Secondary schools review year of sporting achievement

Cromwell College
Cromwell College has been growing its sports participation numbers over the past four years to reach 76% for the 2011 school year.

In 2008 the school formed a sports council under the leadership of the sports co-ordinator Tania Murray, head of physical education Mike Waterworth and principal Mason Stretch. At that stage the recorded participation rate in sport for the college was 22%.

During the past four years this has risen steadily 49% in 2008, 65% in 2009, 68% in 2010 to the high this year.

A key to this success is the support of the community and local sports clubs. The school offers 28 different sports. Cromwell is a town with a huge range of sporting opportunities.

There has been excellent community input to the sports council and this has enabled the school to greatly improve communication with the community sports groups, and the range of opportunities for pupils. The college is lucky to receive significant financial support from a community business sponsorship scheme.

Some money from this has been used to support sport for such things as travel costs for teams and individuals, and new uniforms.

South Otago awards
South Otago High School was well represented at this year's Clutha District Sports Awards held recently.

Glen Ward was recognised for his contribution to sport by winning the service to sport category for his involvement in Special Olympics. Glen was also nominated for the Coach of the Year award.

The South Otago HS Alpha Netball Team was nominated for the team award following outstanding 2010 and 2011 seasons.

In the junior sportswoman's section, South Otago High School was well represented with Sam Hollows, Greer Muir, Mikayla Latta and Alanna Preddy all being nominated. With top performances in her chosen sports of touch, athletics, netball and cross-country Sam Hollows was the worthy winner of the category.

Andrew Whyte (athletics) won the junior sportsman section. Andrew's outstanding achievements have culminated in his inclusion in the New Zealand Athletics Training Squad for the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. Andrew recently ran in a men's 4 x 400m relay team representing New Zealand at the Sydney Track Classic and taking first place.

Brayden Wilson was also nominated in the junior sportsman section.

Columba College awards
Athletes, coaches and referees were all celebrated at the recent Columba College Sports Awards Evening.

The evening began with a "sporting review" read by sports prefects Sophie Napper and Renaye Flockton. They reflected on all of the wonderful sporting achievements by Columba College pupils.

Girls who have coached or refereed for Columba numbered 38 and 11 respectively this year. Many of these pupils coached more than one sport and seven of the girls have coached for three years. It is wonderful to see such a large number of girls giving up their time to assist the college.

Pupils who have represented Columba in sport over their years at the school were acknowledged by receiving Y13 Contribution certificates.

Forty-six pupils received badges for being in an Otago A representative team.

This is a record for Columba and it demonstrates the increase in the quality of sporting achievement at the school.

A large number of pupils received sports blues. This is the highest honour the school can bestow on the sporting pupils.

Twenty-nine received a blue in one sport, six received a blue in two sports and two - Laura Carruthers and Sian English - received sports blues in three sports.

Team of the year was won jointly by the senior girls 4x100m relay team, which won bronze at the NZSS Athletic Championships in December and the senior girls triathlon team which won bronze at the NZSS Championships earlier this year.

Personality of the year was voted to be Sophie Napper who was also awarded the Shona Harvey Cup (Inspire and Excel). Mr Kelvin Carruthers, chairperson of the Columba College Sports Council, presented a new award for the evening. It was a scholarship which was to go to a senior Columba student, who was not already receiving a sports scholarship, who has shown excellence on and off the field. The prize was awarded to Sophie Napper.

Otago Boys' curling
The Otago Boys' High School curling club continues a strong presence on the local and national school curling scene.

The senior team is nationally ranked as the NZSS champion, after defeating a strong Maniototo team for the 2010 title.

With extensive fundraising, parental and school support, the team was on a mission to defend its title at the NZSS Championships in Auckland at the beginning of the recent holidays.

The team consisted of Byron Dodge (skip), Sam Blakely (3rd), Joe Anderson (2nd), and Josh Wyber (lead). As Auckland has only two smaller ice rinks, catering for a curling tournament was not easy. Although well organised, tournament games were played at the inhospitable times of 6am, with second matches beginning at 8pm.

OBHS won all their pool matches convincingly, beating Avondale College, Kelston Boys High and Long Bay College despite the lack of familiarity with the slower ice conditions. As the top qualifier, the team entered the semifinal against Avondale College to record a 7-4 win. The final was played against Long Bay College, who were smarting from a narrow loss to OBHS early in the tournament.