For a number of years, there has been concern in the upper echelons of our sporting codes about the number of games our top sportsmen and women are playing every year. Increased injury rates and player burnout are often cited as reasons for limiting the number of games in the seasonbut, unfortunately, the message just isn't getting through. For years, there used to be a break between the winter and summer sport seasons which was set aside by sports reporters for recapping on the season just completed and previewing for the next season. Often reporters would have some time off and maybe even relocate their good humour lost in the winter mud - now there is no time, only overlap. Writing about the Stafford Choat football final between Madhatters and Kamo at the same time as the Twenty20 cricket final where Logan Choat was opening the batting for Kamo, is likely to cause a short circuit in the brain. Retirement beckons ... Nevertheless, it would be a good time to congratulate Steve Schimmel for his magnificent record of 50 goals in Kamo's season and commiserations to beaten finalists Madhatters. Condolences also to Kamo who had the misfortune to strike a Kaipara Flats outfit in form and with their resident Black Cap James Marshall available.
