Sport WhanganuiChronicle Family’shistory-making charge

Whanganui wha¯nau

cleanupatMa¯ ori Top: Whanganui cousins Paris Butters (left) andKiwiNo1 Paige Tennis Champs Hourigan claimed the women’s doublestitle at theAotearoa Tennis Ma¯ori Tennis Championship this Iain Hyndman week.Hourigan alsowon the women’ssinglestitleand Butters or the first time in history, one the mixed doubleswith brother extended family has dominated Kyle for the fourth time. the Aotearoa Ma¯ori Tennis Cham- F Below: Whanganui brothers Kyle pionship, winning all five open titles on offer at the prestigious tourna- and SamButters claimed the ment. men’s doublestitleatthe The closely-related Hourigan and Aotearoa Ma¯ori Tennis Butters clans gave visitors no chance in Championshipsthis week. Kyle the open sections in the 2020 version of alsothe men’ssingles title forthe the classic tournament, this time hosted seventh timeand themixed by their home club, the Wanganui Tennis doublesfor thefourth with sister Club. ParisButters. PHOTOS /SUPPLIED It was the first time Whanganui had hosted the Aotearoa Ma¯ori Tennis Cham- pionship for 93 years. New Zealand female No1 Paige over-76 age group national titles Hourigan was the first family winner, in singles and doubles. He won beating three-time tournament woman’s against Dinny Mohi in the singles winner and former top four New singles final 6/5 and with doubles Zealand tennis player Lucy Barlow, from partner Peter Thomas beat Mohi Waikato, 6/1 6/1. and Richard Collier in aclassic Hourigan was in devastating form and encounter, eventually winning followed it by winning the doubles title. 6/5. Teaming up with cousin Paris Butters, Young rising star, 9-year-old they won the final against Jane Wylie Naomi Browne, won the girls 10s title. and Tania Martin Phillips 6/1 6/1. Wanganui Tennis Club president Then up stepped Hourigan’s cousin David Butters, who is also patriarch of and Paris Butters’ brother, Kyle Butters. the Butters clan, said the most the family In ahard-fought match, he beat Jayden had won previously was three. Harrison (Taranaki) 6/2 6/4 in the men’s “For the first time in Ma¯ori tennis singles final. history afamily dominated and won all Harrison has been offered three tennis five open titles. The most we have won university scholarships to the states and previously was three, so to win all five will head off this year. open titles will go down as agreat victory Kyle Butters has won the Ma¯ori for Whanganui Ma¯ori and Whanganui tournament men’s singles title seven Ma¯ori tennis,” Butters said. times. “The opening powhiri was very power- He then teamed up with his older ful and the cultural night and kapa haka brother, Sam, in the men’s doubles final was spine-chilling. Ibelieve that we did to beat atalented pairing from Waikato Whanganui proud. What agreat city we and Hawke’s Bay, of River Apatu and Whanganuiace andKiwi No1 Paige Hourigan led the history-making familycharge to win all fiveopen titlesatthe Aotearoa Ma¯ori Tennis Championships on homesoilthis week.Hourigan won have with tennis facilities that are world Phillip Warren 6/1 6/2. This was the thewomen’s singlesand the women’sdoubles. PHOTO /LEWIS GARDNER class. Butters brothers’ fourth Ma¯ori doubles “This event was huge for us all and title. Kyle Butters teamed up with nervous Mahinarangi Warren in the final. them their fourth Ma¯ori mixed doubles Whanganui produced the winners of the will go down in Ma¯ori history as the year That just left the mixed doubles title to sister Paris to play Phillip Warren and Kyle Butters’ class was astep up from title. youngest and oldest grades played. Whanganui dominated the opens as well win. Pacifica representative and sister the rest and the steadiness of Paris won The record books will also show John Goldsmith, aged 82, won the as other age groups,” Butters said.

(didn’t race at Taupo due to illness) and Region’sriders 8th overall at CC. Formula Two: Tarbon Walker, 11th in Henryjoins squad series and 10th overall at CC; Luca heading in the Durning 9th for series; Jeff Croot, 10th in series, 12th CC. Formula Three: Tony Hirini, 31st in beforesecond test rightdirection series, 22nd at CC. SS300 class: Caleb Gilmore, 2nd in series, 3rd at CC, and also 2nd in series Motorcycling in GIXXER Cup class; Luca Durning, 6th Andy McGechan in series. has replaced Neil Wagner in Formula Sport/Bears, Senior: Dwayne the Black Caps squad for the second Whanganui boxes well above its weight Bishop, 1st in series, 2nd at CC; Sam cricket test against Pakistan. in terms of motorcycling talent. Willacy, 2nd in series, 1st at CC and pole After 49 overs on two broken The evidence for this is clear when winner; Stephen Leggett, 8th in series. toes in New Zealand’s 101-run victory in giving the results of the just-completed Formula Sport/Bears, Junior: Daren the first test, Wagner has been ruled out Suzuki International Series acloser scan. Bendle, 1st in series, 1st at CC; Blane of the final match of the series starting in For acity with apopulation of just Hannah, 2nd in series, 4th at CC. tomorrow. over 40,000, there are an incredible Super moto: Jono Hamlin, 2nd in series, Black Caps coach con- number of top performers, with fans at 1st at CC and pole winner; Ben Dowman, firmed on Thursday the tireless left- Whanganui’s final round, on the fabled 4th at CC (only entered CC); James armer’s place in the squad would be taken Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day, fully Clarke, 3rd in series, 5th at CC; Roger by Henry. appreciative of the efforts put in by their Bland, 7th in series, 6th at CC; Craig Stead said the Canterbury seamer comrades in arms on this 70th annual Scott, 5th in series, 7th at CC; James brought test experience and local know- running of the street race event. Daniels, 14th in series, 9th at CC; Tony ledge to the squad. Throughout all 13 classes that were Hirini, 11th in series, 13th at CC; Alex “Matt has been in good form with the competed for in the popular three-round Luff-Scott, 17th in series, 14th at CC; ball having recently taken 6-53 for New series, the names of Whanganui riders Marc McKenzie, 15th in series, 17th at Zealand Aagainst the Pakistan Shaheens were atelling feature, none more so than Whanganui’sJaydenCarrick (Suzuki GSX-R1000) on his way to finishing thirdinthe Robert CC; Wilson Woods, 13th in series (A side) in December. Matt Henry has been calledupthe Black in the Super Moto class, aracing category Holden Featurerace and eighth overall in the F1 class at WhanganuionBoxing Day. Just (crashed/injured in qualifying at CC) “We’re still acouple of days out from Caps’ test squad. for lightly-modified dirt bikes, where behindhim is eventual overall winnerDamon Rees, of Whakatane. GIXXER Cup: Caleb Gilmore, 2nd in the test, so need to take alook at the gearing might be changed and knobbly PHOTO /ANDY MCGECHAN, BIKESPORTNZ.COM series, 1st at CC; Lucy Dowman, 5th in surface while also assessing our options “Everyone knows that Neil plays with tyres swapped for road-race rubber. series, 5th at CC; Stephen Leggett, 9th in for best-possible team make-up.” his heart on his sleeve and he just showed “It is great to see so many Whanganui also play their part in making this event This season’s 13th annual Suzuki series, 10th at CC; Emma Dowman, 10th Henry has 30 in 12 tests, the how tough he really is and how valuable riders supporting the series and also such aglobal phenomenon and the International Series was robbed of over- in series, 8th at CC. last of which came in the third and final he has been to New Zealand for along doing very well,” said series promoter generosity and warmth of their hos- seas involvement because of the Covid-19 F1 Sidecars: Adam Unsworth/Bryce match of the series in Australia this time long time. and organiser Allan ‘Flea’ Willacy. pitality is appreciated also.” pandemic but showed, even with solely Rose (ex Wanganui), 2nd in series, 1st at last year. “We’ll miss him enormously but we’ve “It gives me awarm feeling of pride Arecord number of rider entries were Kiwi talent, that it was atruly world-class CC. Stead said Wagner had wanted to got to move on for this test pretty quickly when Isee locals doing so well at this received this year and the racing as tight competition and organisers anticipate it F2 Sidecars: Louise Blythe swinging for travel with the team to Christchurch but and get things sorted.” iconic Whanganui event. Each of these and thrilling as at any time in recent reaching even greater heights next Ian Burke, 4th in series. the decision was made for him to head Stead said Wagner would need up to riders receives massive support from years. December. Classic Sidecars, CC only: Robert straight into recovery instead. six weeks to recover. local companies too and some of these are The 2020 Suzuki International series Hood/Graham Wilkinson 1st; James & Wagner had received multiple New Zealand’s other injury concern also valuable sponsors for our series. opened at Taupo’s Bruce McLaren Motor- Whanganui rider performances Lucy Dowman 2nd; Peter Dowman & injections during the first test to dull the was with spinner who “If it wasn’t for this kind of local sport Park on December 6before heading Louise Blythe 4th; Corey Winter &Kieran pain of the injuries and still managed a injured afinger on the last day of the first support, we wouldn’t have the calibre of to Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, on the Robert Holden Memorial feature race: Whitham 10th; Perry Lett &Michael high workload, including taking four test but Stead expected him to be ready event that we now enjoy and support outskirts of Feilding, for round two a Jayden Carrick 3rd; Richie Dibben 7th. Dowman 12th. wickets in the match, but Stead that feat for selection if required. from the Whanganui District Council is week later on December 13. Other qualifiers Sam Willacy and Dwayne Pre 89 Senior: Jeff Croot, 4th in series, could not be repeated. Stead was consideringseveral also much appreciated. It just wouldn’t Large crowds flocked to Whanganui Bishop 4th at CC. “The injections he was getting were combinations for the second test, includ- happen without these people,” said for the traditional series finale, the world- Formula One: Richie Dibben, 7th overall Pre 89 Junior: Tony Sklenars, 3rd in wearing off each time and we can’t have ing bringing in allrounder Daryl Mitchell Willacy. renowned Cemetery Circuit races, held in the series and 5th overall at Cemetery series, 2nd at CC; Marc McKenzie, 5th in him going through that again for this test into the team to play alongside three “The general public of Whanganui on Boxing Day each year since 1951. Circuit; Jayden Carrick 11th in series series; Bill James, 10th at CC. match,” he said. seam bowlers and aspinner. —RNZ

70-run win over Auckland in New Briefly Plymouth on Thursday, handing the Aces Adesanya to face light-heavyweight champion their third straight loss. Josh Clarkson belted acareer-best 78 off just 31 balls, Breakers escape to Hobart while hit 79 off 46 as the MMA Adesanya’s coach Eugene Bareman told home side posted 226-8, before bowling Christopher Reive the Herald in October. Basketball: The Breakers basketballers Auckland out for 156 in the 19th over. “We need the next challenge and, for temporarily moved to Tasmania Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, Israel Adesanya could soon hold more us, that’s moving up to 205 and fighting yesterday after afresh Covid-19 Auckland beat Central Districts by eight UFC gold, with adate set for his bout Blachowicz. That’s the next biggest outbreak in Victoria. The New Zealand runs to draw level with front-runners against light heavyweight champion Jan challenge in front of us and that’s the one NBL team had been in Melbourne for Wellington. An unbeaten 63 from White Blachowicz. we want.” almost three weeks preparing for the Fern Lauren Down helped the Hearts to Speaking to ESPN, UFC president The bout against Blachowicz won’t be season to start. But both the Breakers 158-2 first, with the Hinds only Dana White confirmed the company were the first time Adesanya has stepped up in and South East Melbourne Phoenix will managing 150-8 from their 20 overs to booking Adesanya, the reigning weight class during his professional move to Hobart and NBL Commissioner remain winless after three matches. middleweight champion, to make the 9kg combat sports career. Jeremy Loeliger said they would be step up in weight and challenge Poland’s The 31-year-old has fought at accommodated and train there under Murraypulls out of Florida Blachowicz at UFC 259 on March 7(NZ heavyweight in kickboxing, winning the strict Covid protocols. “This will give us time). King in the Ring title in the weight class time to assess and work through the Tennis: Andy Murray has pulled out of While the fight has been verbally Israel Adesanyaand JanBlachowicz will fight for the UFC lightheavyweight title in March. in 2015. next steps required as we prepare for the the Delray Beach Open to minimise his agreed to, contracts are yet to be signed. Only seven fighters in UFC history forthcoming NBL Season.” The Breakers coronavirus risk as he looks toward the The bout will be Blachowicz’s first Blachowicz won their respective fights decimated the middleweight division. have been champions in multiple will open their season against Melbourne Australian Open. The 33-year-old British defence of the light heavyweight title, that night by second-round stoppages. The Nigerian-Kiwi has beaten three of division; four of those being United in Melbourne on January 15. player said he was concerned about the after claiming the vacant belt against It’s about that has been in the work for the top five UFC middleweights, and the simultaneous. “increase in Covid rates” and the trans- American Dominick Reyes in Abu Dhabi some time. In October, the Herald other two are yet to prove themselves Irish superstar Conor McGregor was Stags leap up T20 table Atlantic flight in travelling to the Florida in late September last year. It was the confirmed Adesanya’s camp were set to worthy of atitle shot following recent the first simultaneous two-weight tournament that begins on Tuesday. The same event in which Adesanya defended enter negotiations for the fight as it was losses. champion, holding both the Cricket: Central Districts are leading the Five-time Australian Open runner-up was his middleweight crown against Brazil’s the only real challenge out there at the “When you look at the landscape at featherweight and lightweight titles for a domestic men’s T20 cricket given awild-card entry into the first Paulo Costa. Both Adesanya and moment, with Adesanya having middleweight, there’s nothing,” short time in 2016. —NZHerald competition. The Stags romped to a Grand Slam tournament.