The Star: March 22, 2018

7
Rugby action from a previous Golden Oldies event
Visitors from across
the world will soon
be converging on
Christchurch for the
Christchurch Casino
Golden Oldies Sports
Celebration 2018,
which is taking place
from April 1-29 at
various sports venues in
and around the city.
The centrepiece for the monthlong
event will be Hagley Park, where
participants will play rugby and cricket,
while the nearby Netball Centre is hosting
51 teams from Australia, Fiji, Cook
Islands and New Zealand, including
several local teams.
Sports include netball, men’s and
women’s rugby, hockey, golf, cricket and
lawn bowls.
The rugby festival, which runs from
April 22-28, has visiting teams from
England, Canada, USA, Argentina,
Australia, Japan, Brazil, Russia and
Germany.
Several sporting stars will be attending,
including South African cricket legends
Barry Richards and Mike Procter in their
roles of cricket ambassadors. The two
are also playing in the golf competition
during the second week.
During the rugby week, All Blacks’
nemesis Stephen Larkham will be making
guest appearances for any team that asks.
Stephen says he “absolutely loves being
part of Golden Oldies”, and teams are
always thrilled when they get the chance
to play alongside him – when a lot of
laughing ensues! And look out for an
Now Open
appearance from Griz
Wylie at the bowls
CItY to HoSt playing alongside
and information to clients and members.
INtERNAtIoNAL
sporting event
Gary Lawson.
A large marquee,
which will be the
‘Festival Hub’, will
be in place near the
Hagley Oval throughout
the month and will be
the venue for several sportsthemed
dinners and the rousing
closing functions for all sports. A million
dollar hole-in-one competition takes place
next to the Hub on Friday April 13.
A special cricketers’ evening at the
marquee on Thursday, April 5 will feature
a panel discussion with Richards, Procter,
John Wright and Rod Latham. Following
that, Wright will be hitting the stage with
his band, the Sou’Westers. Tickets for
what will be a hugely enjoyable evening
can be purchased by emailing ellie@govsl.
com.
All festivals begin with a Parade of
Nations, which ends at the Festival Hub
marquee. Teams really get into the spirit of
the occasion, with the netball and hockey
contingents for this year’s event dressing
in anything with a red and black theme.
Canterbury locals wishing to take part
Introducing our brand new
in any of the Golden Oldies events should
contact Ellie Bigsby by email at ellie@
govsl.com – there are invariably teams that
require bolstering.
purpose built retirement village
in the heart of Shirley.
For the golf they should contact Mike
Godinet – mike@govsl.com.
For all the venues, dates and other
information, visit the website www.
christchurchgoldenoldies.com
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technology changing
the fitness industry
Technology is turning the exercise
industry upside down, which is one of
the reasons exercise is the biggest sport in
New Zealand right now, Exercise NZ chief
executive Richard Beddie says.
Tech in the fitness industry is
accelerating, with everything from smart
watches and heart-rate monitors, to sleep/
rest trackers that indicate when people
should or shouldn’t exercise.
“Gyms are using tech to help deliver
their products to more people in new
ways with virtual classes, or even real
classes that you join from home,” Richard
says. “It is live – you just aren’t there!
“There are new apps that work with
trainers to help deliver exercise advice
Then there are those apps that try to
replace people. ‘Your personal trainer in
a pocket’ is a common claim of apps, but
this is where often it doesn’t work, since
information alone is often not enough to
replace expert guidance.”
Richard suggests three tech devices for
exercise:
1. Individual tracking tools
Apple Watches now talk to many
treadmills and other similar devices
so your watch / phone now integrates
with your gym’s exercise equipment,
so workouts can be measured more
accurately. Heart rate monitors are by
far the fastest-growing area. Some tech
companies have products JUST for gyms.
The most famous example is myzone
that tracks workouts both at gyms and
outside.
There are also sleep trackers and
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021 993 943
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0800 843 84552
for your own
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exercise readiness trackers.
2. Virtual classes
These are still instructor led, but a
virtual instructor, so they aren’t in the
room with you. Two famous examples
are Soul Cycle from the USA, and closer
to home Les Mills on Demand from a
New Zealand company, that’s also a huge
global success.
3. Personalised health
Online tools allow people to gather
personalised data about themselves – this
includes everything from genetic testing
through to stress management – and have
it analysed online by either a relevant
expert, or more often by a software
platform that does all the calculations to
give a personalised result back. The key is
that it is still best to be coached by a real
person.
“It’s just amazing how all this is
transforming our industry. Gyms and
exercise experts are all getting on board
with online members only programmes,”
Richard says.
“The best tech tools are the ones
that interact with and support people,
rather than replacing them. One of the
drawcards of the exercise industry is that
it is personal, whether that be a session
with a personal trainer, or a group session
with a favourite instructor.
“It’s all about the people, so tech that
integrates and supports people – that’s
what the best tech is all about.”
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