13 March, 2016

Saturday training... and a visitor.

Hadrian, Pete, and I were joined on Saturday by Mike,
one of the founding members of Southern.



Left to right: Hadrian, Mike, Pete.


Left to right: Hadrian, Mike, Anthony.


11 March, 2016

Self-defence in the News - No. 90

Teenage jogger knocks attacker to the ground and escapes


A 16-year-old jogger was chased by a man who tried to 
grab her while she exercised in Hastings. 


1

More Hawke's Bay women have contacted police with reports of harassment while running.

On Monday a Hawke's Bay teenager was finishing off her running loop at 8.20pm.

The 16-year-old was jogging along Southland Rd and about to turn into her street when she slowed to reply to a text message and felt a pair of arms around her waist.

She said a Maori boy aged between 14 and 15 had grabbed her from behind while riding a bicycle, and attempted to rugby tackle her.

She jerked suddenly and knocked him to the ground and ran away.

He chased her until she arrived at a dairy, once she was inside staff checked for him but he had disappeared.

A police spokeswoman said after the event was publicised on Wednesday police received similar complaints from other women, but no arrests had been made.

On Tuesday morning a Taradale woman reported seeing a young man frequently circling female runners and making them feel uncomfortable.

Police said the man was described as Maori and riding a bicycle.

Police suggested joggers ran with a cellphone to ring for help, or take photos of suspicious behaviour, or alternatively run in pairs or groups.

Reports of similar behaviour or incidents should be reported to Hawke's Bay police on 06 831 0700.


2

A Hawke's Bay teenager doubts she will run alone again after being grabbed by a stranger while jogging on Monday night.

The 16-year-old Hastings Girls' High School student was finishing off her running loop at 8.20pm.

She was jogging along Southland Rd and about to turn into her street when she slowed down to reply to a text message.

With her headphones in and head down, she felt a pair of arms slide around her waist.

A Maori boy aged between 14 and 15 had grabbed her from behind while riding a bicycle, and attempted to rugby tackle her.

"At first I thought it was someone playing around and I tried to laugh it off, and then I realised I needed to get out of there."

She jerked away and the movement threw the boy off his bike and on to the footpath.

"He was moaning and groaning about how hurt he was," she said.

"I turned around and started to run towards a dairy and he chased after me."

When she arrived at the dairy, she explained what had happened to the staff and rang her parents.

By the time staff checked outside for the offender, he was gone.

Early the next morning, a Taradale woman reported to police that a young man was frequently circling female runners and making them feel uncomfortable.

Police said the man was described as Maori and riding a bicycle.

What also upset the teenager was the response from other members of the public.

"There were cars driving past, and I passed a group of three guys as I was running away and shouted help, but they just turned the other way," she said.

"You are just as bad as the person doing [the offending] if you do nothing about it."

From now on, she planned to be more aware of her surroundings when she was out running, and would exercise with other people or her dog.

Police suggested joggers ran with a cellphone to ring for help, or take photos of suspicious behaviour, or alternatively run in pairs or groups.

Reports of similar behaviour or incidents should be reported to Hawke's Bay police on 06 831 0700.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/77776102/More-complaints-of-women-hassled-by-man-while-jogging