Kara Cambell & Vanessa Lim: Russley team manager and star player discuss their victory in the Pollock Cup

Russley Golf Club wins Pollock Cup

With thanks to the Elmwood trading Company, Lesley spoke with team manager Kara Campbell and young superstar Vanessa Lim about what many thought was a surprise win in the most prestigious women's tournament on the Canterbury Golf calendar.

With an average age of just 13 it is truly a remarkable achievement with Vaness being rewarded by being selected to represent Canterbury.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, let's go down to the Russly golf Course because
last weekend, as we previewed, they were in the semi
finals of the Pollock Cup. Now with a team with
an average age of thirteen, won the Pollock Cup and
their manager, Kara Campbell joined us. Also, one of the
highly gifted player Vanessa Limb, is going to check to

(00:22):
us as well. But first of all, Kara, congratulations, this
is a fantastic Thank.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
You so much.

Speaker 1 (00:27):
Talk to us about the day.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
It was a very long day, very exciting. We went
out there with a plan of giving it, a team
plan of giving it one hundred percent and never giving up,
which is exactly what the girls did that day and
that was all we asked and we're so proud of him.
But it was very, very long. The weather, the wind
was absolutely phenomenally trocious, but they adapted their game to

(00:50):
make it suit semifinal. This christ search an absolutely strong team.
We knew it was going to be a very very
tough challenge and like I said, our team plan was
just to give it all we had. Majority of the
scores were all really really close, which was really exciting.
We didn't think we'd quite go that well, but we did,
and we managed to pull it through at the other end. Yeah,
but all games by one were very very close, so

(01:12):
it was a tough game that could have gone either way.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
And this is horror rata.

Speaker 3 (01:16):
It's sure.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
It wasn't horror rata.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yep, beautiful course, and what happened in the final.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Finally we stuck with our game plan, which again was
give it all you've got and don't give up. The
girls did do that. That's when the wind came in
horrific enough that the ball was rolling by itself with
the wind. So yeah, it was tough, but the girls
started their guns, they adapted their game plan to suit
the wind a bit better, and I think we just

(01:40):
had that edge over them, that little bit more that
we got our game through.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
Amazing. Vanessa Limb clearly already this year was named player
of the New Zealand Girls Tournament, wasn't she? She played
at number two for Kenary and they made the final,
didn't win the final. But amazing qualities. What kind of
qualities has Vanessa? God is a golfer.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
She's a great golfer. She's so pasionate about the game.
She's obviously very very good at what she does. She's
aok great advocates for her peers. She leads the team well,
our team at least very very well. She's very good
and supportive to management. And she's a great mop role
model for our new young girls that are coming through.
So she's been a really, really great asset to the
team this year and will be for the next few years.

(02:22):
Wait you, Vanita, and.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
Before you've passed to heard, just tell us the names
of the other team members.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
So allis Fry Juni Chang, Olivia, Guan Kushi Pangal Yanna
Yee and Angela's sons.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
Hi, Hi, Vanessa, congratulations were you what number were you
playing for Rusley.

Speaker 3 (02:41):
AH for the finals? And seems I've played three?

Speaker 1 (02:44):
Right, So talk to us a little bit about those conditions,
because that was an absolutely incredible Northwest swirler, wasn't it.

Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yes, parting was extremely difficult, especially in the wind, So
we had.

Speaker 1 (02:56):
To QUI clear that have you ever played in conditions
like that before?

Speaker 3 (03:00):
I'd say similar, yes, but not often at all.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
So do you have a handicap?

Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yes, I do. It is zero point nine at the moment.

Speaker 1 (03:10):
Oh fantastic. So how much do you play on a
weekly basis how including practicing and things like that. Would
you play every day?

Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yes? I try and get out there as much as
I can unless it's rainy.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
What school are you at?

Speaker 3 (03:23):
I'm atin girls school?

Speaker 1 (03:25):
Right? So how are the celebrations when you not only
the semi final? So you win the semi final against
christ Chich then you're into the final? Whoy am myrie?
Wasn't it?

Speaker 4 (03:34):
Yes?

Speaker 3 (03:34):
It was extremely close like at the start and then
we started pulling away, which was amazing to see. We
support each other a lot, motivate each other to keep going,
and yeah, we pretty much this try our best.

Speaker 1 (03:48):
What do you want to do with your golf?

Speaker 3 (03:51):
I think I'm gonna use it to get into college
and then hopefully on tour after that.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
College, meaning uisay, yes, right, okay, gosh it looks as
tho you've got a very bright future. Anyway, Which is
the best part you're you're putting or your long game?

Speaker 3 (04:08):
I think it changes every now and then, but recently
I think it's funny.

Speaker 1 (04:12):
And if there's anything that you had to work on,
what is it?

Speaker 3 (04:15):
Definitely pitching.

Speaker 1 (04:16):
What an amazing feat for a group of young women
to come together so apart from the players. Obviously there's
a lot of support out there.

Speaker 4 (04:24):
Absolutely, we had a very amazing support team this year,
especially with having a few inexperienced players. We made a
strategic decision to give them all a specific caddy to
help them learn the game and to support them. So
to our caddies, Tony, Tony Marritt, the general manager, Mike Tweki,

(04:48):
the Woodward Captain of Rustley, I won't think myself and
the parents who have stuck with some of their girls
all the way through.

Speaker 2 (04:56):
Definitely could not have done it without you guys with
great thank you so much and obviously all the.

Speaker 4 (05:02):
Supporters that came out to how or At.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
It was a long trip, but well wears it well.

Speaker 1 (05:05):
Absolutely salute what you've done. Huge congratulations for Pollock Cup.
You have got your name on the trophy for twenty
twenty five and we will watch those names in the
future and see where they go and Golf. Kara Campbell,
thank you very much. Vanessa m congratulations, wonderful stuff and
thank you very much for talking to us here at
News Talks EDB.

Speaker 2 (05:25):
Not a problem at all, is that?

Speaker 3 (05:27):
Blizzter.

Speaker 4 (05:29):
For more from News Talks dB, listen live on air
or online and

Speaker 1 (05:33):
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