The Eye of the Beholder

By David

Harsh accusations have been made recently about Swimwatch. They say we are too personal and parochial. None of it is correct or matters, but that is what they say. Well this week the critics will be silenced. We are going to tell you of two magnificent New Zealand sporting achievements that have nothing to do with local Florida swim clubs. Already Swimwatch critics will be clicking elsewhere, “If he’s not talking about us, we’re not going to read it,” I hear them say.

But before considering the triumphs of New Zealand sport, I went to the Florida State Swimming Championships last weekend and saw again one reason why the US is so good at this game. You may recall an item we published recently that questioned the disqualification of one of our swimmers. She moved her foot after the “take your marks” signal. Well, the referee involved was also working the Orlando Championships. He took the time to climb way up into the stands, where I was sitting, to talk over the disqualification. His view, confirmed by the starter, was that our Lane Five had not only moved her leg but had begun to start. I don’t agree but it does explain the disqualification and the referee is the boss. If you have ever been to a Florida High School Championships it is a very busy meet. What is important is that the referee took time to sort out a problem. He thought it was worth an explanation. For that I am very grateful. Swimwatch have long argued that officials have a huge influence on the standard of a country’s sport. America has some bloody good officials.

Anyway, enough of that; we must move on. What are the significant events that have happened in New Zealand sport this week? Well, first of all a New Zealand bred horse has won the Melbourne Cup. Let me explain; the Melbourne Cup is the Australian equivalent of the Derby in England, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France and the Kentucky Derby in the United States. The Australians hate it of course, but our – that’s New Zealand's – horses always win their precious horse race. And we did it again yesterday. A horse call Efficient, bred in a town called Cambridge, New Zealand won the race and $3 million.

I may have exaggerated a bit, telling you that New Zealand horses always win the Melbourne Cup. The truth is, of the past 52 Melbourne Cups, 29 winners were bred in New Zealand; that’s 56%. The one thing better than beating Australians once is beating them 29 times. Your average Aussie gets so upset, they make up Kiwi jokes. Like – Did you hear about the New Zealander who came to Melbourne to watch the Cup? He brought one shirt and one five dollar bill and didn’t change either. We are not wounded by all this. We understand their frustration, we sympathize with their hurt.

Trumping a Melbourne Cup win is difficult. But Jerry from Hokitika, New Zealand has done it. Here is the news reported on the Stuff news website

“A Hokitika whitebaiter is reveling in a monster catch, which saw him take 300kg of whitebait off just one tide. At the going rate of $25-$30/450g on the West Coast, he will make between $22,500 and $27,000. And the man didn't even take it all - a second man took 200kg on the same day last week. The wife of one fisherman said the bait caught on the day of the big run was "beautiful bait - lovely and clear and we didn't even need to wash it".”

What is whitebait you may be asking? I can do no better than quote from Wikipedia:

“The most common whitebait species in New Zealand is the Inanga. The whitebait is small, sweet and tender with a delicate taste that is easily over-powered if mixed with stronger ingredients when cooked. The most popular way of cooking whitebait in New Zealand is the whitebait fritter, which is essentially an omelet containing whitebait. Foreigners frequently react with revulsion when shown uncooked whitebait, which resembles slimy, translucent worms.”

On the West Coast of New Zealand the sport of catching whitebait is a passion. I’ve heard of girlfriends being traded in return for a better position on the river’s edge. There is no need for cheerleaders in this sport. A man’s reputation is made for life on the back of a 300 kg catch; national champion and record holder.

I used to fish for a species of whitebait called Nohirors, or baby eels. We used Silver Fern fronds as nets and caught enough to fill a good breakfast of whitebait fritters. We weren’t as passionate about it all as our West Coast countrymen. I never heard any of my mates offer their girl friend for my spot on the edge of the Hangaroa River.