Dr. Eloise Matthews is a specialist Sport and Exercise Physician and the founding director of Pinnacle Sports Physicians. Specializing in the care of young athletes, she has a particular interest in supporting swimmers, endurance athletes, and snow sport athletes. Eloise is a firm advocate for "exercise as medicine" and is dedicated to keeping her community active and healthy.
Her extensive experience in elite sport including her current role as the 2026 NZ Winter Olympic Health Team Lead. She also has multiple governance roles serving as a member of the NZ Sport Integrity Commission TUE Committee as well as serving on the RESS ICP knee governance board. Eloise is the current chair of the ACSEP Interview and Selection Committee. She has previously served as the medical lead for the NZ Youth Winter Olympic Team, the Silver Ferns, and the Australian Young Matildas. Eloise enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children and stays active trail running, mountain biking, swimming, adventuring and spends her winters skiing and snowboarding.
Lesley is a specialist Sports and Exercise Physician, with a background in physiotherapy and elite sport.
While completing her degrees in Physiotherapy and Medicine, Lesley had a stellar career for the Silver Ferns. She played 110 tests, captained the team and won a Netball World Championships title in 2003. She was recently inducted into the NZ Sports Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Lesley has worked with top level teams including the Silver Ferns, Southern Sting and the Tactix. She worked at the Australian Institute of Sport prior to returning to SportsMed Canterbury. She has also provided expert recommendation to Drug Free Sport NZ, NZ Olympic Committee Board and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Her specialist interests include female sports medicine, adolescent and paediatric sports injuries and general sports medicine.
Dr Anika Tiplady was born and raised in Christchurch of Ngai Tahu descent. Anika graduated from the University of Otago Medical School in 2016 following a career in the NZ Army. While in the Army, Anika deployed to Syria and Lebanon and was awarded the United Nations medal for her work in the Middle East. She still has strong links with the Military remaining part of the reserve forces as a Doctor.
Anika is passionate about sports, particularly rugby having retired from the elite level in 2012 after several years as a Black Fern. Anika then went on to win a national title with the Mainland Pride in the National Women’s Football League and a gold medal in the Coast to Coast (teams event). Now a socially competitive gym-goer, Anika also enjoys mountain biking, golf, hunting, snowboarding and running around after her young family.
Anika is the current team doctor of the New Zealand Football Ferns, Canterbury Men's NPC rugby team, and the Matatu Super Aupiki side. She has also worked with international Hockey teams, the World 7s series and professional Boxing.
Dr Hamish Reid is a Sport and Exercise Medicine physician who enjoys helping all people achieve the things in life important to them. He graduated from Edinburgh University in 2006 and completed his specialist training in 2018. He has worked across a range of medical systems and elite sport environments. He is the Crusaders team doctor, clinical director of a global physical activity initiative called Moving Medicine and medical director of health and wellbeing for Evolution healthcare.
Hamish is married to the best Kiwi, has three young children and not quite enough time in the day to do as many foil or bike based activities as he'd like. His sporting achievements reflect stubbornness rather than talent, such as a Guinness world record as the first pair to row around Great Britain and leading the world’s longest team doggy-paddle down the length of the Thames river.
Rachel is a Sports and Exercise Medicine Registrar. With a background in both physiotherapy and medicine, Rachel brings a unique blend of experience to her role. She initially trained as a physiotherapist and worked in sports for several years, before retraining as a doctor through the University of Auckland. Since graduating, Rachel has gained valuable experience in both Orthopaedics and Emergency Medicine in Taranaki.
Rachel has provided medical support at major sporting events, including Rugby games, Adventure Races, Basketball, and Rugby League matches.
Rachel represented New Zealand at the highest level in Yachting and has coached the NZ Youth and Women’s teams at World Championships events. In 2016, she coached the Cook Islands Sailing Team at the Rio Olympics.
Outside of work, Rachel is a passionate weekend warrior. She is dedicated to helping people stay active and return to the sports and activities they love. Rachel has a particular interest in supporting both high-performance athletes and recreational enthusiasts, with a special focus on female athlete health, exercise during pregnancy, and post-partum return-to-sport.
Dr Judikje Scheffer is a Sport and Exercise Physician with a unique blend of high-performance sports medicine expertise and a strong general practice foundation. She specialises in diagnosing and managing acute sports injuries and complex musculoskeletal conditions, with a particular focus on endurance athletes, bone stress injuries, REDs, and female athlete health.
With nearly five years embedded in New Zealand’s high-performance sport system, Judikje has worked extensively with elite athletes across rowing, cycling, triathlon, and more, alongside roles as team doctor for national teams including the Tall Ferns, Black Sticks, and the New Zealand Youth Olympic Team. Known for her collaborative, athlete-centred approach, she works closely with GPs, physiotherapists, coaches, and families to support safe, sustainable return to sport. Alongside her elite work, she is passionate about helping young and developing athletes navigate the challenges of training, growth, and recovery—bringing both clinical expertise and personal insight as a long-time rower and coach.
Judikje also runs a nationwide telehealth service for ME/CFS, reflecting her commitment to supporting patients with complex, often under-recognised conditions.
Annabel is a Sport and Exercise Medicine Registrar who grew up in Ōtautahi and graduated from Otago Medical School in 2019. She has a passion for helping people of all ages and abilities return to activity, and she brings a holistic and supportive approach to her practice.
She is the team doctor for the FPC Canterbury Women’s Rugby Team and has extensive experience providing medical support at a wide range of sporting events, including the Coast to Coast, Race Tekapo, Skedaddle. In 2025 she travelled to the World Cup with the U19 Women's Cricket team. Annabel is also part of a research group studying respiratory symptoms in exercise.
Outside of work, she is a keen triathlete and competed in the 70.3 Ironman World Championship in 2024. When not in clinic, you’ll likely find her in the pool, or out running and cycling through the Port Hills.
