In 2010, I had the opportunity to race for team SVS (Southland Vehicle Sales) which was an opportunity I was looking forward to both with excitement and trepidation. Lining up against the top cyclists in the country for six days in a row would be a great test of both fitness and skill but the nagging worry about dropping off the back only a few kilometres into each day was a serious concern. The race is usually known for wind, rain and even snow so with the prior week spent in Maui I had packed every warm piece of kit I owned in preparation for combating the cold.

Flying in to Invercargill I was met by our team manager Robin King and was introduced to the team members I hadn't previously met, Will Dickeson and Micheal Culpitt from Australia along with Alex Meenhorst from NZ. Our remaining two team mates were Karl Moore who'd raced earlier in the year with our AR team in China and George Bennett who is also from my home town Nelson.

George was our main GC hope and the others were all up to speed already with their roles - mine was to be decided upon each day depending on if I was able to hang on to the peloton or not!

The race is staged over six days with several days including double stages. Our base for the week would be in Invercargill baring one night spent in Te Anau.

Summary
All in all it was a great week of racing. Definitely something that raised my level of cycling and appreciation for the intricacies of bike racing. In the peloton the riders travel so closely together that you are often touching bars or bodies and often at 50 or 60 kilometres per hour. That was definitely a thrill in one aspect and just frightening in another.

Our team got along great, the crash on the first day had meant George's aspirations of a top GC place were effectively over before the end of the first day, but he definitely showed his potential climbing from 99th to 22nd. Alex was prominent in the breakaways every day it seemed and Karl, Mick and Will were all involved in various moves during the week and rode to support the team plans each day.

For me I was simply happy to survive. It was an amazing experience to simply have to ride each day with everything else taken care of. Having the opportunity to ride on fully closed roads was a unique experience, as was the procession of team cars and radio contact we had while riding which made it seem like a mini Tour de France - for me at least.

A huge thanks to the support team of Robin, Kay, Matt and Nick - it was awesome and also to Bobby from SVS for securing the funding and all the encouragement during the week.

Lastly a big thanks to my personal sponsors, in particular SUBWAY RESTURANTS who made it possible for me to race by agreeing for me to ride for SVS, KIA MOTORS (one of the major brands at SVS), R&R SPORT, LEPPIN SPORT and GIANT BIKES who supplied me a bike on short notice for the race.


To read a diary for each day of the event, click here:
http://www.svs.net.nz/sponsorships/10powernettourofsouth.aspx

Written by: Richard Uusher (world champion ironman)

The ANZ Championship revolutionized netball and thrust it into the semi-professional era.

The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel relished the opportunity to test its mettle against elite trans-Tasman teams and after an exhilarating 2009 season secured a coveted finals berth.

We're proud to put Soul into Steel, with Southland Vehicle Sales providing a fleet of the funky new Kia Soul cars to drive the team to repeat success in the 2010 season.

With a cluster of New Zealand's top echelon players - Silver Ferns Liana Barrett-Chase, Wendy Telfer and Sheryl Scanlan - mixed with former international players and emerging stars of the highest calibre, we're confident Steel can continue to dominate the southern netball scene.

Future recipients of Southland Sports Awards will be in good company with athletes the calibre of Jeff Wilson, Derek Turnbull, Donna Wilkins, Matt Randall and Glen McLeay among the previous winners.

Each year the achievements of Southland's top sporting stars are etched into history - from codes as varied as rugby and cycling to darts and clay target shooting.

We think success should be applauded and that's why Southland Vehicle Sales proudly sponsors the Team of the Year category - the national championship-winning Southland A netball team the most recent recipient.

With the aim of inspiring our local athletes and honouring their achievements and dedication, the Southland Sports Awards feature six other categories - senior, junior, coach, administrator, masters achievement and services to sport.

Whether it's provincial, national or world championship glory that earned the award, celebrating the winners' success underlines their value as role models in our community.

Cars are fashion - the stylish new Kia range attests to that.

Living up to our reputation for marketing innovation, we combined the two elements - and the result was the spectacular CureKids/Kia Motors Fashion Extravaganza.

The event raised over $4000 for CureKids, and proved the perfect platform to unveil four new vehicles.

The brainchild of sales manager Richard Murrell, the show attracted an enormous crowd, all soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the array of fashion houses, an auction and the vehicle launch.

"We came up with the idea because a vehicle we were leasing looked like a fashion accessory ... the show exceeded our wildest expectations."

In fact, it proved so memorable we've been asked to turn it into an annual fixture on Southland's calendar ... so watch this space!

Kids are our future and worth fighting for as far as we're concerned - literally.

The Fight for Kidz charity boxing event has been a tremendous hit, if you'll pardon the pun, with the Southland public since its inception in 2003.

Three successful events have been staged, each raising considerable sums for local children's charities.

Southland Vehicle Sales has been represented on each occasion with Richard Murrell slugging it out in the ring twice and his brother Bobby once. Although victory eluded the duo, making a difference in the lives of worthy youngsters was prize enough.

The thrill of competing despite a lack of boxing experience added to the satisfaction for the Murrell brothers who dedicated countless hours of training and preparation.

"When you get in that ring and there's no where to go, that's when reality really hits you - followed by your opponent!"

The snow may have been late arriving, but Kia is right behind and ready to support the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games, which takes place around various South Island venues from August 12-28. With 38 events, 22 sports and more than 1,000 athletes from 50 nations competing in front of a worldwide TV audience of millions, the Winter Games NZ organizers will be making full use of the fleet of Kia Sorento vehicles to ensure the event runs like clockwork.

Its a timely return to the region for Kia, which makes use of the Southern Alps and, in particular the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds near Cardrona, to develop and hone the winter driving dynamics of its vehicles. The Proving Grounds were crucial in evaluating and validating the all-wheeldrive systems used by the award-winning Sportage and Sorento models and, fittingly, it is also the venue for the Winter Games cross country skiing event.

Now Kia is back as a premium sponsor with its flagship Sorento, driving key staff and VIPs in style and safety around the ice and snow venues, from Mt Hutt through to Queenstown and Dunedin. Each WGNZ official vehicle depicts spectacular graphics representing the different sports at the Games.

100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games Chief Executive, Arthur Klap, says the ongoing support of Kia Motors NZ has made the logistics of running an event in locations that are prone to icy and snowy road conditions a much easier prospect.

"Its not only good to have reliable, safe and sure-footed transport to help keep this event on track when the roads are testing, but our people really enjoy being behind the wheel of such good looking vehicles and they project the right image for a high-performance international event like ours" says Mr Klap. Kia Motors NZ General Manager Todd McDonald says the outstanding performance of the advanced AWD system in the Sorento has been proven over demanding environments and is ideal for the requirements of the Winter Games NZ organizers.

"Kia Motors engineers have developed the Sorento into a remarkably safe and capable vehicle and our own experience negotiating slippery roads in this region, has underlined that confidence. It is also extremely comfortable, with the flexibility to carry up to seven people in the three rows of seats, which is now a standard feature of all our Sorento models, or the ability to transport a significant quantity of luggage and equipment".

The all-wheel-drive system in the Sorento is permanently on demand and in most driving conditions will power the front wheels only (to save fuel and component wear) until it senses slippery conditions, then directs drive to the wheels with the most traction. It can be locked into 50:50 all-wheel-drive in very slippery situations. In place of the previous low range gearing, Sorento has Hill Descent Control, which reduces the downhill momentum to a safe 8km/h and Hill Start Assist, which prevents the vehicle rolling back on a slope.

In addition to the current 2.2-litre R-series diesel engine that delivers small car fuel economy in a full-size vehicle, the Kia Sorento will soon become available in New Zealand with the latest 2.4-litre petrol engine and officials with the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games will be the first to try out this version. Not only is Kia the official vehicle of the Winter Games, but this year is also the principle sponsor of the Ice Hockey, Speed Skating and Figure Skating events taking place at the Dunedin Ice Stadium. This is the second Winter Games to be staged in New Zealand - the previous one was also supported by Kia Motors - and they'll pair up again for its return in 2013.

Kia Motors is proud to be a major sponsor for the Auckland International Boat Show that was held in the heart of Auckland City in the magnificent Viaduct Harbour.

This year's show was moved to September to take advantage of the Rugby World Cup visitors from around the globe, who not only enjoyed the magnificent array of boats on show, but the excellent restaurants, cafes, bars and bistros that are part of the Viaduct village.

Hundreds of high-class power and sail, new and used, private, charter and classic vessels were again on display on the specially constructed floating marina. The show spanned across both sides of the Viaduct, starting with exhibits on Te Wero island and coming across to the Marine Village where the latest boats, marine engines, electronics and accessories were on display, creating a true one-stop shop for all marine requirements.

Kia vehicles include excellent technology and design features, including Idle Stop Go and Eco-Dynamics, which reflect the cutting edge technology of the New Zealand Boat industry. As always the latest vehicles were displayed at the show, including Picanto, Rio, the award winning Sportage and Sorento SUV's and the stunning new Optima.

The Kia sponsored ASB Classic 2011 provided some thrilling matches and upsets as the biggest name to grace the Tournament, Maria Sharapova, was conquered by little known Greta Arn from Hungary, who went on to become the 2011 Kia Singles Champion, defeating returning 2010 Kia Singles title holder, Yanina Wickmayer in a hard fought final.

The ASB Classic 2011 Kia Doubles Championship, in contrast, was won by the top seeded pair of Sveta Peschke of the Czech Republic and Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik, who defeated local heroine Marina Erakovic and her Swedish partner Sofia Arvidsson in the final.

Kia provides 8-seater Kia Carnivals to transport players for the ASB Classic and the Heineken Open in luxurious comfort, while officials for the events enjoyed the new Sportage and Cerato Hatch as their transport vehicles.

"This major partnership is about supporting a sport and lifestyle that is embraced by New Zealanders", says Todd McDonald, General Manager of Kia Motors New Zealand".

"As a company we have strong ties with active lifestyles and we see this as a fantastic opportunity to offer our support to the endeavours of New Zealanders participating locally and at a world-class international level".

"These two events link well with our involvement with the Australian Open, as well as our support of Davis Cup Tennis and our tennis ambasador, Rafael Nadal. With the increased stature of the ASB Classic, excellent profile of the Heineken Open and New Zealand's Marina Erakovic achieving a finals place in front of her crowd, we look forward to our continuing association with New Zealand's only WTA Tour and ATP events".

For more information on the ASB Classic, check out the website www.asbclassic.co.nz

Kia Motors are proud to continue their affiliation with the exciting, popular and successful, Adventure Racing and Multisport Racing world ranked adventure racers Richard and Elina Ussher.

Richard and Elina have enjoyed a number of successes the most recent being, Richards first place, and fourth win, on the One-Day Coast-To-Coast race, considered by many as the world's toughest single day challenge.

Richard, a former Olympic skier, has gained considerable success since switching to multisports, as well as his run of success in the Speights Coast-to-Coast, and his win in the Anaconda Multisport Race in Australia. Richard is now branching out into Ironman events, having recently won the 2010 Kia sponsored Wanaka TEAM Challenge event.

Richards wife, and teammate Elina, is also extremely successful, being among the top ranked women in multisports, winning multiple competitions, including the womens section of the Speights Coast to Coast in January 2010 and finishing runner up in same race in 2011.

Richard and Elina also compete as part of Team Adventure Sport New Zealand, who successfully competed in the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge in late 2010 - winning by more than 90 minutes.

For more information visit www.adventuresportnz.com

Young New Zealand tennis professional, Marina Erakovic, has been teamed with Kia Motors for the past three years as a Kia Emerging athlete.

Marina has had a roller coaster ride over the past three years, leaping from no. 153 in the world to no. 49 before injuries plagued her 2009 and 2010 seasons causing her to drop back down the rankings.

Things are looking brighter now for the young player, with the injury behind her and a more structured approach to her tennis, including a new coach Christian Zahalka. Christian has previously worked with Nadia Petrova and Alla Kudryavtseva, and is currently based in Boca Raton, Florida at the Chris Evert Tennis Academy.

Marina has been involved in promoting Kia Soul and the stunningly successful Koup in recent months, although as she freely admits, the fun in promoting the Kia range is really around the cars and the people who drive them.

Marina has re-launched her career in late 2010 and returned to compete successfully in the Kia Motors sponsored Singles and Doubles Championships at the 2011 ASB Classic held in Auckland. Marina reached the finals of the Kia Doubles Championship with her new partner Sofia Arvidsson from Sweden, beating the in-form 2nd seeds Uhlirova and Grandin and finishing as runners-up to the top seeds, Srebotnik and Peschke

Marina is currently working her way up the rankings and is playing in the US on the WTA tour.

Kia Motors supports Marina in her quest to regain her top 100 ranking - keep an eye out for her exploits.