PROUD TO BE A KIWI

As a nation New Zealand tends to be a great sporting nation and we succeed way above our weight if you consider our population. When I was younger the description Rugby, Racing and Beer was synonymous with being a Kiwi, perhaps less so nowadays. The racing referred to is horse racing and there will not be many Kiwi's who have never placed a bet. Of course our friends across the ditch in Australia were sometimes better than us but there are a few arenas where we have excelled above anything that Australians can do. Rugby Football is one of those sports.

On Saturday our All Blacks secured the Bledisloe Cup. This is a rugby football competition between Australia and New Zealand.

If you're starting to take this All Black dominance of Australia for granted, banish those thoughts.

New Zealand's vice-like grip on the Bledisloe Cup - and Wallaby rugby minds - is now so absolute it should be considered a national treasure.

Steve Hansen's All Blacks tonight secured the Bledisloe Cup for an 11th consecutive season as they despatched the Wallabies for the second straight week with another very impressive performance, winning 27-16.  NEWS ITEM 

 On Sunday, 25th August, we finished off the Louis Vuitton Cup and the Team New Zealand boat lines up to do battle with Oracle for the America's Cup starting on September 7th 2013.

Here is a link to the first race with a very dramatic moment 45 minutes into the video.
Today's race was in fog and must have been quite a challenge in light winds. Luna Rossa, the Italian competition got lost more than 3 minutes behind to the finish..The Presentation.

And 15 year old Lydia Ko has shown her remarkable golfing prowess again.

PHOTO BY GRAEME MURRAY, AUCKLAND DEC. 16TH 2012

Golf: Lydia Ko wins Canadian Golf Open

Newstalk ZB - August 26, 2013, 9:59 am

Kiwi amateur Lydia Ko has romped to a successful defence of her Canadian women's Golf Open title at Edmonton.

She's won by five shots, finished with a stunning birdie putt on the 18th to card a final round six-under 64.

The 16-year-old finished on 15 under for the tournament.

Frenchwoman Karine Icher finished second.

Motor Racing is a sport both Australians and new Zealanders tend to excel in. For a few minutes we thought Scott Dixon was well on his way to winning another championship with a win at Sonoma Raceway. A controversial ruling when he hit a crew pit member from another team put paid to his chances. Sometimes it's tough to be an elite sportsman. NEWS ITEM

Valerie Adams, four times world Champion with Shotput was robbed of her gold medal at last year's Olympics when the Belarussian drug cheat made an incredible throw. Since then the wrong has been righted and Valerie has been showing Europe that she is definitely the best. This event was actually two weeks ago but who's counting when Kiwis are top of the sports ladder. NEWS ITEM Incidentally her younger brother, Stephen has been selected to train with  the NBA

None of these people got where they are without hard work. They all were persistent at working toward their ultimate goal and at times they became single minded in their pursuit. Money plays an important part in getting to the top but guess what? New Zealanders do not begin with big budgets. They get there with persistence and a 'Never Give Up' attitude.

In New Zealand we are proud of them. I am not terribly sports orientated but these people make me proud to be a Kiwi.

EARLY MORNING VIEW FROM THE HOUSE WHERE WE ARE KITTY-SITTING