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Wednesday 14 August 2024
Mako land Salmon
Page 22
NELSON COLLEGE TO HOST
1st XV SEASON FINAL PAGES 20-21
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Victory’s win
Nadia Bungard, left, and Sara Hollyman at Fight for Rangatahi II. Photo: Jason Oldfield. Nelson Weekly editor Sara Hollyman was one of 34 boxers who got into the ring on Saturday night, many for the first time, at Fight for Rangatahi II at the Motueka Recreation Centre. She shares what it was like to box three two-minute rounds with Motueka’s Nadia Bungard in front of 800 people. I would just like to say, that for a year now, I’ve been the only one in my household who does not have a medal for a sporting event. My three kids are quick to point out that they have two medals for different sporting codes. It was time to change that. Watching the joy in my partner when he came home after boxing training and the lead-up to Fight for Rangatahi 2023 was some-
thing else. His fitness improved, but more importantly, I could see what it was doing for his mental health. When he suggested I take part this year, he says my eyes sparkled and that was it. Never having attempted boxing, and being naturally uncoordinated, I headed to Dixons Boxing gym at the Richmond Showgrounds in January.
The first few months were fitness classes, and learning what the heck a 1,2,3 was. I discovered I’m what they call a southpaw – left-handed, so everything was a little backwards. I will always remember the anxiety I felt when I heard Randall Dixon say ‘see you at sparring on Tuesday’. Someone was going to punch me in the face, and my defence was, shall we say, weak at
best. But what followed was a group of amazing people who not only look after each other in the ring, but encourage and help whenever they can. They were not out to hurt me. My wise Yoda Tracy always had wisdom to offer. Namely, ‘stop holding your breath’. So what’s it like to be punched in the face? It’s surprisingly fun. As
the team say: ‘If you take one to the nose, it’s on you’. My defence quickly improved, to the point I could comfortably take hits and nothing much would touch. Except for Lydia, she twacked me every bloody time, and once I got my first bleeding nose, many more would follow. And, I still tripped over
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