Report from the New Zealand Women’s Team Captain

 

The year of 2008 started with great excitement and enthusiasm throughout the New Zealand Women. Since the trials in December it was incredible to see the improvement with each individual girl and it was evident that everyone was training and doing their share of work. I was thrilled to see the dedication amongst our younger girls who came to me for extra tuition for their double hand sawing training.

Prior to Sydney Royal Easter Show we certainly felt assured that we had a very sound Team.

During our first International race the underhand cutters chopped well as did our single hand sawyer saw well.

The double hand pairs somehow didn’t get it together with one saw getting out of control and as a natural reflex and safety issue the wedger put his hand on the saw to control it. After we thought we had won we were disqualified because of this issue. No advantage to us or disadvantage to anyone else.

The next race Mandy, our Manager made a couple of changes with one double pairing and a single sawyer, this along with our under hand choppers worked successfully and we came out the victors of that race.

The morning of our third International race, one of our team members became ill, Wendy Rakete-Stones our Vice Captain who initially wasn’t available for Team Events agreed to compete in that race to help us out. On behalf of the team Wendy a big thank you, to you we really appreciate your decision. That race was incredible throughout, we picked up momentum and coming into the last underhand had an incredible lead. As bad luck would have it that underhand log was equivalent to the texture of a hardwood telegraph pole. Therefore we eventually lost by a couple of hits and Australia became the overall winners.

Since the Sydney Royal Easter Show the New Zealand girls have mixed feelings about competing in those International Teams Races.

It’s getting more evident as the years go by that there are unfair practices taking place which seem to be totally beyond our control. When we bring issues to the officials attention, to our dismay nothing ever becomes of them.

Once again, many thanks to the New Zealand men for the wonderful assistance and encouragement shown towards us.

Donn Buchanan, New Zealand President thank you for your official presence as well.

Mandy TePania, as Manager absolutely incredible we extent our gratitude to you for taking care of us and our needs. We look forward to your future involvement.

As Team Captain, I wish to thank everyone for their commitment. I personally feel if we stay together and work together we will overcome any challenges that confront us.

 

KIA KAHA – BE STRONG

Sheree Taylor