A Queenstown kid’s just managed to smash a challenge set by former All Black Dan Carter.
Henry Young, 8, spent 60 minutes at his local Jack’s Point rugby field last Saturday, aiming to kick as many goals as possible with one ball, while the clock ticked.
The ‘Beat Dan Carter Challenge’ was established by the celebrated former first-five to support Unicef’s water, sanitation and hygiene programme for children in the Pacific.
Participants have two goals — to raise as much money as possible for the cause, and to beat the 273 converted goals Carter kicked, using
one ball from one tee, in an hour in May.
On Saturday Henry played his own game of rugby for the Wakatipu Hawkes, beating Alexandra — in which he scored a try — before he headed to his home field.
Deciding to go tee-less, Henry drop-kicked his ball through the posts to his ball-boy — his dad, James, who flung it back to him after each kick.
At the end of the hour, Henry had managed to convert 384 goals, beating Carter’s efforts — albeit without a tee — by 111.
Henry, who only started playing rugby at the start of this season, says at the end of the challenge he was ‘‘a bit tired’’ and had ‘‘a wee bit of
a sore leg from all the kicking’’.
James, too, was a bit puffed, but says he’s ‘‘amazed with Henry’s efforts’’.
Along with demolishing DC’s goal tally, Henry also raised over $1000 for the charity and says he’s ‘‘very happy’’ he’s been able to support the important cause.
He’s also received a personalised video from Carter, commending him on his fundraising efforts and mentioning as a kid he also used to
sport the No 9 jersey, just like Henry.
Carter tells Mountain Scene he followed the nation-wide challenge closely and it was ‘‘awesome’’ to watch Henry’s fundraising efforts.
‘‘He then smashed my kicking record … which was incredible.
‘‘He should be very proud of what he achieved.’’
