Region’s top sports stars offer advice to college students

Work hard, stay in school and be good to your mother.
That's the message from top athletes at yesterday's High Performance Sport seminar at Wairarapa College.
About 40 students were selected to attend as part of the school's Gifted And Talented programme, which nurtures youths with exceptional ability.
The line-up of local speakers included NZ junior golf rep Ben Campbell, rally champion Richard Mason and equestrian Tinks Pottinger, who won bronze at the 1988 Olympics.
Many urged students to pursue tertiary education and maintain a social life, but for Mason and Pottinger commitment was still key.
"You can't avoid it or ignore it", Pottinger told the crowd.
"It is part and parcel of top-level sport: if you miss practice tomorrow, you can be sure the opposition is practicing every day."
Students should listen to their parents' nagging and never underestimate them as mentors, she said.
"They aren't knocking you, and when things fall apart, they're the ones you need to help you pick up the pieces."
Mason stressed the importance of a reputation and relationships with sponsors.
Young athletes should be prepared to do a lot of door-knocking, he said.
"You're always paying for something and you've always got to make sure you're looking after your sponsors.
Training at an international level was "bloody hard", he admitted, but it was worth it.
"Half the time you've got to do it while everyone else is taking it easy.
"But those guys will get to watch you when you're at the top of your sport", he said.
Wairarapa College's gifted and talented programme co-ordinator Lee Austin said it was vital to support exceptional students in all fields.
"They are the entrepreneurs, the employers and leaders.
"They haul everyone else up with them", she said.