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| South to host trans-Tasman test series |
By JERRIE ANDREWS - The Southland Times 12/03/2009
Badminton Southland has been awarded the hosting rights for the entire Whyte Trophy series this year, with the trans-Tasman fixtures set to play out on September 5, 7 and 9 at Stadium Southland.
This year is the first time all three test matches will be
played in the same venue and Badminton New Zealand events manager Julie Carrel said that would benefit both the players and the local community.
"There's less upheaval for the players, it's much better for marketing and we want to get into the schools, in particular, in the days between the tests and really engage the local community," she said. "It will give the whole series a lot more profile by holding it in one place."
Carrel said the standard of Stadium Southland had been a major influence in awarding the hosting rights to Southland, but also said Badminton Southland was fantastic to work with and, as such, the Oceania championships would also be played in Southland in February next year.
"We just need to get a big crowd in now, that will be our challenge, but I think it will definitely be possible," Carrel explained.
The Whyte Trophy is a bi-annual three-test series between New Zealand and Australia.
New Zealand has dominated the series recently, winning it on the past six occasions.
Badminton Southland development manager Sue McCormack said hosting the series would be great for local players.
"We have a large number of young players and the opportunity to see Australasia's best players in action will provide a fantastic spectacle and also the opportunity for our players to attend training sessions with the New Zealand squad members," she said.
Badminton New Zealand chief executive Mike Kernaghan said Invercargill offered a "world-class" venue in Stadium Southland, while the Badminton Southland hall would be the ideal venue for training.
"It's a pleasure to bring such an important event to a city that really understands its sport and is prepared to invest in its people and infrastructure," he said.
"Where else in New Zealand are people more passionate and parochial about sport? I can just see 2 to 3000 Southland people taking the roof off as we take on the Aussies. |
Published: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:00 a.m.
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| Lounge to be named in Ulmer's honour |
NATHAN BURDON - The Southland Times - Saturday 28 February 2009
New Zealand cycling's golden girl Sarah Ulmer will have a lounge at Stadium Southland named in her honour as part of next week's New Zealand track championships at the ILT Velodrome in Invercargill.
Ulmer, a world record-holder and gold medallist at the Athens Olympics, will be the guest of honour at the velodrome during the six-day championships starting on Monday.
She will bring with her the bike she rode to gold at Athens and has donated a range of memorabilia that will be on permanent display in the Sarah Ulmer lounge.
Along with some of her kit the shoes and helmet she wore at the Olympics Stadium Southland has made detailed copies of her Olympic and Commonwealth Games medals.
Stadium Southland general manager Nigel Skelt said Ulmer deserved to be recognised for the huge role she had played in New Zealand cycling.
Cycling Southland development officer Bruce Ross said the iniative was a great reward for Ulmer.
"What she's done for cycling is immense and to name part of the building after her is a good move. She's done a lot for the sport."
Ulmer will officially open the lounge at a function on Wednesday night, as well as presenting the gold medal to the winner of the women's individual pursuit event, which she dominated during her career.
On Thursday morning she will be the guest at a special breakfast at the stadium, from 7am.
Tickets to the breakfast are available from Stadium Southland for $20.
The Ulmer lounge is the starting point for the stadium's hall of fame development, Mr Skelt said.
In May the Derek Turnbull walkway will be unveiled, honouring the Tussock Creek farmer dubbed the "fastest old man in the world', who died in 2006 after an athletics career that included 25 world records and 28 gold medals at world veterans' championships.
Plans for the interactive hall of fame continue to gather momentum, with concept plans expected to be completed next week. |
Published: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:00 a.m.
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