Ben Hutchings
Ben a king in three sportsTerence “Ben” Hutchings, was born on November 3, 1946, in Sydney. His father was a New Zealander who married and settled in Bondi.
A lifetime of involvement in water sports began at just six years of age. Ben started as a nipper with the Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. At 12, he became an inaugural member of a boardriding club in the area.
SurfingHis love of surfing brought him to New Zealand in 1968 and he joined Gisborne Boardriders Club. He became something of a legend at local breaks, particularly in big surf, winning the New Zealand title in 1975 and the kneeboarding crown in 1977.
Hutchings was a national surfing representative from 1974 to 1976. He attended the world championships at San Diego and a world big-wave event, the Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing, where he placed 12th.
His passion and zest for wave-riding has continued since those days. He had a victory in the over-40s surfing championship held as part of the 2008 Australian surf lifesaving championships and won the over-60s title at the 2012 New Zealand surfing champs.
Surf lifesavingBen returned to surf lifesaving in 1969, joining Midway Surf Life Saving Club after his arrival in Gisborne, and played a significant part as a competitor, coach and mentor. In the competitive arena, he won eight titles and collected 30 placings in ironman and paddleboard events at the nationals between 1970 and 1981.
All the while he was also enhancing his reputation as a coach and providing inspiration for other clubs members — a role ultimately reflected in the prolific national and international success that son Cory went on to achieve.
KayakingFollowing on from surf lifesaving, Hutchings became involved in kayaking, initially as a competitor. However, it was not long before his qualities of being able to identify with paddlers and understand their needs led to a shift in emphasis. Future Olympic Games champions Alan Thompson and Ian Ferguson to ask Hutchings to take on the role of coach.
By 1984 he was the national coach, accompanying the New Zealand team to success at world championship regattas and culminating in their historic performances at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Ben returned to Australia in 1990 after accepting a position with the Australian Institute of Sport.
He has since become a central figure in Australian kayaking success. He has had coaching roles at six successive Olympic Games.
Order of Australia honourIn the Queen’s Birthday honours for 2015, Hutchings was awarded the Order of Australia for over 50 years of service to kayaking, surf lifesaving and surfing in Australia and New Zealand. His eight Olympic Games stands as an extraordinary contribution to the sporting landscape.
With this lifetime of dedication to water sports and to fostering success, it comes as no surprise that he is regarded as “a legend” on both sides of “the ditch”
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Kristen, trampoline champKristen Willock (nee Glover) was born in Gisborne on November 24, 1973. She attended St Mary’s School, Edmund Campion College and Gisborne Girls’ High School. At the age of eight she took up trampolining and a year later won gold in the Grade 5 girls’ section of the North Island championships.
In 1984, she won bronze medals at the Auckland and North Island champs, then golds at the national champs in the Grade 1 women’s trampoline and double-mini. These achievements earned her selection in the New Zealand team for the Pan Pacific age-group tournament. On top of her talent, Willock was noted for her great attitude and work ethic.
She went on to win more medals at Auckland, North Island and national level. They included 11 gold medals. These efforts were rewarded with selection in the New Zealand team for the Pan Pacific Games and 1986 transtasman competition.
In 1988, at 14, Willock made the New Zealand team for the world championships in Birmingham, Alabama. Russia dominated, but Willock was part of silver-medal-winning team in the open double mini competition — a first world championship medal by New Zealand in a trampolining team event.
In 1990, now 17, Willock joined Paula O’Gorman, Alana Boulton and Kylie Walker in the double mini at the world champs in Germany. The sport was popular in the Northern Hemisphere. The world champs featured over 1500 competitors, and was televised live throughout Europe.
A strong and confident New Zealand team outclassed traditional powerhouses Germany and Australia to win gold. Willock also won silver in the 15-to-17-years double-mini. On returning home, her performance was recognised with the sportswoman title at the region’s 1990 sports awards.
Kristen continued to work hard. As an individual she had to meet an international qualifying mark before being eligible for national selection. In 1992, Willock and the same three teammates from 1990 made the shorter trip to Auckland to defend their world championship title. In an outstanding performance, they again won gold in the open double-mini.
Willock was also heavily involved in surf lifesaving, particularly between 1987 and 1998. Over her many national surf lifesaving championships, she won four gold, four silver and five bronze medals in the four or six-place R&R, beach relay, beach flags and double ski.