The New Zealand Olympic Committee is coming to Raglan next Tuesday May 7th to officially name Billy Stairmand to the Olympic Team. They’ll be holding a ceremony at Manu Bay at 10am to make it official and have invited the community along to cheer on Billy and wish him luck as he represents New Zealand. Billy will be competing in Tahiti as part of the Paris Olympics in late July - early August.
This Saturday the Wander Women Adventure race is bringing 400 competitors to Raglan to run and cycle over a course that is unknown at this point - although we do know the race will kick off from the Wainui Reserve. There are long and short course races that will last at least 6 hours if not longer. If you see runners and cyclists with numbered bibs anytime on Saturday it means you will have found part of the course.
The Karioi Project and Raglan Community Radio will be present at the end of the race to provide refreshments and good music for the competitors as they come home.
In local sport the junior winter sport starts this Saturday as well so be on the look out for small people with green and black kits from the rugby and soccer clubs
Meanwhile earlier this week 3 netball teams began winter competition on Thursday night at Minogue Park in Hamilton. This represents a big expansion of Raglan netball for 2024. Of the three squads the Whai team were the one that came away with a win 29-19 while Karioi and Ngaranui lost 29 -42 and 12-41 respectively. Bryony Wilson, Haidee Rangiawha and Mel Simmons were the players of the day.
The Whaingaroa Whai League team is away this Saturday taking on the Whatawhata Wolves at Resthills park in Hamilton - it will be the first of 4 games on the road before they return to Raglan in June.
The Raglan Roosters also have an away game this Sunday with a top of the table clash with Deezciples in Hamilton at Kahikatea park at 1pm.
And in surfing news Alani Morse has just touched down in El Salvador as part of the New Zealand Team competing in the ISA World Juniors. The competition starts today and runs through to the 12th May. This is Alani’s second time representing in the U16 category and comes after a great build up where she won the Under 16 Girls National Champion title as well as a having consistent run of finals throughout the year.