marathon debut in a time of 2:41:31. It was also the first time the Aucklander has completed the marathon distance, after a DNF in her previous attempt.    Dennehy left two former Auckland Marathon champions in her wake, with 2017 and 2022 champion Hannah Oldroyd second in 2:46:30, and 2011 and 202...

One of the most successful women in world cup history, the first man to take 400 Test wickets, the fastest Test century ever, a hundred hundreds, and a captain from start to finish...   Welcome to the NZC Hall of Fame.   Officially opened tonight at the New Zealand Cricket Museum in Wellington by former WHITE FERN and NZC President, Lesley Murdoch, the inaugural NZC Hall of Fame features the induction of eleven foundation members whose playing careers span an era from 1947 to 2016.   The “First Eleven”: Bert Sutcliffe, John Reid, Jackie Lord, Trish McKelvey, Glenn Turner, Sir Richard Hadlee, Debbie Hockley, Martin Crowe, Emily Drumm, Daniel Vettori, and Brendon McCullum, have been honoured with an exhibit featuring near life-size portraits with video and biographical content displaye...

New Zealand’s coastline is a paradise for surf enthusiasts. At Freeride Surf & Skate, we are passionate about equipping Kiwis with the tools they need to make the most of every wave. From high-performance surfboards to essential accessories, we’re dedicated to creating a community that celebrates the spirit of surf and skate culture while delivering premium products and unbeatable service. Crafting Unforgettable Surfing Experiences Surfing is more than just a sport - it’s a lifestyle, a connection to the ocean, and a pursuit of adventure. At Freeride, we understand that every surfer has unique needs, preferences, and goals. That’s why we offer a tailored shopping experience to match. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, a beginner learning to ride your first wave, or a family expl...

Two days of action at the 2025 National Surfing Championships presented by Toi Foundation has seen several divisions contested through to the finals stage setting up an important third day of action.The swell is expected to build slightly during the middle of the week which will be welcomed by participants across the board after two days of small 0.5m waves at Back Beach, south of New Plymouth.  Good surface conditions and sand banks at Back Beach have allowed for some good surfing to kick off the 62nd edition of the event.The senior divisions from Over 30s through to Over 70s for men and women will have their finals contested on day three along with the finals for the longboard, standup paddleboard and bodyboard who enter the water for the first time on Tuesday.Three New Zealand represent...