Canterbury’s Capital Challenge – The New Zealand Community Trust Clash 2003

18 September 2003

The second annual Clash sports challenge kicks off next week. Can Wellington take on Canterbury and win two years running? The Wellington sports codes involved believe they can, and the level of interest in this year’s event has been high.

Last year 15 sports codes clashed in Wellington, with the home side coming out on top 21 to 9 in the final points count. This year, the challenge takes place on Canterbury grounds, with an increased number of codes travelling down to Christchurch to compete for the title of number one sporting province.

From athletics to yachting, sportspeople from the two regions will be ready to show their provincial loyalty and sporting spirit, and Paul Cameron, CEO of Sport Wellington Region says, “The Clash codes are grateful to the New Zealand Community Trust and the Christchurch City Council for supporting this match up between two of New Zealand’s most passionate provinces”.

Competing codes include soccer, netball, darts, snooker and billiards, goalball (a sport including vision-impaired sportspeople), chess, bridge, petanque, table tennis, badminton, squash, tennis, yachting, bowls, cross country, indoor bowls, karate, swimming, ten pin bowling, underwater hockey, and of course rugby.

The rugby match between Wellington and Canterbury on Saturday 27th September will be the final event of The Clash, a likely Ranfurly Shield challenge.

Sport Canterbury’s CEO Selwyn Maister is aggrieved by last year’s upset. "Stung by being in the unaccustomed position of losers in The 2002 Clash, the Canterbury sporting machine is gearing up for a fight-back in this year's encounter. Some serious preparation, added to the home advantage (a warm Nor’wester has been ordered), should see the Wellington visitors overheat and sent home relieved of the trophy."

There will also be some inter-Councillor competition with Wellington Councillors John Morrison, Alick Shaw and David Major meeting Mayor Garry Moore and Councillors Megan Evans and Graham Condon in a Go Kart showdown, and later to debate the contentious topic: “Canterbury leads, Wellington follows”.

Mayor Garry Moore relishes the opportunity to even the score, "It's fantastic to see so many Wellingtonians crossing the strait to compete in Christchurch. It'll be great to see the mighty Red and Blacks competing against the Yellow and Black. Our Council Team is looking forward to winning the Kart Racing on Saturday morning -- bring on the challenge. May the best province win, but Canterbury's looking forward to prominently displaying the Clash Trophy when our teams win it back. "

The Clash will end on Saturday night with The Clash Bash, the wrap-up party and trophy presentation, which will complete a weekend of sporting challenge and regional interaction.

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