Will Hamilton starred for Valley with a six-wicket haul against Taieri, while Albion all-rounder Patrick Arnold picked up five scalps during the four-wicket win against CDK. Green Island recorded a five-wicket win against University-Grange in the other encounter. He tore through the Taieri top-order, accounting for the dangerous Ruben Clinton (25) and fellow opener Henry Olliver (27) to help rout the side for 132. CDK 99 loss to Albion 102/6Albion all-rounder Patrick Arnold nabbed a five-wicket bag to help set up a four-wicket win against CDK at Tonga Park. But the aggressive Yuvraj Khara thumped 60 not out from 35 balls to help his side post a five-wicket win.

PHOTO: GEORGE EMPSONSheep numbers overtook tourists in the Mackenzie township of Tekapo on Thursday as thousands of lambs were yarded for the annual Tekapo lamb sale, which followed an earlier sale in Omarama that day. ASB’s latest Commodities Weekly said sheep and beef prices remained very high. Within the ASB indices, the USD lamb and beef index was up 0.6% on a week ago and 40.2% higher on year-ago levels. In their latest report, the AgriHQ team noted there was a bit of caution in the sheep market with processors signalling prices needed to ease to better align export returns with current schedules.

PHOTO: DIEGO BELLITwenty years of Challenge Wanaka action culminated in two dramatic premier races on Saturday. Moody, who has raced Challenge Wānaka since the start of his professional career, delivered a trademark run performance along the scenic but demanding lakefront course. The bike course was pretty honest. Jack Moody celebrates victory in the men’s race at Challenge Wanaka on Saturday. In a milestone moment for Challenge Wānaka, Oliver Pritchard (Great Britain) made his debut as the world’s first professional deaf triathlete, finishing the course in 4hr 16min 9sec.

PHOTO: SUPPLIEDFamily of the late Bishop of Te Waipounamu, Richard Wallace, are calling for the return of sacred and sentimental items brazenly stolen in a burglary of the Māori Anglican diocesan office. Bishop Wallace, of Ngati Mahaki and upoko of Te Runanga o Makaawhio, and his family lived in Hokitika before his elevation as bishop, the first Ngai Tahu bishop to hold office. "That particular crozier was carved and gifted by the [Makaawhio] runanga when Dad was ordained in 2017. "It was placed into a special taonga box carved by a whanau member, Jamie Whittle. "They’re all pretty distinctive taonga and to be fair they’re not really worth anything to anybody else.

Photo: ODT filesSimms sets out how Butcher lease endedYour correspondent Rory O’Malley (ODT Letters 19.2.26) has certainly not let the facts get in the way of a good personal attack. The Mad Butcher was a tenant of mine for 15 years and 9 months. The Mad Butcher is a large national business with significant wherewithal to adapt its business when required. The loss of jobs is very regrettable, as is the loss of the Mad Butcher from the Dunedin landscape. Marian PooleDeborah Bay130 years on, Brunner disaster is not forgottenI am writing to inform your readers that plans are progressing to mark the 130th anniversary of the Brunner Mine disaster this March on the West Coast.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said he was “devastated” by the news of Moore’s death. He was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in March of 2024 and suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp that year. He inked a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings last March but suffered a season-ending knee injury in their first pre-season game. J.J. Watt, who played with Moore in Arizona, posted on X: “Can’t even begin to fathom or process this. Rest in Peace, Rondale,” Watt wrote.

An AFP journalist in Nangarhar’s Bihsud district saw people using a bulldozer to search for victims under the rubble following the strikes. The two countries have been locked in an increasingly bitter dispute since the Taliban authorities retook control of Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan said today that despite repeated urging by Islamabad, the Taleban authorities have failed to act against militant groups using Afghan territory to carry out attacks in Pakistan. It said the strikes were carried out in response to a suicide blast at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad two weeks ago and other more recent suicide bombings in northwest Pakistan, including one on Saturday (local time). Security issues are at the heart of the conflict, with Islamabad repeatedly accusing Kabul of harbouring militant groups, particularly the Pakistani Taleban, that launch attacks on its soil.

“I didn’t see him jump up there or anything, I just saw him standing on top of the car,” Ropati said. As traffic began to move, Ropati said the driver accelerated, and the man was thrown backwards off the vehicle. “The dude just sort of got swept off his feet as the car went forward and just went wham, straight off his back, and his head just went bang on to the concrete,” he said. Ropati said the man appeared disoriented and severely injured. Ropati said he stepped back once paramedics were working on the man, who appeared to be in his late 30s or 40s.

Regent Theatre 24 Hour Book Sale convener Kath Wallace said attendance at this year’s event was excellent, although organisers could not pinpoint why. Proceeds support the operation of the 98-year-old Regent Theatre, which is run by a charitable trust. The money raised would go towards a new ramp for easier access behind the Regent Theatre stage. The book sale does not include CDs, vinyl records, DVDs, or music memorabilia — a separate music sale will be held mid-year on the Regent Theatre stage. Preparations for the music sale would begin soon, and then it would be time to start work for next year’s book sale, Mrs Wallace said.

Macandrew Aviator in action three years ago. PHOTO: HRNZHayden Douglas delivered the best kind of wedding present when Macandrew Aviator broke back into the winner’s circle at Cromwell yesterday. Though his rivals loomed up to challenge him late in the run home, Macandrew Aviator dug in to score a timely win under Douglas’ urgings. “He has been going great, racing lovely, lovely horses,” Douglas said. The 4yr-old ran to victory for the Douglas and Douglas combination at Cromwell on Friday before finishing third yesterday.

Conditions were challenging with strong winds at the St Clair Golf Club for the final round of the annual Dunedin strokeplay yesterday. So strong, in fact, the final round was eventually abandoned, and the title decided on Saturday’s opening two rounds. Cromwell golfer Troy Scott claimed victory with rounds of 73 and 71. Brian Helton (Otago), who led after round one with a 69, was a stroke off the pace in second, and St Clair youngster Albie Reed a further stroke behind in third. Both Scott and Reed will play in the final New Zealand Open qualifier at the Cromwell club today.

Fin Melville Ives. PHOTO: TRACEY ROXBURGHFin Melville Ives might be a bit sore but he has not lost his sense of humour. Melville Ives, 19, also thanked the medical staff that had helped him so far, and his coach Murray Buchan. Harrington said he had Melville Ives in his thoughts after seeing his team-mate crash in qualifying. New Zealand athlete Mischa Thomas was competing in the delayed women’s freeski halfpipe final last night.

Union defeated Waitaki Boys’ by eight wickets, Oamaru beat St Kevin’s by six wickets, and Valley edged Albion in a high-scoring match in the 11th round of Borton Cup cricket. At Waitaki Boys’, only Archie Haywood (36) and Luke Harrway (22) made scores of note, as the Union bowling attack dismissed Waitaki Boys’ for 112 in the 36th over. Opening the batting, the Wilson brothers Logan (63) and Alex (26) 91-run partnership put the game out of reach for Waitaki Boys’, Union winning by eight wickets, finishing with 115 for two in the 17th over. St Kevin’s reduced Oamaru to 24 for four in the ninth over, giving themselves an outside chance. However, Gamlathge (26 not out) and Luke Taylor (14 not out) guided Oamaru home, reaching 60 for four in 16 overs.

Southward Car Museum manager John Bellamore pictured with a Ferrari Monza 750, which was named ‘‘Best in Show’’ at the weekend’s Ayrburn Classic, held near Arrowtown. The first, a $15 million Ferrari Monza 750, loaned by Kapiti’s Southward Car Museum, was named "Best in Show" at the second annual Ayrburn Classic. The second was a replica 1930 Auto Union, powered by a 27-litre Merlin engine — used for Spitfires. Southward Car Museum manager John Bellamore said the vehicle ended up in Southland and was found by his father, Stan Bellamore, in 1967. It went to the Southward Car Museum in Wellington a few weeks later, but the restoration did not start until about 2005.

PHOTO: ODT FILESNew Zealand Olympian Leila Walker started her 2026 season on a winning note by defending her elite women’s title at the Oceania championships in Brisbane yesterday. Walker, 20, had the fastest lap time of the event to be awarded the title on overall points, following winning the title in New Plymouth last year. Walker was pleased to get some quality racing in the legs in her first competition since last year. There were about 200 New Zealand entries in the challenge and cruiser class racing over the weekend in Brisbane. The competition was one of three events for world championship selection for junior elite males and females.