Humour to put a student on ice

A humorous evening of rugby anecdotes and discussions in Masterton on Thursday night has helped raise $1400 for a teenager to sail around the Antarctic.

The evening was organised by a group of people who are trying to establish the Grant Redvers Scholarship.

Masterton's Mr Redvers is an adventure scientist, who has been drifting around icy waters as part of Students On Ice - a Canadian-based organisation which sends students sailing to help understand environmental issues.

One organiser, Chris Petersen, said Mr Redvers wanted to share his experiences and achievements with local youth.

"We want to establish a scholarship which will send local students to the ice," he said. "In future years, it will be open to all Wairarapa colleges."

Wairarapa College Year 12 student, Mary Williams, has been chosen and will leave for her expedition on Boxing Day.

The evening, held at Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park, was entitled Rugby World Cup hosting - was it worth it? and included a panel of Sir Brian Lochore, Bob Francis, Keith Quinn and Times-Age sports reporter Gary Caffell.

Mr Petersen said it was an exciting evening, and each of the guests had great stories to tell - putting them at least a half hour over the allocated time.

There was also an auction which included a signed Georgia rugby jersey, a cricket bat signed by Wairarapa's Ross Taylor, and a rafting trip.