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05 Feb 2012
2012 National Independence Games - Entry Forms Available
The entry information and forms are now available online for the National Independence Games which will be held in Auckland between the 13th - 15th April 2012.

In 1992 CCS originated the idea of holding the Independence Games so that young sports people with disabilities could develop their sporting talents. The Independence Games is now a sporting event for young people aged 8-17 years who live with a disability. It is a high quality sporting tournament run over two days.

Traditionally the Independence Games have held both North Island and South Island Games, however 2012 will see the first time a National Independence Games is held.

To view the entry information and entry forms visit www.independencegames.org.nz.

- Independence Games


05 Feb 2012
NZ’s Carl Murphy Takes Silver at Para-Snowboard World Championships
In a string of podium finishes, adaptive snowboard cross athlete Carl Murphy (Lake Hawea) continues to perform well on the international stage, this time taking silver at the Para-Snowboard World Championships in Orcières, France.

Teammate Byron Raubenheimer (Auckland) also competed and finished in the top half of the field, a great result for a developing rider.

“It was great to see Carl hold on to second place while still pushing hard for first over the two day combined time format,” said Coach and Snow Sports NZ’s Director of Coach and Sport Development, Adam Dooney. “Carl has worked extremely hard over the past few years and it shows not only in his performance on the board but also his approach to competition."

“This was Byron's first World Championships and the experience was invaluable for his development.”

Murphy says, “I am stoked to maintain my number two ranking but a little disappointed not to finish on top after two days of gruelling competition.”

The race was very close race with Evan Strong (USA) winning by a small margin after coming from third on the first day of competition.

“I was placed second after the first day of racing and managed to hold onto that spot after a very hard day on the snow,” said Murphy.

“I wouldn’t be here without the support of Adam Dooney (Coach), Smith Optics, Cardrona, Snow.co.nz, Base NZ, NZ High Performance, and SPARC who help fund my competition through a PEGS grant.”

Murphy is now making the long trip back to his Northern Hemisphere base in Frisco, Colorado where he will continue to train and will compete alongside able-bodied riders in regional events.

- Snow Sports New Zealand


03 Feb 2012
Pin & Win - Major Prize Winner Found
Paralympics New Zealand has made the major prize draw from their Pin and Win Series 3 Promotion.

At 11am, on the 3rd of February 2012, Max Sullivan was drawn as the major winner of a choice of $30,000 cash or a Mitsubishi ASX LS valued at $36,000. Mr. Sullivan was notified of his win and was thrilled and stunned to hear the news. Mr. Sullivan said he bought the Pin to support the cause and never gave it a thought that he might win.

Paralympics New Zealand is working with Mr. Sullivan around which option he would like to take for his prize.

The Pin and Win promotion involves the sale of a PNZ lapel pin and the inclusion of a free scratch card. The promotion has been a highly successful programme for Paralympics New Zealand, not only raising much needed funds but also informing and educating the public about Paralympic Sport and New Zealand athletes’ performances on the world stage.

A new series of Pin and Win is currently under development and will launch soon to continue assisting Paralympics New Zealand athletes to the London 2012 Paralympic Games and beyond.

Paralympics New Zealand would like to congratulate Max Sullivan on his win and thank all those that purchased pins for their support.

- Paralympics New Zealand


02 Feb 2012
Variety Gold Heart Scholarships - Applications Now Open
Variety - The Children’s Charity wants to help Kiwi kids reach their full potential in education, music, art, and sport through its Gold Heart Scholarship programme.

Applications are now open for the programme, which provides talented Kiwi kids who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged with $5,000 and matches them with a mentor to assist them to reach their goals. To apply children should already be at a high level in their field and show passion and commitment to achieve a long-term aspirational goal as demonstrated by significant achievements to date.

Gold Heart Scholarships form part of Variety’s Future Kiwi Kids programme. The Variety Gold Heart Scholarship Programme makes up to $5,000 available per annum for up to three years to help children who are physically or financially challenged to fulfil their dreams. This could include assisting with tuition fees, personal development, coaching, and the purchase of training equipment, travel or accommodation.

One of the unique aspects of the Scholarship is that each recipient is assigned a leading professional or celebrity mentor to encourage and support them throughout the year.

Applications close on March 31, 2012.

For further information on application criteria or to download an application form, please CLICK HERE or call Denise Burke on (09) 520 4111.

- Variety


02 Feb 2012
Football Open Day - Youth with a Physical Disability - Christchurch
Come along to Mainland Football, ASB Football Park in Christchurch on Saturday 18th February to have a go at football. For more information or to register contact Justin Muschamp, Sport Opportunity Advisor on 03 373 5050 or email justin@sportcanterbury.org.nz.

For more information click here.

- Sport Canterbury


31 Jan 2012
Greenville Awarded 2014 Para-Cycling World Championships
The UCI officially announced that Greenville, South Carolina has been awarded the 2014 para-cycling road world championships. The championships will take place August 28th to September 1st. It has been 16 years since the para-cycling world championships have been in the U.S.

Athletes will compete in categories based on their ability, on handcycles, adapted bikes, tricycle and tandems in the road race and time trial disciplines.

According to Louis Barbeau, President of the UCI Para-Cycling Commission, Greenville's commitment to the event was the reason why the city won the bid, stating how impressed the UCI was.

Barbeau expects about 700 people to be a part of the para-cycling games, so having an infrastructure that could accommodate them was key, such as having hotels that are wheelchair accessible and the support of the city.

"I had the pleasure of meeting the mayor and mayor pro tem and we could already see that there was a commitment." Continuing Barbeau said, "I haven't seen a bid of that quality before."

Several cities in Europe expressed interest in hosting the championships, but no written commitment.

Also in attendance was Greenville resident George Hincapie. The 16-time Tour de France participant took to the podium and expressed his satisfaction with Greenville's winning bid.

"This adds to Greenville's already long list of cycling events," said Hincapie. "And this event will not only promote Greenville nationally and across the world, but help our local people and let people know all the wonderful things Greenville provides: the bike paths, the roads, the weather. If you're a cyclist this is an ideal place to ride a bike."

Greenville had come to the attention of the cycling world prior to the national professional championships which has called it home for the past seven years. Stage 7 of the 1995 Tour du Pont ended in Greenville and the downtown area has hosted big dollar criteriums during the 1990s.

Ian Lawless, Executive Director of U.S. Handcycling, said that the exact course for the road race and time trial for para-cycling are still being considered.

"We have identified a variety of possibilities, but nothing that is concrete. We're looking at the Millennium Campus to possibly host some and possibly some stuff downtown. A lot of that will be announced in the coming months."

The Millennium Campus is the current site of the U.S. Pro Championships time trial course.

Speaking to someone familiar with how a course must be designed for a para-cycling race they thought that a loop through downtown Greenville and around the neighboring Cleveland Park area could be a strong candidate. The Millennium Campus would be utilized for the time trial.

An economic impact study states that Greenville should anticipate more than 4.5 million dollars for the local economy.

- Cycling News


31 Jan 2012
Parafed Otago Fr Leo Close Memorial Games
The Parafed Otago Fr Leo Close Memorial Games will be held on Saturday 25th February 2012 and will include the sports of athletics, boccia, table tennis and swimming.

Athletics being held in conjunction with the Otago Athletic Championships and the swimming events being combined with the Swim Otago competition (Saturday 11th February).

Entries are open for athletes with a physical disability.

  Memorial Games Entry Form & Draft Programme

- Parafed Otago


31 Jan 2012
Wheelchair Rugby Have A Go Day - Auckland
Parafed Auckland and Auckland Wheelchair Rugby Club are holding a "Have A Go" Day at wheelchair rugby for anyone who is interested or wondered if it is for them. This is your chance to try it out, have a bit of fun and talk to the guys about rugby opportunities.

Equipment will be supplied on the day. Due to people having different body sizes and function, we will endeavour to do our best to accommodate everyone.

To register your interest, contact Parafed Auckland 09 270 2503 or email: office@parafedauckland.co.nz

- Parafed Auckland


26 Jan 2012
Mia Masters Hard Knocks In Quest For Gold
Gutsy Queenstown teenager Mia O'Keefe doesn't let a disability keep her from living life to the full. At just 16, she's got the 2014 Russia Paralympics in her sights.

Recently named Southland Secondary Schools Sportsperson With a Disability Sportsperson of the Year, Mia, who was born with spina bifida, is far from confined to a wheelchair.

Keeping up with three brothers on a skateboard at a very young age, Mia is not afraid of a few hard knocks. Every winter weekend she can be seen at The Remarkables racing and practising jumps and rails on her mono-ski.

Last year she won the Southland Secondary Schools disabled adaptive skiing giant slalom event at Cardrona on her new Prashburger mono ski, purchased with funds from the Halberg Trust and private donations. Queenstown ski racers Tim Cafe and Andrew Wylie also donated bindings.

But a highlight for last season for Mia was competing in the New Zealand Winter Games women's adaptive skiing giant slalom event, and mixing with other skiers.

At the last games she even got to meet her hero, US disabled ski team Paralympic gold, silver and bronze medallist, Alana Nichols.

"She was really cool. She told me she'd see me at the 2014 Paralympics in Russia," said Mia.

She has also met Otago's gold-medal winning Paralympian Adam Hall during a development camp at the Snow Park and Cardrona. "He came to one of our sessions and brought his gold medal."

Hall was a great inspiration, urging Mia to follow her dreams and not give up. Those dreams include gold at the Paralympics and she is hoping to head to the United States early this year to get some race training on different terrain under the adaptive programme at Colorado's Winter Park.

Photo - Sue Fea

A $500 Disabled Snow Sports New Zealand grant has kick-started her travel fund.

But Mia is not about to sit at home waiting for winter to arrive. During summer she enjoys kayaking trips with her mum, Suzanne White, who has also been teaching her to play tennis.

Mia also took her first sailing lesson on Lake Wakatipu last month. The next sport she hopes to tick off her "can do" list is wheelchair basketball.

- The Southland Times


24 Jan 2012
IPC to Reunite Paralympians in London
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), in conjunction with the IPC Athletes' Council, is organizing a Paralympian Reunion on 7 September in London to coincide with the Paralympic Games.

Taking place in Central London, the event will bring together athletes and officials from previous Paralympic Games to share stories and celebrate their accomplishments while, at the same time, taking in action from London 2012.

Last year the IPC issued a survey to gauge the interest of Paralympians in a reunion and the response was overwhelming.

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: "This is the first time that we have taken the step to reunite Paralympians from all over the world and it promises to be an evening to remember.

"Not only will be a chance for people to meet up with old teammates, but also old rivals who they may not have seen since competing against them in previous editions of the Paralympic Games."

To help Paralympians in planning their trips to London for September's Reunion, the IPC has appointed eVenture Zone, the IPC's official ticket and hospitality partner, to offer a number of four and five day packages to the event which also takes in sporting action from the London Games and the Closing Ceremony.

The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960 and since then the size of the event has grown exponentially. In London 4,200 athletes from 160 countries compete in 20 different sports.

- International Paralympic Committee


20 Jan 2012
Nathan Smith - On The World Stage
Stratford pharmacist Nathan Smith is training hard for the World Paracycling Track Championship, hosted in Los Angeles in February.

The 35-year-old is ranked fourth in the world in the 3km track pursuit and fifth in the 1km track time trials, and says he aims to bring back a medal. ``There are a couple of guys that are really strong competition. But anything can happen on the day. I am within a few seconds of them,'' says Nathan.

But the real prize, he says, is gold in the 3km track-pursuit at the London Paralympics next year, August 29-September 9. He was on the limit of qualifying for the last Paralympics, held in Beijing in 2008, but he didn't pursue it due to the imminent birth of his daughter, Saskia.

He will be attending training camps in Auckland and Invercargill in January and the New Zealand paracycling team, which will be finalised at the end of January, will fly out to LA at the start of February.

It has not been an easy ride for Nathan. He only seriously took up cycling after a car drove into him in London seven years ago, costing him a lower leg and putting an end to his rugby days.

Photo - Erika Venter

Nathan, the brother of All Black Conrad Smith, says sport has always been a big part of his life. He met a man when learning to walk with his artificial limb who suggested he take up cycling. And with the support of his uncle, Cleve Reed in New Plymouth, entered the racing scene.

Nathan made his international debut at the 2010 paracycling world champs in Canada where he placed eighth in the C3 road race.

Placing in the top five ensured him SPARC funding for the LA world champs, but he says with pre-training camps held in Italy extra funding might be necessary.

Nathan says the support he receives from his family, the community and Mackays Pharmacy, where he works, is ``absolutely wonderful''.

His wife, Crystal, herself an avid athlete, completed the Tauranga half ironman event on January 7, finishing 18th in the individual women's 30-34 years division in a time of 5:47:34.

The couple lives in New Plymouth and also have a 1-year- old son, Ashton.

- Stratford Press


20 Jan 2012
Three Kiwis Invited to Prestigious Winter X Games
Carl Murphy is one of three New Zealand snow sports athletes who have been invited to the prestigious Winter X Games 16. Murphy joins Jossi Wells and Rose Battersby as the athletes who will compete at the Winter X Games that will be held from the 26th - 29th January in Aspen, Colorado.

Snowboarder, Carl Murphy (Lake Hawea), will compete in Adaptive Snowboard Cross. “After the disappointing news in August that Para-Snowboarding was turned down by the Sochi committee for inclusion in 2014 Paralympic Games the X Games gives me a new focus for my snowboarding career,” said Murphy who also received an invite to the inaugural event in 2011 but was unable to accept given the impending birth of his first child.


Carl Murphy will compete in the second ever X Games Adaptive Snowboard Cross

To keep on top of all of the Winter X Games action click here.

- Snow Sports New Zealand


19 Jan 2012
Programme Manager (Disability Sport) Position Vacancy - Halberg Trust
The Halberg Trust are currently looking for a Programme Manager to manage the disability sport programmes/tools and new Disability Sport Co-ordinators.

Based at the Trust Head Office in Auckland and reporting to the National Manager, the Programme Manager is a new position, tasked with developing and reviewing disability sport programmes and ‘tools’; training and managing staff; and monitoring and evaluating to ensure that we are achieving our desired outcomes and impacts.

For more information click here.

- Halberg Trust


18 Jan 2012
New Zealand Boccia Officials Appointed For London 2012
New Zealand will be represented by two boccia officials at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, with Paul Coffey and Luke Morriss both having important roles at the Games.

Paul Coffey has been appointed as one of the International Technical Officials for Boccia at the Games. Every 4 years the CPISRA Boccia Committee nominates referees from around the world based on their performance over the past quadrennial. Paul is considered as one of the best in this field and therefore will be one of 15 International referees at the event in charge of officiating the Boccia.

Luke Morriss has been appointed Technical Officials Group Leader for the Games, as well as for a London Test event in May. Luke's role will be to lead his team around the management and provision of services for the Boccia Technical Officials - making sure that officials are looked after upon arrival and during competition; that the venue, transport, administration and other logistics concerning officials is being looked after and officials are catered for, plus any other tasks deemed necessary for the running of the Boccia event as a whole.

- Paralympics New Zealand


17 Jan 2012
Who do you think will win the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year at the Halberg Awards?
Visit our Facebook page and vote on who you think will win the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year at the Halberg Awards.

To vote visit www.facebook.com/paralympicsnewzealand

- Paralympics New Zealand


17 Jan 2012
Sports Opportunities From Around The Regions
You can now find out about upcoming sports opportunities from Around The Regions by visiting our Regional News page. Already advertised are some great opportunities being held in Auckland, Taranaki, Manawatu and Wellington over the coming months.

To read more click here.

- Paralympics New Zealand


17 Jan 2012
New Zealand Blind Sailing Championships
Blind Sailing New Zealand invites entries and enquiries from blind and vision impaired sailors to sail in the New Zealand Blind Sailing Championships to be held off Westhaven Marina Auckland Harbour, on the 18th - 19th February 2012.

The race boats for the regatta will be the 10 metre Farr MRXs, and crews will comprise a maximum of 4 blind and vision impaired persons plus a sighted tactician and a sighted forward hand.

This variation on the usual 2 blind and 2 sighted crew configuration is to provide opportunities for new or less experienced blind sailors to participate in this championship fleet racing event aboard the spacious and exciting MRX keelboats.

Entry fee $100 per crew payable by the skipper. The official notice of race will be available soon.

This event will also be the first opportunity for the Blind Sailing Talent scouts prospecting for a training squad for the 2013 World Blind Sailing Championships in Japan.

Entries and enquiries about getting on to a New Zealand Championships crew phone Dick Lancaster 07 896 6484 or Brian Trubovich 09 376 2803.

- Blind Sailing New Zealand


13 Jan 2012
London 2012: Nomination Criteria Updated For Sailing
The Sailing nomination criteria for the London 2012 Paralympic Games has been updated as at the 23rd December 2011.

To view the nomination criteria click here.

- Paralympics New Zealand


11 Jan 2012
Jesse Reynolds - Tough Taupo Swim a Test for Aspiring Paralympian
Jesse Reynolds doesn't hesitate when asked what he wants to do with his life.

He wants to swim, he wants to compete at the highest level and he wants to win gold medals for New Zealand.

The swimming pool is his second home and he spends up to 16 hours a week training at Fairfield Swim Club with about 30 others.

But there is one thing that sets Jesse, 15, apart from his peers – he has only one leg. He was born with a rare condition, proximal femoral focal deficiency (a malformed hip socket and no thigh bone), and is the only one in his club with a disability.

He's had a prosthetic leg since he was two, but discards the prosthesis when he hits the water, relying predominantly on his upper-body strength.

This Saturday, Jesse will trade the pool for the choppy Lake Taupo to compete in his first open water race, the 5km State Epic Swim. "It fully changes because instead of the water being flat you're rocking everywhere and there's wind and there's 200 other people swimming right next to you," he said.

His coach, Ken Nixon, reckons Jesse has potential as a long distance swimmer and this weekend will serve as a trial run.

But Jesse's main goal is to qualify for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

In November he won seven gold medals at the Paralympics New Zealand National Championships and in 2009 won a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke at the Paralympic Youth Games in Melbourne.

His mother, Tracey Reynolds, has lost count of how many medals he's hoarded since he started competing six years ago.

The Hamilton Boys' High School year 11 pupil said he had been bullied because of his disability but swimming helped earn the respect of his peers.

"It does actually help because after going overseas and stuff it all got brought up at school in assemblies and stuff, and everyone, instead of saying 'oh you're that boy with one leg,' they say `oh you're that good swimmer, eh?"'

He is faster than many able-bodied competitors, but said his success in the sport had come at a cost.

"It is a sacrifice, obviously," he said. "Obviously if you want to get anywhere you have to train. It's hard work and you get very tired, but it's worth it."

Photo - Bruce Mercer

- Jonathan Carson, Waikato Times


09 Jan 2012
Hope & Possibility 5km Fun Run
The 5km Hope and Possibility Event will be held on Sunday 19th February 2012 at the North Harbour Stadium, Albany and is an opportunity for people with and without disabilities at all levels of fitness to compete together in a mainstream event.

 For more information click here

- Achilles International New Zealand


08 Jan 2012
Adam Hall Aims for Slalom Victory
This season New Zealand’s Adam Hall is already proving himself as king of the mountains, finishing in first place on both days of the men’s Standing Slalom competition at the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) NORAM Cup on Copper Mountain in Colorado, USA from 12-15 December 2011.

The Paralympian, the IPC's official magazine, caught up with him to learn how his career has gone full circle, and how he wants to do even better in Sochi 2014.
Adam Hall is a determined man, following a simple philosophy.

“I was born with a disability, but that’s what life is about. It’s about changing things that are difficult and making them into things you can do.

“If I was to go on a running race with you, I’d be the one with the disability. But come and have a ski with me and you’d be the one with the disability.”

Born with spina bifida, Hall took up skiing aged six, switching to snowboarding when he was nine.

Dreaming big
After 12 years of competition, and snowboarding not part of the Winter Games programme, Hall realised that to fulfil his Paralympic dream he would have to switch back to skiing.

“One of my goals and dreams was to represent New Zealand at the highest level possible, so I changed back in 2004 to try qualify for Torino 2006.”

Qualify he did, though he finished outside of the medals, which made him even more determined to return in Vancouver faster and stronger.

“The goal was not just to get on the podium, but to be top of it with a gold medal. I wasn’t going there for silver and bronze.”

Paralympic legend
After his first Slalom run at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games, Hall looked very much on track. A sensational ski gave him a 2.13 seconds lead.

But then disaster struck.

With 20 gates to go in his second run, Hall fell. What happened next will go down as in Paralympic folklore.

“I didn’t have too much time to think about it really, my body just kicked into autopilot,” is how Hall describes somehow picking himself up, recovering and continuing his run to still claim victory with a 0.57 second margin.

Now a national hero, the inspirational Kiwi has turned his aspirations to Sochi 2014, where he not only wants to retain his title but improve his results in other disciplines.

“In Vancouver I finished eighth and seventh in Super G and Super Combined. In Scohi, I’ll be looking to see if I can sneak in another medal.”

With his determination, you would not rule it out.

- International Paralympic Committee


06 Jan 2012
Young Amputee Sets Sights on Paralympic Games
Bryall McPherson was a promising young tennis player, until circumstances forced her to hang up her racquet four years ago. Video featured on www.3news.co.nz.

To watch the video click here.

- 3 News


05 Jan 2012
Paralympic Stars Shortlisted for Halberg Disabled Sportsperson of the Year Award
Michael Johnson, Jayne Parsons, Sophie Pascoe and Daniel Sharp will go head to head in the new disabled sportsperson of the year category of New Zealand's Halberg Awards.

Para-shooter Johnson claimed gold at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, also taking a bronze four years later in Beijing, and is the reigning world champion.

Parsons took two medals, including a gold, from the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships last March, and is hoping to build on her bronze medal from Beijing 2008 in London this year.

Sharp, a 100 metres SB13 breaststroke star, is also a contender after coming away from the 2011 IBSA World Championships with two gold medals, two silvers and a bronze, including breaking his own SB13 50m breaststroke world record time.

He has previously won silver and gold medals at the Beijing 2008 and Athens 2004 Paralympics respectively.

Triple Paralympic Games champion Pascoe will be another strong contender for the award after claiming 100 metre breaststroke SB9 gold at the BT Paralympic World Cup in Manchester last year.

The Halberg Awards recognise sporting excellence in New Zealand and aim to raise awareness and proceeds for disability community work.

The winner could also take the supreme Halberg award when the results are due to be announced on February 9 at the Skycity Grand Hotel in Auckland.

- David Gold, Inside World ParaSport


03 Jan 2012
Bay Duo Dream of Paralympics
The New Year weekend rain provided ideal conditions for rowers at the 139th Hawke's Bay Rowing Regatta this week, particularly for two competitors who are looking to represent New Zealand at this year's Paralympics in London.

Hawke's Bay Rowing Club's adaptive rowing pair Gavin Foulsham and Jacqui Courtier weren't complaining about the swollen state of the Clive River when they finished the second of their two races together yesterday afternoon.

"What's happened is the Ngaruroro [River] has flooded and that's pushed water around to the Clive River and so we've got a full river for the whole regatta and not just at 1pm [high tide]," Foulsham said.

Rowers at the two-day regatta, from clubs around the country, say the greater depth in the river will allow them to record faster times.

Foulsham, from Havelock North, and Courtier, from Putaruru, Waikato, said they were aiming for a time of about 4 minutes and 20 seconds over 1000m.

"That's the time we need to qualify for the Paralympics," Foulsham said.

"But we have three more regattas left here in New Zealand first so we're still getting a pathway through to the final qualifying round, which I think is only about 16 weeks away, in Belgrade, Serbia. "There is one more spot left for the Paralympics so the top eight have already qualified. I think there is a crew from Japan which is on the same path as us, but without seeing them on the water, I'm not sure how well they are doing."

The regatta also gave them the opportunity to become familiar with their refitted pairs vessel, which had been customised to suit Courtier's rowing reach.

Foulsham, a former wheelchair racer, had previously competed at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics and at Sydney in 2000, where he finished fifth in the 800m and ninth in the marathon. He is the New Zealand record holder for the 800m wheelchair event and has also completed the Boston Marathon and Coast to Coast.

Foulsham decided to head into rowing about a year ago. He and Courtier had been working under the guidance of Hawke's Bay rowing coach Rohan Condon.

"Gavin and Jacqui are basically rowing competitively without the use of their legs," Condon said.

"They are the ones we're really keen on and we're quite sure they can make the qualifying time. We've got about two months left to go to prepare them.

"It's been hard to get them together because Jacqui is up in the Waikato and Gavin and I are here [Hawke's Bay] and so we've got them here for three or four days together to train."

Condon said the pair trained well with the Australian team at the Sydney International Rowing Centre in Penrith last winter.

- Hawkes Bay Today


01 Jan 2012
Craven Excited by “Most Important Year Yet for Paralympic Movement”
The President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Sir Philip Craven has said 2012 promises to be the most important year yet for the Paralympic Movement as it prepares for an emotional return to its spiritual birthplace.

New Years Day will mark 241 days to go until the start of the London Paralympic Games and Sir Philip believes 2012 could be a landmark year.

Sir Philip Craven said: “The year ahead has the potential to propel the Paralympic Movement to new unimaginable levels.

“London is shaping up to match and maybe surpass what was achieved in Beijing, which is something I never thought possible.

“This is a big, big year, not just for the IPC but for the whole Movement, International Sporting Federations, National Paralympic Committees, Regions and founding federations.

“Together we can deliver something very special in London, and wouldn’t it be fitting to deliver the best ever Paralympic Games in the country where it all started.

“It’s hard to imagine that something Sir Ludwig Guttmann started in 1948 with just a handful of injured serviceman at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, will in nine months time see 4,200 highly trained athletes from over 150 countries compete in 20 sports in front of packed crowds.

“Together we have to seize the opportunity and write the next chapter in the exceptional success story of the Paralympic Games.”

Although London 2012 will be the main attraction in the year ahead, the IPC President is quick to stress that it should not be the Paralympic Movement’s sole focus.

”In 2012 we also have to concentrate on the vital planning for future Paralympic Games in Sochi, Rio and PyeongChang, as well as the continuing growth of the Movement,” explained Sir Philip.

“Our goal remains to increase participation at all levels – from the grassroots right through to the elite. We must not take our eyes off this important strategic goal.

“In 2011 we witnessed a major international or regional sporting event every second week and the year ahead is shaping up to be equally as exciting.

“I am looking forward to witnessing athletes at the very top of their game delivering some memorable performances to sold out stadia and to TV audiences all over the world.”

- International Paralympic Committee


31 Dec 2011
Finalists Announced for Halberg Awards
A feature of this years Halberg Awards is the addition of a new Disabled Sportsperson of the Year category, with the winner to join the Sportsman, Sportswoman and Team category winners in being eligible for the supreme Halberg Award.

The Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award finalists are Michael Johnson (shooting), Jayne Parsons (cycling), Sophie Pascoe (swimming) and Daniel Sharp (swimming).

The winners will be announced on Thursday 9th February 2012

- Paralympics New Zealand


30 Dec 2011
Para-Canoe Athlete Selected for Oceania Championships
Canoe Racing New Zealand (CRNZ) has selected Para-Canoe athlete Scott Martlew as part of the team to represent New Zealand at the ICF Oceania Canoe Sprint Championships to be held in Sydney, Australia between the 2nd - 4th March 2012.

Martlew, 19yrs, from Christchurch, has been selected following recent performances at the South Island and Blue Lake regattas. Martlew will join the CRNZ junior team for the Oceania campaign.

- Canoe Racing New Zealand


29 Dec 2011
Online Games - Paralympic Sports
Channel 4 (UK), the official broadcaster of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, has developed two (very addictive) online games featuring the Paralympic Sports of wheelchair rugby and boccia.

To read more click here.

- Paralympics New Zealand


23 Dec 2011
2012 PNZ Athlete Performance Enhancement Grants Criteria
The PNZ Athlete Performance Enhancement Grants (PEGs) criteria for 2012 is now available to view on the website.

To view the 2012 PEGs criteria click here.

- Paralympics New Zealand


22 Dec 2011
Central Swimming & AWD Long Course Championships - Enter Now
The Central Swimming & AWD Long Course Championships will be held in Hamilton between the 10th - 12th February 2012.

To view the entry information click here.

- Swimming Waikato


21 Dec 2011
Paralympic Gold Medallist Adam Hall, Still On Top
Adam Hall proved why he is the king of mountains this week, finishing in first place on both days of the men’s Standing Slalom competition at the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) NORAM Cup on Copper Mountain in Colorado, USA from 12-15 December.

As the defending Paralympic gold medallist in the Standing Slalom, the Kiwi cruised to first place with a time of 1:26.67 on the first day of the event and easily garnered the title on the second day with a time of 1:19.46.

In the first race, Hall’s margin was 4.58 over second place skier Kirk Schornstein (CAN). Third place went to Canada’s Brayden Luscombe. The second race was a little closer with a margin of 1.81 over Australia’s Toby Kane and third place went to Australia’s Mitchell Gourley.

“It always feels great to get the race season underway,” said Hall. “I was feeling pretty confident heading into these races. There have been a lot of people putting in lots of hard work over the last six months to get me in prime race shape, including my new coach Scott Olson.

Olson spent three months in New Zealand working with Hall both on and off snow.

“We have made some positive changes which we are paying dividends on a daily basis. It is pretty exciting,” said Hall. "Leaving Copper on top is a great start and one we will keep building on for the rest of the race season.”

The men’s Giant Slalom saw New Zealand’s Corey Peters competing in his second ever competition where he placed eighth in a field of 20 in his first race and 10th in his second race.

“Corey did really well in a very strong international field,” said Adaptive Snow Sports Manager, Libby Blackley. “The only other race he’s ever competed in was the nationals at Mt. Hutt where he made it as far as the first gate. Corey will be somebody to watch for in the future.”



For complete results from the competition click here.

- Snow Sports New Zealand


21 Dec 2011
Tim Prendergast at The Schools Network National Conference
New Zealand Paralympian Tim Prendergast recently spoke to 1200 Head Teachers at a National Schools conference in the UK alongside LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton and Baroness Sue Campbell.

Visit the link below - Tim's presentation starts at 14:30 into the video.

To watch the video click here.

- Paralympics New Zealand


16 Dec 2011
High Performance Investments Focused on Big Year of 2012
Kiwi athletes and teams who have performed well this year and those likely to do well in an Olympic year are the big winners in today’s 2012 investment announcement by High Performance Sport New Zealand.

High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) Acting Chief Executive Martin Toomey says the focus of today’s announcement is on 2012, with new and continued investment support geared towards Kiwi athletes aiming for podium finishes or top 16 results next year.

“These investment decisions also recognise recent strong performances by Kiwi athletes. We’re really excited by how New Zealanders have been performing on the world stage and we know we’ve got a big year ahead of us with the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he says.

To read the full article click here.

- High Performance Sport New Zealand


16 Dec 2011
Wheelchair Tennis Open Day - Auckland
The Halberg Trust, ParaFed Auckland and Tennislife have combined forces and are running a Wheelchair Tennis Open Day, on Thursday 26th January 2012 from 9am to 12pm at the Forrest Hill Tennis Centre, Auckland.

For more information click here.

- Halberg Trust


15 Dec 2011
New Zealand Misses on Para-Equestrian Team Qualification
There wasn’t too much excitement in the Kiwi Para-Equestrian camp with the team missing out to Australia on the one Oceania spot for the London Paralympics. New Zealand still has the opportunity to gain individual positions for the Paralympics through the rider rankings list.

The bonus to come out of the Australian competition was Jenny Affleck (Otago), Ilona Lawrence (Blenheim) and Anthea Gunner (Christchurch) all gaining their certificates of capability for the Paralympics. They join Jo Jackson (Rotorua), Rachel Stock (Auckland) and Frances Dick (Nelson) as New Zealand Para-Equestrian riders part way towards being eligible for selection for the 2012 Paralympics.

Rachel Stock was the best performed rider taking out the Reserve Champion title in the Grade 3.

However, none of the six have yet met the strict selection criteria of Paralympics New Zealand and Equestrian Sports New Zealand.

Paralympic Team Qualification
United States 1, Australia 2, New Zealand 3, Japan 4

- Equestrian Sport New Zealand


14 Dec 2011
Halberg Award Nominees Announced
Official nominations are in for the 2011 Westpac Halberg Awards.

This year the Trust has added the Halberg Trust Disabled Sportsperson category, which is to be awarded to the disabled sportsperson or team whose level of achievement represented excellence in sport at the highest level.

The nominees for the Halberg Trust Disabled Sportsperson of the Year are:

Carl Murphy - Snowboarding
George Thomas - Canoe
Daniel Sharp - Swimming
Jayne Parsons - Cycling
Michael Johnson - Shooting
Sophie Pascoe - Swimming
Susan Reid - Cycling

Swim coach Roly Crichton is a nominee for the Coach of the Year Award.

- Paralympics New Zealand


14 Dec 2011
Parsons, Reid and McBride Named Award Winners
Jayne Parsons, Sue Reid and Danny McBride have all been recognised for their outstanding performances over the past 12 months by being named award winners at various functions across the country.

At the Maori Sports Awards held in Auckland, cyclist Jayne Parsons was the recipient of the Disabled Maori Sportsperson of the Year Award. Parsons, with her pilot Sonia Waddell, are the current World Champions in the 3km Pursuit following their gold medal performance at the 2011 Para-Cycling Track World Championships.

Fellow cyclist Sue Reid was named Sportsperson of the Year at the Hauraki Thames Coromandel District Sports Awards following a successful year that included medals at the 2011 Para-Cycling Road World Championships and 2011 Para-Cycling Road World Cups.

Rower Danny McBride was named Sportsperson of the Year at the South Waikato District Awards, following his bronze medal performance at the Rowing World Championships in November 2011.

Maori Sports Awards
Jayne Parsons - Disabled Maori Sportsperson of the Year

Hauraki Thames Coromandel District Sports Awards
Sue Reid - Sportsperson of the Year

South Waikato District Awards
Danny McBride - Sportsperson of the Year


Jayne Parsons - Disabled Maori Sportsperson                   Danny McBride - South Waikato District Sportsperson

- Paralympics New Zealand


12 Dec 2011
Pascoe Named ParaFed Canterbury Sportsperson of the Year
Sophie Pascoe has been named the ParaFed Canterbury Sportsperson of the Year at the annual Christmas Function held in Christchurch last Saturday. This is the 5th year in a row that Pascoe has won this prestigious award.

Holly Robinson (now living in Dunedin) was named ParaFed Canterbury Junior Sportsperson of the Year following a successful 2011 which included competing at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships. Holly was also a winner of this award in 2009 and 2010.

Josh South was the recipient of the ParaFed Canterbury Coach Scholarship and Anthea Gunner was the recipient of the Graham Condon Athlete Scholarship.

Sportsperson of the Year
Sophie Pascoe - Swimming

Junior Sportsperson of the Year
Holly Robinson - Athletics

Most Promising Senior Athlete
Frances Dick - Equestrian

Most Promising Junior Athlete
Jason Wali - Athletics

Coach Scholarship
Josh South - Swimming

Graham Condon Athlete Scholarship
Anthea Gunner - Equestrian



                        Josh South - Swimming
  ParaFed Canterbury Coach Scholarship Recipient


For a full list of award winners visit www.parafedcanterbury.co.nz

- ParaFed Canterbury


11 Dec 2011
A Super Day For Hill while a Wet one for the Para-Dressage Riders
It was a wet day in Werribee, Australia on Saturday which saw two major thunder storms roll on through bringing with it lighting and thunder and enough water to provide plenty of mud, flooding of arenas and some stables.

On Saturday evening the FEI Pacific League World Cup Dressage Final Freestyle was held, which despite the raining clearing was held indoors in front of a large crowd.

Louisa Hill and Bates Antonello competing in only the pair’s sixth Grand Prix competition did a super Freestyle picking up a score of 70.375% and to take out third place in the League Final. This was a great achievement after what has been a long Australian campaign for Louisa and AJ, which has seen them now achieve the ESNZ and NZ Olympic Committee Olympic selection criteria. The pair has one further competition on Sunday being the Grand Prix Special, which could see them pick up yet another Olympic Selection Criteria score. Australian Rachel Sanna and Jaybee Alabaster took out the overall top honours and earning them a place in the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Germany next year.

The wet weather caused disruption to the FEI Para-Dressage competition with a halt being called in the middle of the Grade 3 competition then resuming an hour later. The two hours later a second storm came in which saw the Grade 2 competition being postponed till Sunday. This meant that the Para-Dressage Team competition can’t be finalised until Sunday when the Grade 2 riders will ride their individual championship competition instead of their Freestyle test which the other grades will compete for today. Unfortunately the Grade 2 riders will not get to compete their Freestyle test although this won’t affect any potential Paralympic Qualification.

For the kiwi Para-Dressage riders that did get to compete on Saturday, another mixed bag of results was achieved. Rachel Stock and Rimini Park Emmerich competing in Grade 3 did a nice test to improve slightly on their Friday score finishing with 63.889% and taking out second place. Anne Watts and BJK Cashmir picked up 3 extra percentage points from their previous day to achieve 57.611%.

In the Grade 4 competition Jo Jackson and Nonchalant scored 58.279%, a tough score despite some nice work being delivered. Jenny Affleck and Boss II picked up a similar score to that of they achieved on Friday, finishing on 60.108%. Ilona Lawrence and Taihoa Kingsmoor were the only other combination to compete and following a solid effort scored 61.250% to take out third place in the 1a Grade.

Competition concludes today (Sunday) and following the Grade 2 riders completing their championship test the final Team scores will be known, at this stage NZL is trailing Australia by 9% points.

For full results click the following link: www.equestrianvictoriaevents.com.au/DF/pdf/Day 3.pdf

- Equestrian Sport New Zealand


10 Dec 2011
IPC Honours Good and Great at Paralympic Awards Gala in Beijing
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) honoured the top athletes, officials, media and contributors to the Paralympic Movement in the last two years on Saturday evening (10 December) at the Paralympic Awards Gala in the Intercontinental Hotel ballroom in Beijing, China.

Sky Sport New Zealand won the broadcast category after capturing the true spirit of the Paralympic Games, in particular with its extraordinary coverage of alpine skier Adam Hall.

The live coverage of Hall’s gold-medal race captured the entire nation, and the network also produced live coverage of the Opening and Closing ceremonies, post-race interviews, medal presentations and a daily primetime 55-minute highlights programme.

To read the full article click here.

- International Paralympic Committee


09 Dec 2011
Fifteen Para-Equestrians Secure London 2012 Training Grants
Fifteen Para-Equestrians from five different countries have secured a share of a €25,500 London 2012 training grant from Eurovestech plc, the pan-European development capital fund.

Three riders from Hong Kong, Israel, New Zealand, Poland and Russia will use the grants to fund their training, with London 2012 Paralympic qualification as their major goal.

The grants were launched in July this year to support Para-Equestrians from nations where funding is limited and who have not won medals at the Paralympics, World Championships or World Equestrian Games since 2004.

New Zealand’s Frances Dick, who is aiming to compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, is delighted to be awarded a training grant. “My dream of bringing home a medal from the London 2012 Paralympics has just got a whole lot closer and the grant comes at a time when funding is critical in the countdown to 2012.”

Frances Dick will this week join fellow New Zealanders Joanna Jackson and Rachel Stock, who have also received Eurovestech training grants, at the Oceania team qualifier for London 2012 in Victoria (AUS) on 9-10 December, when New Zealand will go head-to-head with Australia to secure a team place (four athletes and four horses) in Greenwich.

The International Paralympic Committee last week ranked Paralympic Equestrian fourth on its “hottest” Paralympic sports to watch list. Spectator numbers for Paralympic Equestrian hit a record 40,000 even before remaining tickets went on sale last Friday (2 December).

“The grants are a welcome boost for these highly talented Para-Equestrian athletes who are training intensely for the London 2012 Paralympic Games,” said Chief Executive Officer of the International Paralympic Committee Xavier Gonzalez. “The IPC is looking forward to seeing riders representing a wide range of nations in London.”

The fifteen athletes who have received the Eurovestech training grants are:

Hong Kong - Robert Arro, Janny Ma, Natasha Tse
Israel - Yonathan Dressler, Omer Ben Dor, Amit Hasdai
New Zealand - Joanna Jackson, Rachel Stock, Frances Dick
Poland - Mariusz Woszczek, Patrycja Gepner, Tomasz Zdankowski
Russia - Oleg Burmistrov, Anton Arkhireev, Maria Zagorskaya

Trond Asmyr, FEI Director of Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage also welcomed the announcement of successful grant applicants. “The training grants will help our Paralympic hopefuls to focus clearly on their goals as we count down to London 2012,” he said.

“The spectator numbers at the London 2012 Paralympics will be phenomenal, and are already considerably higher than at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic equestrian events in Hong Kong where there were 33,000 people. This is helping to spur on our Para-Equestrian athletes who have competed at several Games, and for those who will be competing for the first time it will be an unforgettable experience.”

- Equestrian Sport New Zealand


02 Dec 2011
Sophie Pascoe Wins Attitude Award
Christchurch Paralympic swimmer Sophie Pascoe was crowned sports performer of the year for the second time at the Attitude Awards last night.

The awards celebrate the achievements of New Zealanders living with disabilities and have grown out of the Attitude television series, which screens on TVNZ.

Pascoe said last night's award was "special and humbling", even though it was the second time she had claimed the title sports performer of the year - in 2008 she won the same award.

The 18-year-old swimming champ broke two world records at the Pan Pacific para-swimming championships in Canada in August and said she "can't even remember how many medals" she came back with.

"Winning last night was actually very humbling because it was not just a sporting award. I was up against people that do completely different things," she said.

The full time athlete lost a lower leg in a lawnmowing accident when she was aged two.

She is currently touring the North Island on swim camp with the Paralympics New Zealand Swim Team and has her sights set on the London Paralympics next year.

"All I can ask for is a personal best and hopefully that gets me on the podium," she said.

- The Press


01 Dec 2011
2XU Appointed Official Uniform Partner of Paralympics New Zealand
Paralympics New Zealand today appointed leading performance sports brand, 2XU, as its Official Uniform Partner for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

With less than nine months to go until the Opening Ceremony in London, Paralympics New Zealand is ensuring that every step is taken to support athletes in achieving medal winning success. Partnering with performance industry leaders like 2XU is critical to this goal at these highly anticipated Paralympic Games.

2XU will engineer all Official Team Wear and supply its market leading performance Compression apparel to Paralympics New Zealand.

“As an organisation Paralympics New Zealand looks to partner with the best of the best. This is what we have achieved with 2XU,” said Paralympics New Zealand CEO, Fiona Pickering.

“2XU comes to us with an unmatched performance pedigree and specialist design process for elite athletes - attributes key to all our Team Apparel.”

“Our formal alliance with 2XU represents a powerful partnership between two leading performance brands, and we look forward to seeing both the New Zealand silver fern and 2XU logo on the podium next year!”

   
                 Jayne Parsons and Sophie Pascoe                                Danny McBride                    Mike Johnson

- Paralympics New Zealand


01 Dec 2011
London 2012: Nomination Criteria Ratified For Table Tennis
Paralympics New Zealand and Table Tennis New Zealand are pleased to advise that the Table Tennis nomination criteria for the London 2012 Paralympic Games has been ratified by the PNZ Board.

To view the nomination criteria click here.

- Paralympics New Zealand


27 Nov 2011
Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Emblem Unveiled to the World
The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games emblem was unveiled on Saturday, November 26, at the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the lagoon that is one of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic landmarks and venue for the rowing and para-canoe events. The launch took place before approximately 200,000 people that watched the lighting of the 16th Bradesco Seguros Christmas Tree, the third largest annual event in the city, after the Copacabana New Year’s Eve celebration and the Carnival.

“This is an emblem that conveys passion and transformation from the perspective of the Paralympic Movement and its values: courage, determination, inspiration and equality. An emblem that not only can be seen, but also experienced through the various senses, reaching out to a larger number of people, in the same spirit of inclusion we want for the Games”, said the president of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Carlos Arthur Nuzman.

Emblem development was assigned to Tatil Design de Ideias, the same Brazilian design agency selected by Rio 2016 to create the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games emblem after a five-month selection process involving 139 local agencies. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recognised the breadth of this process, and also chose Tatil to develop the Paralympic emblem, as the agency was already immersed in the Rio 2016 values, which ensured full integration between the visual identity of both the Olympic and the Paralympic Games.

The emblem was first displayed at the end of the three-minute official video exhibition on the big screen in the event’s main stage, facing the Rowing Stadium, and on other four big screens spread around Lagoa. The audience was taken by surprise when, after the video presentation, and to a thrilling soundtrack, a huge sculpture of the brand, 4m tall, 3m wide and weighing 160kg, was lifted by an hydraulic platform next to the stage. A trail of fireworks was lit up from the platform towards the Christmas Tree, signaling its lighting.

To read the full article click here.

- International Paralympic Committee
 

Last Updated | Sunday, 05 February 2012