Year 11 PE pupils have recently been introduced to a new sport by handball enthusiasts Michael Laufiso, L. J. Apaipo and Augusto Telini.
The trio have been coaching the girls in recent weeks while providing their teachers with valuable professional development. Queen's will host the first girls handball tournament as part of the Otago Secondary Schools junior sports week. Ben Berkenhake from the New Zealand Handball Federation will travel from Auckland to assist with this tournament and will also run a free workshop on Tuesday November 19, from 3.30-5pm, at Queen's High School gymnasium, for any coaches and/or teachers who are interested in handball.
The rowing season has started well for Queen's crews, including a great day's racing for the OSSRA term four regatta. Results included first and second placings in the novice girls single by Hayley Kettings and Carina McLay, a first in the junior girls double by Katie Atkinson and Hayley Kettings, and an encouraging third by novices Leah Anderson and Lucy Elliot. The intermediate girls quad came a close second in their event, leaving unfinished business on the water for next time. Stroke of the quad Riley Homan followed up with a win in the intermediate singles race. This is a really pleasing start to the season, and a great incentive to train with fresh goals as the season progresses.
The recent Sport and Cultural Awards evening was an opportunity to celebrate the fantastic sporting achievements of Queen's High School pupils. Competition for the elite awards this year was tight. Five Queen's pupils had represented New Zealand in their chosen sports, there were 30 Otago representatives, and 13 national place-getters. Christina Ashton won the Cameron Cup for her outstanding international accomplishments in athletics; Casey Kruishoop was the recipient of best all round junior sportswoman, and Emily White regained the award for the best all round senior sportswoman.
Cromwell College report
The summer term is well under way and Cromwell College pupils are concentrating on athletics and touch.
Cromwell College hosted Mt Aspiring College in an athletics meet to determine qualifiers for Central Otago athletic championships. A number of pupils produced outstanding results in the heat at the championships in Alexandra. Laurel Williams and Bob Wardell were placed first in high jump, Sarah Hogan first in long jump, Michael Manson first in discus and Tia Clark broke the under-13 girls shot put record with a huge throw of 8.73m. These pupils are among a strong Cromwell College team who will travel to Dunedin to compete at the Otago champs.
Touch season is well under way. The school has six teams training very hard most lunchtimes and after school. The year 7 and 8 teams will head to Alexandra next week for a couple of games while both the year 9 and 10 teams are looking forward to the touch tournament in Dunedin during junior sports week. The senior girls and boys teams are doing very well and have their minds set on the Otago championships next February. Both play in local senior competitions and the boys are currently winning the open grade. Congratulations to Matt Bolch, who has been selected for the Otago under-17 team.
Finally, six of the college's outstanding sportsmen were nominated for Cromwell Junior Sportsperson of the year. Nikayla Bolch (swimming), Michael Manson (karate), Josh Smith (BMX), Emma Smith (athletics), Inia Logan (golf) and Kristal Roberts (snowboarding). Well done to Michael Manson, who won the overall award.
Kavanagh College sports awards
The finalists for the Gallaher Family Trophy for team of the year were:The senior A girls basketball team enjoyed an excellent year. It won the Dunedin senior girls basketball competition, beating St Hilda's in the final. The team travelled to the South Island premiership in Nelson and placed fourth.
The senior boys badminton team won the premier boys division. This section contained the four strongest teams only, and was played in a round-robin format.
The Maadi Cup Rowing team of 10 rowers enjoyed exceptional success. Together the crews won five gold and two silver medals at the 2013 Maadi Cup. Overall, the team won the Presidents Scull, for the top secondary schools sculling team in the country. The senior boys curling team completed an exceptional season. It had a clean sweep of wins in the Dunedin schools curling competition, the South Island secondary schools curling championship and the national secondary school curling championship, in Auckland.
The Gallaher Family Trophy for team of the year went to the Maadi Cup rowing team of Caitlin Buist, Hannah Duggan, Daniel Hobson, Phoebe McBride, Zoe McBride, Julia Murphy, Anna O'Leary, Jack O'Leary, Kate Pitcaithly and Rebekah Pitcaithly.
The finalists for senior sportsperson of the year were Sam Bremner for athletics and crosscountry, Zoe McBride for rowing, Jack O'Leary for rowing and Richard Rodger for basketball. Zoe McBride was given the award for her exceptional year. At the 2013 Maadi Cup she won four gold medals, in the under-18 single scull, under-18 double scull, under-18 women's lightweight double scull and the under-18 quad.
She was selected for the under-19 junior women's quads to compete at the junior world rowing championships, where she finished fourth.
At the 2013 national championships, she came first in the under-20 single scull, fourth in the premier lightweight single scull and second in the under-20 double sculls.
Zoe was also a finalist for Otago Junior Sportswoman of the Year 2013.
Blue Mountain achievements
With a school roll of just 206, Blue Mountain College is a minnow in terms of year 7-13 co-education schools but punches well above its weight in terms of sport.
The year 7-8 pupils are no exception. The girls cricket team beat much bigger schools to be top qualifier from the southern region and proceed through to the New Zealand final in Palmerston North later this month. The Milo Cup Boys team also reached the southern region semifinal, going down to Oamaru Intermediate in the final. The NZCT senior girls team defeated Gore High School and Otago Girls' High School before losing to a well-drilled St Hilda's team in the final.
Athletics was also a major highlight for Blue Mountain College in 2013. Year 10 pupil Yvonne van Baarle broke all the under-14 girls javelin records at the Otago, Otago-Southland and South Island championships. Gavin Stark proved he was the supreme champion, gaining first placings in all three meets in the 100m, along with a second placing in the 300m open boys hurdles. Both of these talented athletes are competing at the NZSS athletics championships in Hamilton next month.
Ben Rea was named the captain of the Southland 15th grade soccer team.
In July the year 9-10 netballers excelled at the SISS junior netball tournament, placing second in the South Island out of 14 teams in the combined year 9-10 section. The A Netball team was placed 18th in the B grade section of its SISS tournament.
Rugby has been a major highlight for BMC. Sinead Cormack and Claudia Hickman were selected in the Otago secondary school girls team. Year 8 pupil Troy McIvor made the Otago under-65kg team and Garth Devereux was named in the Otago Country under-18 team. Gavin Stark had an outstanding year in the premier Otago Country team, followed by his selection in the New Zealand schools rugby team that travelled to Sydney in October. Gavin also won the Southern Region under-18 player of the year award, along with overall player of the year at the Southern Region awards. He was also recognised at the Clutha District Sports Awards, as the junior sportsperson of the year and the overall sportsperson of the year.
South Otago round-up
Well done to the following pupils from SOHS who gained Otago representation in touch. -U17 Girls: Atawhai Hotene, Mikayla Latta, Megan Morrison, Tegan Hollows.
U17 Boys: Matt Whaanga, Rory Van Vugt.
U15 Girls: Kayla Dent, Jess Kendall, Isla Pringle.
U15 Boys: Zak Thoms, Luc Thomson, Sean Boyle, Levi Robertson.
The South Otago netball team has had an amazing year. After placing second at the South Island Secondary Schools championships, the team qualified to go to national championships in Auckland, along with four other South Island teams.
The first pool play lived up to all expectations as it was challenging and physical.
After losing the first two games the nerves had settled down and the team had two pleasing games, beating the runner-up in the previous year's tournament Tu Toa and South Island champion St Margaret's. The team finished 10th, which was an amazing achievement for South Otago High School.
Sport at Mount Aspiring
Mount Aspiring College pupils have been at a variety of sports over the last few weeks.
The college was represented by a dedicated motocross team at the South Island secondary schools motocross championships. Luke Ruddenklau teamed up with Toby Lee to place second in the 14-16 years farm bike class and Tom Scurr third in the 14-16 years 250cc MX.
Congratulations to Marissa Le Lec, Leonor Schubert Santana, Hadon Smith, Tessa Mackenzie and Jordan McKenzie, who all competed in the South Island Bowhunters championships in Christchurch recently. Marissa, Leonor and Tessa placed first, second and third respectively in the women's traditional longbow section and Hadon came second in the junior traditional bow section.
Well done to the pupils who competed at the rock climbing nationals in Rotorua during the holidays. Special congratulations to Josh Rogan, who gained third place in the youth C section and to Stefan Schwarz, who won the under-18 youth A bouldering title.
Columba College sports awards
Recently the annual sports award evening was held in Constance Hall, with a capacity audience. Janine Southby was the guest speaker for the awards evening, fresh from her world under-21 netball successes in Glasgow, where she coached the New Zealand team that won the world championship.
The evening celebrated contribution and excellence in sport. The 10 New Zealand representatives were honoured, along with our coaches and referees. Blues were presented to high-achieving pupils and medals to promising and outstanding junior pupils.
Special awards were presented. Outstanding junior sportswomen medals were presented to Caitlin Deans, Grace Finnerty and Devon Familton. The Sports Council scholarship was jointly won by Laura Bridger and Olivia Wilson. Sian English won sports personality trophy. Team of the year was won by the senior cross-country team of Charlotte Cahill, Sian English and Hanna English, who won the gold medal at the New Zealand secondary schools cross-country. Olivia Wilson was awarded the trophy for sportsmanship and commitment and the Shona Harvey cup, ''Inspire and Excel'', was won by Sian English.
The sports council has funded and developed a new sports website for the school, which has just gone live. The school community are all enjoying this addition, which showcases sport at the college.
Phoebe Steele was selected as the most valuable player in the New Zealand under-17 touch team after the recent tournament in Australia. Congratulations to Phoebe on this significant award.
• These articles are compiled by the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association (OSSSA), which is sponsored by Perpetual Trust.
