MERRY CHRISTMAS

I would like to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a happy new year. I'm celebrating Christmas with my family at home in Timaru.

My brother is in Holland this year for Christmas so he will not be with us, but we all wish you a Merry Christmas Wayne and your present is on it's way.

Timaru Christmas Parade

Last Saturday the South Canterbury Skating Club took part in the Timaru Christmas Parade. The theme this year was TV and Movies, so we choose Snow White and the 8 Skating Dwarfs. Here are a few pictures.

NZ Update

I have been back home in New Zealand now for over a month and you could call this the "off season" but it's still full throttle for me. Here's a quick preview of what I've been up to over the past month.

Halberg Trust
I have attended two Celebrity Sporting Functions held by the Halberg Trust since my return. The Halberg Trust is an organization which honors sporting excellence and gives people with disabilities the opportunity to be involved in sport, recreation and leisure activities. These were fantastic events which I attended in Nelson and Dunedin that raised funds for a great organization.

Aoraki Secondary Schools Sports Awards
I was the guest speaker at the Aoraki Secondary Schools Sports Awards dinner held in Timaru on the 31st. The event celebrates the sporting talent from the Aoraki region.

Mountainview High School Sports Awards
I was the guest speaker at Mountanview's schools sports awards, which is a local Timaru high school.

Radio, Radio, Radio
I have had plenty of radio interviews since my return and even recorded a radio ad for Bob Driver Autos/kia.

A picture taken last year with Bob Driver

Learn to Skate
Last year Cheryl and I started learn to skate leasons on Sunday afternoons in Timaru. It gave me a chance to give something back to the community and rejuvenate the South Canterbury Skating Club which has lacked number for quiet a few years. We have continued learn to skate again this year on Sunday afternoons from 2pm. We now have a group of budding young speed skaters who I am also coaching on Friday afternoons.



Bike Racing
I am back on my bike and racing three times a week.

Up & Coming
*21st November I am speaking at the Active Health Services Volunteer Breakfast in Timaru.
*27th November the filming for Top Town starts up in Christchuch.
*6th December is the Timaru Christmas Parade with the theme Walt Disney so I think I am going to be a skating Snow White.

My apologies to the Timaru Fire Department for not being able to judge their Movember contest coming up on the 30th of this month (Movember). Also to the Timaru South Cosmopolitan Club for not being available for their Sports Cabaret event on the 29th.

On the Hunt for Top Town Team

The Top Town show is making a return to New Zealand TV in December this year. It involves 15 teams from different towns around New Zealand competing in a range of fun challenges. Teams must have 12 members including a mix of male and female in different weight categories. I am a member of the Timaru team and this week there will be trials to determine the other members. Yesterday Timaru mayor Janie Annear and I had the pleasure of tipping cold buckets of water over Steve Kotua for a photo for the Timaru Herald. You can view the article online "On the Hunt for Top Town Team" here.

Latitude Magazine

This month I am featured on the front cover of Latitude Magazine's 2008 Spring Issue. There is a three page spread with a great article and plenty of pictures.

NZ Speedskater Second in World Series

The Timaru Herald has an article "NZ Speedskater Second in World Series" which can be viewed here online. It talks about the last WIC race in Berlin and my accomplishments this year.

I will be flying out of Switzerland today and heading back home to Timaru. I have around 24 hours worth of flying to get back to the land of the long white cloud.

Season Finale

They say the best is saved till last, well that certainly was the case with the final World Inline Cup race for the 2008 season. The Berlin WIC marathon was spectacular. With good weather this year there were spectators lining the streets of Berlin to see thousands upon thousands of skaters zoom or in some cases roll by. There was actually live coverage on a Berlin TV station which could be viewed by those awaiting the skaters at the finish line. There was atmosphere, crowds, thousands of skaters and press.


The Bont Wheels Team finished off a successful season with Cecilia winning in Berlin, myself 5th, Alexandra 6th and Tamara 15th.


The team also took out the top 3 in the World Inline Cup Individual Overall Ranking. Cecilia the overall WIC Champion, myself 2nd and Alexandra 3rd. Tamara who sacrifices herself in a lot of the races by doing the initial long lead out finished in the top 10 ending up 7th overall.

Individual WIC Overall
Photo - Niki Neck

To top off the season we also won the World Inline Cup Overall Team Ranking with over 1500 points to spare.

Overall WIC Team, Bont Wheels

Photo - Niki Neck


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Photo thanks to Niki Neck