New faces promote codes

From left, Sport Wanganui's general manager Greg Fromont, Norman Gruebsch, Amie Simpson, Brian Scott and Gareth Wright.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY

Sport Wanganui has two new development officers and two codes now have a dedicated professional looking out for their best interests.

Norman Gruebsch and Amie Simpson were unveiled as the new faces of cycling and multisport respectively at the Whanganui Multisport Clubrooms on Saturday afternoon, and there was no warming up in the ball pen as the start of the 5one5 triathlon happened less than an hour later.

The pair take their roles after a partnership agreement between Sport Wanganui and the various clubs that come under their codes' banners, with funding secured through the NZ Community Trust (NZCT) and the KiwiSport Regional Partnership Fund (RPF).

NZCT is the largest funder of amateur sport in New Zealand, while RPF is a government-funded initiative to promote sporting opportunities for school-aged children

"In a geographical area where most codes do not have the presence of a regional representative, it is a real bonus for these codes to now each have someone working on their behalf across the Wanganui-Rangitikei-Ruapehu region," said the Sport Wanganui press release.

Simpson will be mainly representing the Whanganui Multisport Club, while Gruebsch will work on behalf of the Wanganui Cycling Club, the Taumarunui Cycling Club, the Ruapehu Mountain Bike Club and the Wanganui Mountain Bike Club.

German-born Gruebsch has lived in New Zealand for nine years and has settled in Wanganui with his wife and two children.

Coming from a country where cycling remains a key mode of transport, he would like to see more people in this town using two wheels more often for both convenience and recreation.

He is also keen to see Wanganui viewed as an attractive destination for tourists using the national bike trail.

Gruebsch has a Sports Science degree with honours and is a New Zealand-trained and qualified secondary school teacher.

Simpson originally hails from Wyoming in the United States, but has been in New Zealand with her young family for 11 years.

She wants to see growth in all areas of kayaking, triathlon and multisport in the city.

"My own participation and passion for kayak and multisport drives my desire to take an active involvement in promoting and growing the sport throughout the Wanganui region."

In a three-year initiative, the officers are tasked with increasing the club's junior participation, creating opportunities for competition and skill development, and increasing and upskilling coaches, officials and volunteers.

While they will naturally be out and about a lot, the pair will be based in the Sport Wanganui offices in Maria Place.