NZ Police Association Sportsperson of the Year 23 Jun 2015
Related articles
- Niki Roderick Extends Depth To New Zealand Record Sport
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- Australia Jumping on the Boy Bandwagon Living
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Snow on The Remarkables Living
- Team Selected for Ultimate Ride Jet-ski Sport
- Trubridge Triumphs With Unassisted Freedive Record Sport
- New Zealand 2011 Business Club launched Business
- 300 feet down: two bare feet and one breath of air Living
Police Association
World Champion Surf Skier Named NZ Police Association Sportsperson of the Year
Constable Rachel Clarke has been named the New Zealand Police Association Sportsperson of the Year for 2014. The 25-year-old police constable from North Shore has been riding a wave of success on the international surf ski scene. After two World Series races, Rachel is ranked first in the world, a good start to achieving her ultimate goal of winning the 2015 World Surf Ski series.
The ability to catch, surf and connect runners, or ocean swells, for long distances earned Rachel four major international long-distance race wins last year, including the prestigious Molokai Championships in Hawaii. Unofficially considered the world champs of the sport, the gruelling 53-kilometre paddle from Molokai to Oahu attracts the world’s most experienced paddlers.
It wasn’t until she was off the water and heading to the finish line that Rachel had any idea she was in the lead or that she was about to claim a victory that only one other Kiwi had managed in Molokai’s 39-year history. For Rachel, with blistered hands and suffering from dehydration, pushing through to win was the greatest feeling.
Rachel brings that same mental toughness and determination to the challenges of combining a top-level sporting career with her public safety work at the North Shore Policing Centre. Described as a dedicated, hard working officer and committed competitor who manages a gruelling training schedule around her frontline shifts, Rachel is not one to boast about her successes - word of how well she does at competitions is spread by proud colleagues.
Police Association President Greg O’Connor will present Rachel with her award at the North Shore Policing Centre on Tuesday, June 23, as an acknowledgement of all the work she has put in to achieving her goals. “Police all feel a bit of pride when we see one of our own not only achieving internationally, but showing such guts and determination in doing so.”
“The sheer hard work and personal sacrifices she makes earns her great respect from her colleagues and Rachel's fellow athletes, along with the wider community, can only be left with a very positive view of Police as a result of her achievements,” he said.
Rachel’s 2014 achievements also include winning New Zealand’s premier ocean paddling race, 25km King and Queen of the Harbour in Auckland (which she won again this year for the third consecutive year); Perth’s 29km downwind race The Doctor, where she had so much fun chasing down runners she forgot she was even racing; and Sydney’s classic 20 Beaches race where she had to battle five-metre swells.
With overall success in the 2015 World Surf Ski series set squarely in her sights, Rachel heads off to compete in the North American Downwind Champs in Hood River, Oregon, and the US champs in San Francisco next month.
ENDS
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more