Athletes share stories of resilience, failure and success

Cornerstone luncheon guests filled Te Awamutu Sports Club. Photo / Dean Taylor

Te Awamutu’s Cornerstone Trust has been raising funds since 2005 to provide financial assistance to the region’s promising young sportspeople to realise their potential, and the 2024 annual luncheon continued that proud tradition.

The luncheon serves the dual purpose of raising money for the following year’s recipients through ticket sales, memorabilia auctions and raffles, and meeting and celebrating the crop of Cornerstone grant recipients.

Cornerstone luncheon guests check the auction lots and prepare to bid. Photo / Dean Taylor

The auction and raffles added almost $24,000 to the trust coffers.

Emma Twigg is a five-time Olympian whose rowing career spans more than two decades, marked by perseverance, resilience and triumph at the highest levels of sport.

After heartbreaking fourth-place finishes at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, Twigg took a break from rowing before returning stronger than ever to win gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

At her fifth Olympic Games, in Paris this year, at the age of 37 she further cemented her legacy by winning a silver medal.

She is an 11-time national champion, the first New Zealand rower to compete in five Olympic Games, and was recognised for her contributions to rowing by being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2022.

Off the water, Twigg is a proud mother to her son, Tommy, is a passionate advocate for the LGTBQ+ community and a committed champion for elevating the athlete’s voice in sports governance.

She serves on the New Zealand Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission, the World Rowing Athletes’ Commission and the board of New Zealand’s Athletes’ Co-operative.

MC James McOnie conducting a Q&A with guest speaker Emma Twigg, a five-time Olympian whose rowing career spans more than two decades. Photo / Dean Taylor

She holds a Fifa master’s degree in management, law and humanities of sport, complementing her Bachelor of Communication from the University of Waikato.

Alongside MC James McOnie, Twigg told the Te Awamutu audience she had retired from the sport at the age of 35, but was motivated to return to the sport simply because it was what she loved to do, although she didn’t row for two years.

Instead, she took on other challenges, including running a marathon and competing in an ironman event.

However, once she made the decision to return to the sport she was passionate about, she was determined to get back to her best.

“I had to dig deep,” she admitted.

She also said the two fourth-place finishes at London and Rio had taught her how to be resilient and how to come back.

Each time she had missed the podium by the smallest of margins, although at her first Games, at Beijing, she missed making the final by only 0.05s.

“Paris was a chance to enjoy an Olympic Games,” she said.

“While I went in as the reigning champion, I didn’t have to prove myself.”

She said it was a great race and she was proud to have won a silver medal.

McOnie also asked Olympic swimmer Hazel Ouwehand, of Te Pāhu, about her experiences at Paris and future goals.

She said it was an amazing experience, although she admits she will be haunted by her result.

The team prepared in Majorca before heading to Paris.

Ouwehand placed 18th in the 100m butterfly, missing out on the semifinal by 0.13s.

She said it was ultimately a good race.

“I swam my third-best time ever,” she said.

“All three were swum this year, in March, April and then at the Olympics.”

Her highlights of the Games were to be able to completely enjoy and immerse herself in events, appreciate the racing and the way it differs from other international meets, to build new relationships and experience some of the amazing things Paris has to offer.

Ouwehand’s race was on the first day of competition, so she was able to support her team-mates.

Local swimmer Hazel Ouwehand talks to James McOnie about her first Olympic experience, at Paris this year, and goals for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and 2028 Olympic Games. Photo / Dean Taylor

“Of course, I wanted to cheer and support them, but it sucked knowing that my experience was over so soon and they were still getting to have theirs,” she said.

The experience has given her greater incentive to do better and she has set a goal of winning gold in the 50m butterfly at the Commonwealth Games in 2026 and a medal in the 100m butterfly – then qualify for another Olympic campaign in 2028.

It is a lofty goal for an athlete who works 25 hours a week as an accountant and fits in intensive training six or seven days a week.

Thirteen Te Awamutu recipients across five sports received funding from the Cornerstone Trust this year.

McOnie introduced rodeo sisters Riley, 14, and Lylah Wood, 16, who recently competed at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming, for Q&A.

Riley placed 55th in rodeo barrel racing, out of more than 200 competitors.

Riley’s header didn’t catch, so the team roping didn’t make it on to the scoreboard.

Riley is now setting sights on winning New Zealand national titles.

Lylah achieved 60th in breakaway roping.

Next year is her final opportunity to qualify and she is determined to make the team again.

This years Cornerstone Trust grant recipients are Nathan Dale (left), Blake Ellis, Luca Penny, Brooke Penny, Sophie Penny, Joshua Peden, Baiden Prescott, Holly Harris, Floyd Owen, Tate Burdon, Riley Wood, Lylah Wood and Anita Blakely. Photo / Dean Taylor

BMXers Tate Burdon, 10, Brooke Penny, 19, Luca Penny, 13, Sophie Penny, 13, and Baiden Prescott, 10, also took to the stage to answer questions from the MC.

They all competed in the 2024 UCI BMX World Championships at Rockhill, South Carolina, in May.

In the 24″ cruiser 8-12 boys category, Tate was the youngest participant among 85 riders, achieving a fastest time of 39.8s and placing 71st overall.

In the 20″ 10-year boys category, he placed fifth, third and third in his motos, qualifying for the quarter-finals and finishing 59th out of 108 riders with a best time of 41s.

His next goal is to excel at the 2025 BMX Worlds in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Brooke travelled to Brisbane, Australia, for rounds three and four of the BMX Racing World Cup and to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for rounds five and six.

She placed 18th in round three, 14th in round four, 15th in round five and 16th in round six.

Her highlight was travelling the world with her family and competing against the top BMX racers globally.

Brooke’s next goal is to be selected for the 2025 BMX World Championships in Copenhagen.

Luca finished 22nd out of 67 participants and made it through to the quarter-finals. Luca’s next goal is to be selected for the 2026 World Championships in Australia.

Sophie finished her motos and placed 33rd overall out of about 60 competitors, narrowly missing the chance to advance to the eighth moto final.

Her next goal is to win the Oceania title in New Plymouth.

Baiden achieved impressive race placements of third, second, first and fifth, finishing 35th in the world out of 108 10-year-old boys.

Baiden’s next goal is to make the New Zealand Mighty 11s test team in March to travel to Australia.

Other grant recipients:

Anita Blakely and Holly Harris, both 19, competed in the World Under 20 Women’s Lacrosse Championship in Hong Kong.

Holly was named one of the three captains for the New Zealand Under 20 team who placed 15th in the world championship, defeating Hong Kong in their final match.

Although the team didn’t achieve the expected outcome, they played well together, learned a lot and had an incredible experience.

With lacrosse making its Olympic debut in 2028, Anita’s goal is to trial and get selected for New Zealand.

Holly also travelled to Japan and Australia for the Southern Cross tournament.

In Australia, her team placed third against Australian teams and a Japanese university team. In Japan, they toured Osaka and played two university teams.

Holly’s next goal is to trial for the 2025 New Zealand Women’s World Championship team.

Nathan Dale, 16, participated in a rugby camp at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in Wellington.

The course, known as the International Rugby Academy New Zealand (IRANZ), provided him with coaching from notable figures like Colin Cooper, Dominic Bird and Nehe Milner-Skudder.

Nathan’s next goal is to make the Under 17 Harlequins team and continue developing his skills.

The course helped him secure a spot in the 2024 Te Awamutu College First XV as one of only two Year 11 students.

Blake Ellis, 15, travelled to Albury, Australia, with the Basketball Pacific NZ Koru Tour team.

They competed in the Australian Country Cup tournament.

Blake is trialling for a team that will travel to the US in July to play and visit some colleges.

Floyd Owen, 17, a lacrosse player, competed in the 2024 LA Under 18 Boys’ and Girls’ National Championship at Footscray, Melbourne.

Although his team didn’t win any prizes because of the more experienced Australian teams, Floyd is determined to improve.

His next goal is to make the Under 18 New Zealand team next year which will travel to Adelaide, Australia.

Joshua Peden, 21, competed at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland.

He made a memorable debut, performing the haka in front of thousands.

With flag football being introduced as a new Olympic sport at LA 2028, Joshua aspires to be part of that team.

Auctioneer Andy Transom knocked the hammer down on $23,952 from the donated items and services. Photo / Dean Taylor