Alexis Poulter at the World Junior Champs - Photo Cory Scott

Alexis Poulter of Raglan is looking to add a law degree to her impressive surfing achievements, and to do so she’s become the first competitive surfer ever to win a prestigious Hillary Scholarship at the University of Waikato.

Poulter has been winning surfing competitions since she was 13 and last year won the women’s U18 national competition. She’s one of about 50 new scholars on the Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme, which awards scholarships to academic high achievers who show significant leadership qualities and also excel in sport or in the creative and performing arts.

Poulter found out about the scholarships from a teacher at Raglan Area School, where she studied at the Surf Academy. Waikato seemed the obvious choice as she can continue to live in Raglan and commute to classes.

The Hillary Scholarships provide full university course fees while studying at Waikato, comprehensive support for the recipients’ academic, sporting and/or arts activities, and additional support in leadership and personal development.

Under the Hillary programme, Poulter will work with Larry Fisher, former New Zealand team member, now New Zealand Junior Team Coach and also Raglan Surfing Academy coach.

“I’m pretty stoked to get all my fees paid,” says Poulter, who’ll be taking five papers in her first semester as well as putting in time for gym training each week in preparation for the international Grom Search finals being held in Australia in April. There she’ll be pitted against the best up-and-coming young surfers from eight countries.

Poulter says she’s lucky because the main surf competition season runs from November to February, during the uni summer break. And during the year, most competitions are at weekends, so she’ll have plenty of time for studying. She aims to complete her LLB in four years. “I really want to go into sports law,” she says. “And I want to go as far as I can with surfing. My aim is to make the Worlds team for the Open in October – they only take two girls from the whole of New Zealand.”

Press Release: University of Waikato – March 11, 2010

Walking through glades of Nikau palms

On the seventeenth of March, Raglan Ramblers will be off to check out Kaiwhenua, starting off overlooking Whale Bay and climbing through nikau palm bush part way up Karioi.  About 8km.

You’ll need to bring your lunch along for this one.

All walks start 9am Wednesdays from Wainui Rd car park (between museum and fire station). Car share at 10 cents per km to equate travel costs. Phone Seth on 825 8591 for more information.

A 24 hour dance festival will be held at Easter on the top of a hill overlooking the ocean just out of Raglan.  The organisers are promising a rave of electronic music, people and life.  The festival will feature top New Zealand and international DJ Talents, two covered dance zones and exotic food.  Perfroemers include Dick Johnson,  Justine Sane and Brazilbeat.  There will be free buses from the Manu Bay park to the party site.   Tickets are available for $60 from ITICKET.CO.NZ, AUCKLAND : ROUTE66, TAURANGA: TRACS, HAMILTON: TEXAS RADIO, RAGLAN: SURFCO

Jody Hartstone and Whisper- Equestrian Sports New Zealand

It was a glorious end to the Bates National Championships – watching Raglan’s Jody Hartstone calmly win the Grand Prix Kur in convincing style. Riding her stunning new black stallion, Whisper, Hartstone finished off a mistake free test with her trademark one-handed passage and piaffe final centreline.

The crowd roared their approval and there was little doubt this was the winning test – expressive flying changes, consistent passage and well ridden pirouettes.

While Taranaki’s Vanessa Way trailblazed the field in the test prior, mistakes in the canter pirouettes and inconsistent piaffe proved costly.  Despite quality work from KH Arvan, Hartstone’s clean test was just too good to catch.

Both riders however impressed the international judges, with Uwe Spenlen awarding 73.75% to Hartstone, just a smidgeon ahead of Way on 73.5%. However Hartstone also notched up 71% from Bernard Maurel and 72.5% from Mary Seefried, making her final score 71.2%.

Way, in just her fourth Grand Prix start on KH Arvan, had to settle for second place on 68%, with Lisa Blackbourn and Prestige VDL in just their third Grand Prix outing on 64.4%. Considering how new these combinations are to this highly competitive and demanding level, both riders are making a strong and rapid impression at Grand Prix.

The more seasoned combinations of Karen Anderson (Komplete Kaos) and Charlott Bayliss (All Black II) had to settle for fourth and fifth place this time, despite polished tests from both. Some disparities in scores saw their individual judges placings vary from second to ninth, with the overall effect of sliding them down the prize table.

It has been a whirlwind month for Hartstone, with her newly imported stallion Whisper having arrived from Australia just eight weeks ago.  In this short window of time, the pair has competed at two competitions, winning all of their tests and showing the flair for which Whisper was renowned in Australia, where he competed under rider Brett Parberry.

“It’s been pretty amazing,” admits Hartstone, “He’s such a super dream horse and was amazing today. It just all came together, he’s so much fun to ride.”

Hartstone and Whisper were laden with medals, ribbons, sashes and garlands at the final prizegiving, as well as winning a Bates Innova saddle courtesy of Bates. The pair won the Tironui Trophy for the Bates CDI *** Grand Prix Kur;  the Julian & Elizabeth Aaron Award for Best Performed Stallion and the prestigious Burkner Medal for the Grand Prix Championship, Hartstone’s third time winning the Burkner medal.

BATES CDI *** Grand Prix Kur

1. Jody Hartstone (Whisper V), 71.2%; 2. Vanessa Way (KH Arvan), 68%; 3. Lisa Blackbourn (Prestige VDL), 64.40%; 4. Karen Anderson (Komplete Kaos), 64.3%; 5. Charlott Bayliss (All Black II), 64.1%; 6. Jenny Scott (JK L’Amour), 63.5%; 7. Kieryn Walton (Saraceni), 62.6%; 8.Nicky Pope (Fabarchie), 62.45%; 9. Shiwon Green (Gosh), 62.05%

Press Release: Equestrian Sports New Zealand