THE PRESS, Christchurch Saturday, May 12, 2012 WEEKENDSPORT D3 NETBALL Mum’s the word for Tactix twosome It’s Mother’s Day tomorrow when mothers around the country are feted for their efforts. Two mothers in the Tactix netball team reflect on how motherhood has affected their game with MATT RICHENS. or Isabella, Harry AT A GLANCE and Charlotte Galvan, a mother This weekend’s ANZ who plays netball Championship fixtures: Ffulltime is just the norm. TOMORROW It’s all they’ve ever known ■ Adelaide Thunderbirds v and they’ll have an early West Coast Fever, Adelaide. Mother’s Day tomorrow 2.10pm before mum Anna Galvan and ■ New South Wales Swifts v her Canterbury Tactix side Melbourne Vixens, Sydney head to Brisbane to play the 4.40pm Queensland Firebirds in ■ Southern Steel v Northern round seven of the ANZ Mystics, Dunedin, 7.20pm Championship. As soon as Galvan, now 33, MONDAY had her eldest child, Isabella, ■ Central Pulse v Waikato- she was straight back into Bay of Plenty Magic, netball and commuting to Porirua 7.40pm Invercargill to play for the ■ Canterbury Tactix v Southern Sting. Queensland Firebirds, Two children later and Brisbane, 9.40pm. Galvan is still playing. And while the 14-times capped Silver Fern wouldn’t go as far and I know where we’re as to brag about it, she’s play- meant to be. Because of that I ing some of the best netball in don’t have all these worries her lengthy career. racing around in my head,’’ Like many mothers, she said. ‘‘I’m more focused Galvan said having children on what I have to be doing and has made her more organised, more relaxed too.’’ more focused and improved As well as the added her game. dramas that go hand in hand ‘‘I do think I’m a better with being the mother to a netballer now,’’ she said. toddler, Hikawai has plenty of ‘‘It’s all about balance. Any travel to deal with too. athlete is better when they She, Mat and Zoe live have a balanced life.’’ about 10 minutes away from And anyone worried what Hanmer Springs on Montrose Isabella, 8, Harry, 5 and Station and she makes the Charlotte 3 think of mum 220-kilometre round trip to being away from home for training and games up to five netball trainings and games times a week. and the odd match in Like Galvan, Hikawai said Australia, need not. the Tactix have been nothing They love the fact mum but helpful and supportive. plays netball and is on the TV. ‘‘Even when I come to It’s not unusual for the Gal- training, Leigh [coach Leigh Proud family: Tactix netballer Anna Galvan has her hands full with sport and her children Isabella, 8, Charlotte, 3, and Harry, 5. Photo: DAVID HALLETT/FAIRFAX NZ van cherubs to join the hordes Gibbs] and Jules [assistant of young fans seeking auto- coach Julie Seymour] ask me graphs after Tactix games at how Zoe is and make sure CBS Canterbury Arena. everything is going well,’’ she Isabella and her friends in said. Only mums in trans-Tasman netball champs are Kiwis the Paparoa Street School While the Tactix are Year-4 Future Ferns netball supportive, it’s Hikawai and Matt Richens while and we see it can be reason our Aussie neighbours mother. treat it also differs greatly. team also benefit as Galvan is Galvan’s wider support done and have the role models waited until retirement to While Galvan, Kiley The Queensland Firebirds their coach. system that make it possible. Of the 120 contracted players to do it. In Australia it’s just start a family was they didn’t Hikawai and the others are all players are bringing their ‘‘It’s pretty cool,’’ Isabella ‘‘What’s that saying, it in the trans-Tasman compe- not what they do.’’ want to give another player a the exception rather than the Mums to Brisbane for the said of taking instructions takes a village to raise a child? tition, only 13 are mothers Pregnant former Aust- chance to pinch their spot. rule in netball, they know defending champions’ match from mum. Well that’s so true for us,’’ and all play for New Zealand ralian captain Sharelle That combined with the being a working mother is not with the Tactix on Monday Kiley Hikawai is the Galvan said. franchises. McMahon made headlines in fact New Zealand coaches unique to them. night. Whereas the Southern Tactix’ other mum. As well as husband Hugh, Anna Galvan said when it Australia by saying she was don’t bat an eyelid at preg- Yes they’re busy, and yes Steel, who host the Northern Hikawai, 24, and her ‘‘who is exceptional’’, comes up at aftermatch hoping to make a comeback nancy made it more common- they’re organised, but they’re Mystics in Dunedin tomorrow partner, Mat, are parents to Galvan’s parents help as do functions with Australian after giving birth. place here. the first to say they’re not will celebrate Mother’s Day two-year-old Zoe and Hikawai her brothers and sisters-in- teams, the Aussies often can’t As Galvan said, it’s just not In Galvan’s younger days superwomen. by using Jodi Brown’s daugh- said being a mother had law, their nanny Amy and believe she has three chil- what they do. she saw Julie Seymour and ‘‘Yes, it can be difficult, but ter, Kiana, as the official ball ‘‘made me a better person’’. even neighbours from time to dren. The other reason, Galvan Tania Dalton return after it’s no different to what every carrier. Like Galvan, Hikawai said time. She believes the difference opined was the number of having children and play other working mum goes Whether the Tactix players she’s more organised and the Zoe Hikawai has help out between the two countries is players. brilliantly. through,’’ Galvan said. are mothers or not, there’s fact her and Zoe’s weeks were near her place and is often twofold. With such an abundance of Seymour was ‘‘truly Mother’s Day means differ- little doubt all would happily both planned out to the hour looked after by Kerry, mother ‘‘I think part of it is just a netballers in Australia – amazing’’ and was her role ent things for different teams take a win on Monday night kept her mind clear of stress. of Kiley’s team-mate, Ellen cultural thing,’’ she said. about 10:1 to New Zealand – model as to how well it was and the way the franchises on as a late Mothers’ Day ‘‘I always get my diary out Halpenny, in town. Sharelle McMahon ‘‘It’s happened here for a Galvan thought part of the possible to play and be a either side of the Tasman present. LONDON OLYMPICS Qualifying rules watertight Parker makes final Kevin Tutty would not be selected,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s a terrible situation. We bid for Olympics Christchurch swimmer Sophia feel so much empathy for the Batchelor will have to decline an swimmers, but our selectors have Logan Savory Parker also defeated world invitation to swim at the London produced a very objective criteria championship bronze medallist Olympics if she receives one from and if we make an exception for Rising New Zealand boxing Erick Pfeifer, of Germany, in the Fina, the sport’s international one person then where do we talent Joseph Parker is making a semifinals in Serbia. body. stop? last-ditch effort to revive his The youngster held hope that Batchelor, 16, who missed the ‘‘We made a deliberate Olympic dream, but admits his that result last week could see Swimming New Zealand qualify- decision to be black and white chances are slim. him granted a wildcard entry to ing time for London by 0.01sec with our criteria, and to maintain The Auckland-based super lineup in London. (about a centimetre) in the 100m its integrity to the letter of the heavyweight missed Olympic ‘‘I called Keith Walker who’s butterfly at the New Zealand law,’’ said Byrne. qualification in March when he looking after boxing in Oceania trials will not be able to accept the SNZ relaxed part of its failed to win the Oceania and he said it was a slim chance,’’ invitation because she has not qualifying criteria for London. In Championships. Parker told Fairfax yesterday. swum the SNZ time. past Olympics swimmers could Oceania had just one Olympic ‘‘Because the only way I could SNZ will not deviate from its swim qualifying times only in spot available in each division get in now is by wildcard and selection policy for Batchelor or finals at the national trials but and that went to Australian they normally give that to the any other swimmer who might Sophia Batchelor this year SNZ gave competitors Johan Linde. poorer countries.’’ receive a Fina invitation. two chances to swim the times – However, Parker has pres- Parker concedes it is a long If Fina does not fill its quota of that any swimmers receiving in the heats and finals. ented a case to the New Zealand shot. 900 swimmers for the Games invitations would not be nomi- The NZOC also has qualifying Olympic Committee and AIBA – But he isn’t content giving up through its own qualification nated to the New Zealand criteria which states that an the world governing body for on his Olympic dream just yet. criteria, it will invite the next Olympic Committee for inclusion athlete must have a reasonable amateur boxing – to allow him ‘‘It would be a dream come highest ranked swimmers in each in the team.