Warm Welcome

Uni Games athletes not only had the opposition to contend with on day two of the games in Invercargill yesterday, but also the brutal weather ripping through the city.

Out of the weather, the 28-strong Eastern Institute of Technology team from Napier has been treated to a healthy dose of southern hospitality. The team is staying at the Murihiku Marae for the duration of the games.

EIT sports co-ordinator Alan Mason said the team had been amazed by the warmth of the welcome. "It's been really good. On the first night they gave us muttonbirds and paua – some of the guys haven't tried them before."

A culture group also delivered a performance to the team last night, Mr Mason said. 

Golfing superstar eyes Gold Medal

By COLIN HEATH - The Southland Times

Already tagged "superstar" by the competing golfers in his four, Aden McMillan has high hopes of taking away victory at this week's 2010 Uni Games in Invercargill.

After spending a year playing rugby in Belfast, Northern Ireland, McMillan returned to study a bachelor of sport and recreation at EIT and hopes to travel more after completing his degree.

The 28-strong EIT team left Napier at 5am on Monday to get to Invercargill in time for the annual Uni Games, with a rest stop overnight in Christchurch.

Team manager Alan Mason said they originally looked at flying down but the students decided driving would be a better experience while giving them time to get to know each other.

McMillan said it had worked out cheaper and definitely more enjoyable – he knew only about a third of the team beforehand but they were now a tight-knit unit. On arrival at Murihiku Marae on Tuesday, the team was treated to a powhiri followed by "an awesome feed" of muttonbirds before bedding down for the night.

It might be just the energy food needed to propel McMillan to golfing glory.

WHAT AN EFFORT!!!

What an effort! Braving the elements of freezing wind and driving rain that only Southland could provide. The students from EIT Hawkes Bay fronted up, competed and delivered.

Sarah Deam winner of the women's golf comp was behind for nearly all of the 54 hole challenge until the very last hole. She saved the best for last and birdied the 54th hole to take the overall lead by one shot. As mentioned earlier what an effort in the conditions. The EIT contingent nicknamed her "Tiger" when she accepted the Gold Medal.

The men's golf competitors Aiden MacMillan and Craig Emmot didn't fair as well as Sarah. Nevertheless they did the best they could at both ends of the scale respectively.

The women's volleyball team couldn't make headway on the final winners (SIT) which was surprising since the humourous tactics the team utilised were very unique to say the least..Like chanting, "Hawkes Bay, All day" not only during the match but during a point also. The team and EIT contingent were very happy with the resulting Silver Medal. Shirley Epiha received a Gold Medal for being named in the tournament team. A volleyball double, "Awesome!"

The touch team experienced the first time jitters when playing against the major teams in the country on the first two days of their competition. The third and final day produced a vast improvement from the experience. The team finished 9th in the comp and made a lot of friends by instilling a spirited completion huddle with the opposition and the referees at the end of all their games. Referees commented that this was different since they would normally be treated differently at the end of a game. The team also utilised the tour bus as shelter, a definite plus on those that flew to the games.

Iron man Willem Van Rijk finished a heroic fourth in his cross country event. He was just over a minute from receiving a medal. He started the day on his own but in the last lap the whole EIT contingent turned up to cheer him on. Totally exhausted at the finish the group picked him up off the ground and celebrated his huge effort.

The closing ceremony became emotional. The Sports and Events Coordinator Alan Mason recalls the hairs standing up on the back of his neck when Sarah Deam went up to receive her award and the organisers put up the second place getter on the big screen causing ALL 15 campuses to chant "EIT!", "EIT!", "EIT!", and, then near the end, just before the organisers announced the overall campus shield winner for the whole competition they announced and awarded the EIT contingent the Most Spirited Campus Award and the chants thundered out again. A mean feat for the smallest campus there.

This is the second time EIT has been represented at these games. 2008 was the first time. We were successful at those games winnnig Gold in the kayaking event. Two Golds and a Silver this time. Wow, bring it on, "Hawkes Bay!", "All day!", "You Know!".