On October 24, 96 pupils were recognised for their achievements in sport and cultural activities at the Queen's and King's Performing Arts Centre.
Guest speaker for the evening was Otago Goldrush basketball captain and ex-pupil Janet Main.
Emily White was awarded the Best All Round Sportswoman Cup for her high achievements in aerobics, athletics, netball and touch. New Zealand rhythmic gymnast Sarah Morrison received the Cameron Cup for outstanding individual sporting achievement. Other finalists for this trophy included Christina Ashton (aerobics and athletics), Ripeka Te Moananui (darts), Judah Kelly (speed roller blading) and Caitlin Orr (ice hockey).
Long-serving teacher Liz Haddow was acknowledged for her commitment and support of sport at Queen's, especially as teacher in charge of football.
Debbie Hogg was also acknowledged for her contribution to netball at the school.
Year 10 pupils Madalyn Fox, Christina Ashton, Jess White and Caitlin Orr attended the Sport NZ ambassador seminar on October 26. All were extremely motivated and inspired by Olympic gold medallist Barbara Kendall.
Columba awards
An evening was held recently to celebrate sporting excellence, achievement and commitment.
The evening was capped off with an inspiring speech from Columba College old girl Fiona Paterson, the Olympic rower.
Blues were presented to reward excellence in sports, 42 girls received badges for coaching junior Columba teams, year 13 girls received acknowledgement for their contribution to sport, promising years 9-10 pupils received medals to reward excellence, and Otago representative badges were presented.
Trophies were presented to the senior 4x100m relay team that won gold at the New Zealand secondary schools championships (team of the year) and Samara Dalziel (sports personality, as voted by pupils).
New Zealand representative badges were presented to Holly Barclay (ice hockey), Jo-Ann Chin (figure skating), Hanna English (football), Sian English (cross-country), Phoebe Steele (touch) and Olivia Wilson (touch). The Shona Harvey Cup went to Samara Dalziel.
Bayfield High School
While quite new to aerobics, Bayfield High School has seen success after success at both regional and national level, with both students and coaches gaining medals and recognition.
Winning medals at the national championships last year meant the girls were eager and nervous about maintaining top results at this year's competition.
The school had some fantastic results: Jade Fielding (first secondary junior novice individual), Gemma Still (second secondary senior novice individual), Makayla Frost (fourth secondary senior novice individual), Julia Tay (second adult open female individual), Danielle Galdeman and Georgia Henderson (fourth secondary senior open teams), Georgia Henderson (fifth secondary senior open individual), Shannon Hope (10th secondary junior novice individual). Bayfield was also named runner-up in the sportsmanship award. The girls were coached by Elizabeth Adams, Julia Tay and Jennah Booth.
The senior boys futsal team went through the season undefeated and won the league two final last Thursday. Two team members, Reid Hulleman and Luke Aicken, have excelled in this sport and represent the Futsal South Otago men's team.
The year 9 and year 10 girls volleyball teams and the year 10 boys volleyball team qualified for the Mainland competition in Timaru. This is a new tournament where the top three teams in the Otago, Canterbury and North Otago-South Canterbury area play against each other.
The year 10 girls were third and the year 10 boys came fourth. All junior volleyball teams are training hard for the South Island championships in Blenheim in two weeks.
South Otago
The South Otago High School girls sevens team is the Otago champion after winning the regional final against St Hilda's.
A 12-player squad will represent the school and the region at the Condor Sevens in Auckland in early December. The squad has been training hard with the help of Otago Spirit player and SOHS ex-pupil Leyhana van Vugt.
South Otago also has a mixed touch team representing the South Island at the New Zealand secondary schools tournament in Hamilton on December 6. To get there, it has won both the Otago championships and the South Island championships in Christchurch. The team consists of 14 pupils ranging from year 10 to year 13.
Mt Aspiring achievements
Mt Aspiring College has again had a successful winter season.
The Otago-Southland ski and snowboard championships were held at Cardrona Alpine Resort, and the MAC teams claimed best overall school, best boys ski team, best boys snowboard team, best girls snowboard team and a second in the girls ski team.
Achievements included: Finlay Woods, second SbX and third slopestyle; Conor Hayes, third SbX; Corrah Phillips, first SbX and third slopestyle; Lucy Hayes, second SbX; Simon Heinzmann, first GS and SX; Fraser Hannon, second SX and third GS; Raven Voehringer third SX.
The athletes then competed in the South Island secondary schools ski and snowboard championships, again held at Cardrona. Pupils competed for school team and individual titles in giant slalom, gravity cross and slopestyle disciplines.
The MAC teams excelled in a number of events, both individually and collectively, and both MAC Snowboard teams and the boys ski team finished first overall.
Leading efforts included: Sam Poots, first ski slopestyle, third ski X; Finlay Woods, second giant slalom snowboard, fourth snowboard X; Charlotte Jolly, second snowboard X; Corrah Phillips, third snowboard X, third slopestyle; Conor Hayes, third snowboard X; Max Schikker, first ski X; Raven Voehringer, second ski X; Fraser Hannon, third ski X; Amy McIntyre, second ski slopestyle.
Target shooting
It has been a busy year for smallbore (.22 cal) target shooting in Otago.
The Otago secondary schools competition was won by the Waitaki Boys' team, with Otago Boys' second and King's third.
Top shots were Hayden Cleminson (OBHS), with 195.9 out of 200, and Hayley Rowe (Taieri College), with 187.5.
Otago shooters performed well in the national triple S competition. Hayden and Sam Gabbusch (also OBHS) were the only entrants to score 100 out of 100 during the competition.
Hayden finished the fifth overall shooter.
The largest competition of the year is the New Zealand-wide Eley schools competition, with over 130 teams entered. The OBHS No 1 team placed second in the boys section and third overall. King's No 1 was 11th in the boys section and Taieri College fourth in the mixed section. Sam Gabbusch was sixth in the individual boys, and John Brosnahan (King's) and Hayley were 13th overall in their respective sections.
The final and most prestigious event of the year was the inter secondary school match held in Blenheim. OBHS shooters Sam Gabbusch, Hayden Cleminson and Kalin Geisreiter acquitted themselves very well, coming fifth in the teams match, with Sam and Hayden selected for the South Island team. Hayden was also selected for the New Zealand team for a postal match against Great Britain, where he achieved the sixth highest score.
• These articles are compiled by the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association (OSSSA) which is proudly sponsored by Perpetual Trust. Contact Nicki Paterson, Otago Regional Sports director, PO Box 6303, Dunedin. Email: nicki@osssa.org.nz
