New Zealand have a history of producing sports men and women that excel at more than one sport. Off the top of my head Brian McKechnie, Jeff Wilson, John Timu, Sonny-Bill Williams, Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Belinda Colling are in recent memory. Incidentally, Brian McKechnie played for the Black Caps in the days when we played in brown and the All Blacks. He had the ignominy of facing the underarm delivery from Trevor Chappell and the pure delight of kicking the winning goal against Wales after a lineout penalty that won us the Grand Slam. For all you people that cry foul because Andy Haden dived out of said lineout and was given a penalty, that wasn’t what the penalty was for, according to the referee who gave it. Roger Quittendon awarded a penalty for Geoff Wheel leaning all over Frank Oliver. Frank looked as if he made the most of it and Andy Haden was clearly trying to get the penalty but none the less, it was Mr Wheel’s indiscretion that cost them the game. I remember a piece that quoted Steve Fenwick as saying Wales were robbed of the game. Rich coming from the man who had deliberately led with the elbow and broken Clive Currie’s jaw, bringing McKechnie on to the field earlier in the game.
Anyway, I notice that Hamish Bond, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated athletes and dual international, has been left out of the New Zealand World Championship Track Cycling team for reasons known only to ANTIFA supporters. I use ANTIFA because it’s clear there is no reason except for…well nothing. ANTIFA is a funny organisation – Anti-Fascist. Hmmm, I wonder if they know what it means and the pure irony that comes with their protests? I’m quite sure ANTIFA are just as much in the dark for Hamish’s snub as the rest of us.
He recently beat the 2017 World champ and his time was one of the fastest ever recorded. There was some lame-arse excuse like, ‘the time was recorded too late.’ Fuck off noddy. Everybody and his dog knows that having a guy who has won 7 world championship gold medals and 2 Olympic Gold medals is invaluable in a team environment and has the work ethic and all-round toughness to compete at the highest level. It brings the team up to higher standards. Even if it is a different sport, the guy has shown he is one of New Zealand’s best cyclists and if he’s to go to the Olympics next year, this decision makes no sense at all. I wonder if he could compete as an independent?
I hope he makes the Olympic side and wins. He is a great New Zealand sportsman and a nice guy with it. Understated and tough.
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