Fight for Life Education Marlborough Event a Huge Success

First Fight for Life Education Marlborough event a huge success

Tuesday 3 October 2017

Life Education Trust Marlborough have just held their first charity event at the Marlborough Convention Centre on Saturday 30 September and it was a great success.

The event was managed by a passionate and dedicated volunteer committee. A special mention needs to be given to Jo McCormick and Andrea Johnston-Taylor for their efforts.

The night was a sell out, with over 740 tickets sold – the main event in the Marlborough Convention Centre (430) and live streaming into a Clubs of Marlborough venue (220) with 13 bouts. Live social media connections were also made available to patrons at The Woodbourne Tavern, Waterfront and Redwood Tavern.

Twenty locals put their bodies on the line for the charity. Not only committing to the night but to16 weeks of training provided by New Zealand Boxing Federation licensed trainer Peter Warren and coaches Jo Worsley, Dave Semmens, Nicole Wilkinson, Mike Newton, Snow Harnett, Cam Carmichael and Saxton Ferris.

The boxers were split into two teams - Red and Blue. Without the support by the local business community the boxers the event would not have been possible.

25 local business sponsored their chosen boxer plus support from The Marlborough Convention Centre, Spy Valley Wines, the Redwood Trust and the Scenic Circle Hotel, The Sun Newspaper, More FM and Glenn Kirby - the great MC on the night.

Results (victor in bold italic):

Match 1
Red Team – Holly Crafar sponsored by Crafar Crouch v
Blue Team – Lisa McDonald sponsored by Bennett Blenheim
Match 2
Red Team – Darren Aldridge sponsored by Marlborough Liquid Waste and MD Freighting v
Blue Team – Brad Millar sponsored by Matthews Mechanical Services and Hortus
Match 3
Red Team – Michelle Chapman sponsored by Willpower Electrical v
Blue Team – Ali Hills weighing in at - sponsored by The Yard Bar and Cartel
Match 5
Red Team – Reon Materoa sponsored by Mitre 10 Mega and Endeavor Homes v
Blue Team – Gareth Goodsir sponsored by Yealands
Match 6
Red Team – Anna Wilson sponsored by Bayleys v
Blue Team – Katie Gibbons sponsored by Harcourts
Match 7
Red Team – Ross Hoets sponsored by Liquid Action v
Blue Team – Chris Davies sponsored by Blenheim Toyota
Match 8
Red Team –Darlene Purdie sponsored by Crown Sheetmetal v
Blue Team – SJ Knowles sponsored by Maher & Moseley Panelbeaters
Match 10
Red Team – Jeremy McKenzie sponsored by New Zealand Wine Society v
Blue Team – Quentin Mulholland sponsored by Gale Constructing
Match 11
Red Team – Gina Botham sponsored GMW Jewellery & Wadsco Trucks v
Blue Team – Bailey Dewe sponsored Fulton Hogan and Harcourts
Match 13
Red Team – Kurt Lindsay sponsored by Bayleys v
Blue Team – Bryan Fisher sponsored by the Woodbourne Tavern

Overall winning Team: The Red Team.

James Ryan, Chairman of Life Education Trust Marlborough was impressed with the commitment of the boxers and their and focus on the night, "you could swear they were professionals," he said.

Life Education Marlborough has one of the largest regions to cover geographically, and has been providing independent learning for over 10 years. On average their mobile classroom sees between 2,000 to 3,000 primary and intermediate children per year.

"Without sponsorship and community support we could not provide the services we do to the children of Marlborough so a big thank you to those who attended, to the boxers and the coaches for their commitment and the New Zealand Boxing Federation judges who came to adjudicate the night. Initial estimates for funds raised from the evening is approximately $45,000," said James.

Watch this space for a rematch in September 2018.

More pictures and stories from the night can be found on the event Facebook page.

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