The All Sport Breakfast

Some of the country's best track and field talent will be on show in Christchurch this afternoon as the city hosts its annual International Track Meet.   Tom Walsh, Nick Palmer, Anna Grimaldi, Lisa Adams, and Tiaan Whelpton are all set to compete in their respective events.  Shot putter Nick Palmer has the home crowd advantage, and joined D’Arcy to preview the event.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re rolling into the second week of Super Rugby with a blockbuster New Zealand derby.  The Chiefs are heading down to Dunedin to face off against the Highlanders this evening.  The Highlanders will be aiming to keep their momentum going, after last weekend’s victory over the defending champion, the Crusaders.   Attack coach Cory Brown joined D’Arcy Waldegrave to preview the clash.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwis are hitting the waves as the Ocean Swim series returns to the Bay of Islands.  There’s a range of different races this weekend, with something for anyone.   Brent Foster, former Commonwealth Games and Ironman competitor, is one of those swimming – he joined D’Arcy to discuss the event.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uh oh. Trouble at mill. Trouble on the slopes. Trouble with five-time Olympic medallist Zoi Sadowski-Synnott. I hasten to add, not trouble of her doing – I don’t believe that she has a troubling bone in her body.    The NZ press has jumped on a perceived error within the judging panel, who placed the Kiwi in silver medal position after her final slopestyle run. It was by a snowflake, a mere .35 of a point behind eventual winner, the Japanese rider Mari Fukada.   Two-time British Olympian Aimee Fuller has told TNT Sports that she believes the final decision was controversial and the judges got it wrong.    “I think there was injustice in the results of today’s women’s slopestyle final, a real shame to see that progression wasn’t rewarded on this instance.”   Progression being the key word here —a buzz word that has long hovered around snowboarding— which is the ability, drive, and necessity to continue to raise the quality and difficulty of tricks in the Slopestyle, Half pipe, and Big Air.   Aimee makes some valid points around the application of scores through each section of Zoi’s run, the final three jumps being the crux of the criticism. Technically sound on the rails from the Kiwi, but progressively superior in the air. Pushing the boundaries successfully and cleanly, a level above the eventual gold medallist.   If I was being picky, Zoi’s dismount on the third rail, the front side lip slide with a 270 pretzel out, was a metre or two early and that may have cost her. But the main gripe from Fuller rests with the glamorous final three jumps.    I’m no judge, I haven't slid in 15 years, and when I did ride, I was a sloppy try hard, so it’s probably a bit rich for me to comment.   This debate around an athlete besmirched can be whittled down to one thing: the vagaries of judging.   As beautiful and gobsmacking as judged events can be, it’s a subjective bunfight and really has no place at an Olympic level.    Highest, fastest, longest, strongest, etc.  Measured not judged.  The athletes know this, are comfortable with this, and understand the complexities and perceived injustices of the process.    Yet they still compete.   They accept, smile, and move on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Breakers could still earn a basketball prize this season when they face the Adelaide 36ers in Sunday's Ignite Cup final on the Gold Coast.  They ended the ANBL regular competition in seventh after beating the ninth-placed Taipans 115-84 in their final match.  The Ignite Cup took place throughout the regular season, and there are some serious cash prizes on the line.  Parker Jackson-Cartwright, point guard for the Breakers, joined D’Arcy to discuss the game.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2025/26 A League season will see our third New Zealand derby play out, with Auckland FC taking on the Wellington Phoenix at Sky Stadium tonight.  The Black Knights will look to make it 6-0 against their southern rivals and build some momentum as they head into the back half of the season.   Auckland FC coach Steve Corica joined D’Arcy Waldegrave to preview the clash.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland needs sporting events. As many as possible. As big and flash and shiny as they come.  The oft rumoured State of Origin has been teasing the populace for many a year. Rumours are still thick on the ground; this time it’s thought that the announcement will be as early as this month. Great if it happens, but it will be a one off I’d suggest, great for a stellar tourist weekend for the 09, but not the long term locked down major sporting event the city yearns for.  We have the ASB Classic. An annual tennis-fest to be proud of, long may it be a staple of the summer.   The annual All Black fixture at Eden Park.   Then crickets.   The insects, not the test version which the city is incapable of hosting. It’s hardly big or shiny either right?  I’m not sure it’s sport, but the hugely popular Black Clash cricket sportainment event is in the Bay.   No big motorsport event in AK, although there were attempts at bringing Formula E here, but that got quashed before it had a chance to plug in. Supercars? Taupo and Christchurch. The World Rally Championship has been and gone; it is now a rarely realised pipe dream.  Sevens rugby is long dead. Aotearoa’s major golf tournament is in Queenstown.   PDC darts? At least we’ve pinched that back from the Tron. Surfing’s World League? Raglan.   No America’s Cup, thanks Grant.  All of this points to one thing, the Auckland leg of the Sail GP.   If the government and Auckland city don’t fight tooth and nail to keep this rapidly expanding global event here on the sparkling Waitemata, somebody will need to get in the sea. These opportunities to host a major sporting event like this as a rare as a summer without poo on our beaches.  Secure it and secure it long term.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sail GP is in full swing this weekend at the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland with 12 teams from across the world competing.  In last year's edition of the competition the Great Britain team took home the glory winning the competition. Hannah Mills was part of that team as the strategist. She joined D'Arcy to discuss the weekends action. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Super Rugby season is officially underway with the first two games happening last night. The Highlanders edged past the Crusaders in a thriller 25-23 while the Waratahs put on a dominant performance against the Reds 36-12 There's a three game slate this evening but we are going to look at the prime time match happening between the Blues and the Chiefs at Eden Park tonight. Both teams will be wanting to make a statement to begin the season and get their campaigns underway with a victory. Zarn Sullivan is the fullback for the Blues, and he joined D'Arcy to discuss the match.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sail GP buildup continues as the second round of the competition gets underway today in the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland.  Melanie Roberts is the race director. She has been managing all of the events since it began in 2019. She joined D'Arcy to discuss what she has seen change and evolve throughout her time, what conditions are looking like for this weekend and what is the most difficult part of being the manager.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tomorrow afternoon there is a huge game going down at FMG Stadium in Waikato, the NRL All Star Game. The game is competed between the Maori All Stars and the Indigenous All Stars.  Briton Nikora is a second rower for the Maori All Stars and he joined D'Arcy to discuss the match.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A huge multisport event got underway this morning in the South Island the iconic Coast to Coast race. The race spans 243km beginning at Kumara Beach on the West Coast and finishes at New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.  Hamish Elliot is competing at the event, he won in 2024 and was a runner up in 2025. Hamish joined D'Arcy to discuss the race. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a big weekend in Auckland this weekend with the second round of the 2026 Sail GP season taking place in the Waitemata harbour over the weekend. 12 teams from across the globe have descended on Auckland for what's set to be an exciting weekend of racing.  D'Arcy kicked off the show at the event by chatting with Blair Tuke. He is the co-CEO and wing trimmer for the New Zealand team named the Black Foils and they discussed the event and what it means for the New Zealand team to be competing after the disaster in Perth a few weeks ago. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A major athletics meet is taking place tomorrow in Auckland – the Sir Graeme Douglas International.  The meet covers a wide range of track and field events, attracting competitors from across the country, including Paralympian Anna Grimaldi.  She won a gold and a bronze at the Paris Olympics, in the 200m and 100m respectively, and will be competing tomorrow in the para women’s 100m.  Grimaldi joined D’Arcy to preview the event.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Perth 7s are kicking off tonight – the fourth stop of the 2025/26 rugby 7s circuit.   The Black Ferns Sevens put on a dominant display in Singapore last weekend, running through the pool stages and semi-final before dominating Australia in the finals, 36-7.  They’ll be aiming to string together another dominant tournament and continue to build their lead over Australia in the series standings.   Jorja Miller joined D’Arcy to look back on their success in Singapore and look ahead to Perth.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a Super Smash-induced hiatus, the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield returns to the Eden Park outer oval.  The Auckland Hearts are set to take on the Central Hinds in the first of two matches today, and will hope to hit the ground running with a strong performance.  Fast bowler for the Hearts, Bree Illing joined D'Arcy to preview the test.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC was unable to get themselves back on track last weekend, falling in the final moments to the Perth Glory – 2-1.  They’ll be raring to return to their winning ways this weekend in their home game against Sydney FC, aiming to put their troubling start to the year behind them.  Central defender for Auckland FC Jake Girdwood-Reich joined D’Arcy Waldegrave to preview the match and discuss the team’s performance thus far.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joy. Respect. Aroha.   This is snow sport.   For the most part, those three words sum up the Winter Olympics.     The crotch dropped pants and laissez-faire attitude of the snowboarders and skiers in big air, slopestyle, and halfpipe at the winter medal fest is a beacon of this state of mind.   To watch the encouragement and enthusiasm of the competitors as they celebrate every athlete up against them, is to understand the primary driver of these extraordinary humans.    Genuine celebration of success oozes out of every pore as the next big trick is stomped, which is a frequent occurrence in these snow sport disciplines, based on the oft used word, progression. The constant evolution we witness shows no sign of abating, each run promises to amaze and astound and push the boundaries of the sport.   Don’t get me wrong, these athletes are fiercely competitive, risking life and limb for their country, they are relentless in their quest for victory. But they leave that for their run, the rest of the time, from the sideline, they are expressing support, excitement and joy.   Rock stars the lot of them.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feet are hitting the ground tomorrow in Auckland.  The Coatesville Half Marathon is the third race in the five-event Auckland Half Marathon Series and features a mix of challenging terrain and stunning views.  Jasmine Finney is taking part in tomorrow’s race, and joined D’Arcy to preview it.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are beginning.  It kicked off with the opening ceremony earlier this morning, snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Freeski athlete Ben Barclay selected as the flagbearers for New Zealand.   New Zealand’s Chef de Mission Marty Toomey joined D’Arcy Waldegrave for a chat heading into the Games.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.