The Dunstan High School boys A basketball team travelled to Nelson in the holidays for the national tournament for secondary schools under 600 pupils.
Dunstan was undefeated in pool play, with a huge game against old foe Nga Taiatea School. The team played superb basketball throughout the tournament, qualifying for the final against Te Aroha, its best effort in the history of the event. Both teams played strong defence and Dunstan fell short by two baskets.
Callum Clark, Liam Mulvihill and Harry Paulin were named in the tournament team.
Dunstan High School's Josh Kahukura is the Otago secondary schools golf champion, winning the competition in the holidays against a field of players from South Canterbury, Otago and Southland.
Bryn Gilbert recently competed in the South Island secondary schools motocross championships in Timaru, finishing second overall. With some hard racing and strong competition, Bryn grabbed a first and two second placings.
Dunstan's Jamie Hume has been selected among 60 young players from around the country to take part in the first national netball development camp in Cambridge from December 11-15.
East Otago achievements
Sam Church competed in the transtasman school rodeo championships in Australia, placing third in two of his rides in the steer ride. He also entered the saddle bronc event for the first time and grabbed two first placings.
East Otago had a pupil compete in the Otago secondary schools duathlon for the first time. Olivia Ollerenshaw competed in the intermediate section and won the individual title in 39min 26sec.
During the school holidays, the First XI played in the McCullum Cup tournament.
Because East Otago is a small school, the boys in this team ranged from year 8 to year 13.
An unbeaten 28 from Hamish Ross helped the school beat South Otago High School on the first day. A narrow loss to John McGlashan followed, despite a fine 78 from Cameron Grubb. The next day, Daniel Oldham scored 33 in a last-ball win over Taieri, and another win against Waitaki Boys' helped East Otago place fifth out of 10 teams.
The East Otago sporting achievement awards are tonight. The guest speaker for this event is injured Otago rugby captain Eben Joubert.
Kaikorai Valley touch
Jayde Peat (year 11) has just returned from a successful tour with the New Zealand under-15 touch team to Australia. He played in all of his team's eight games, scoring plenty of tries and excelling as a driving middle player. His work setting up for his playmakers was vital to the team's success and he was named man of the match in one of the games.
Nicole McCutcheon (tear 13) participated in a final trial camp in an attempt to make the New Zealand under-19 touch team over Labour Weekend. She was unsuccessful, but Nicole has been an inspiration to other players and pupils.
In a new initiative at the sports awards last term, the Blues Committee decided to recognise pupils who have excelled in their chosen sport but have not represented the school as the opportunity to do so was not on offer. Among the Blues recipients were several pupils who have achieved national honours. Nikita McPherson received a marching Blue for being a member of the Onyx Militaires, who are 2012 New Zealand champions. Rebeka Scott and Shannen Wright are members of a synchronised ice skating team which was second at the national championships. Other New Zealand honours and Blues were given to Mackayla Moore, for her national title in wrestling, Nicole McCutcheon and Jayde Peat (touch) and Sean Cook, for the petanque national youth title.
King's High School success
Jonah Smith won the senior individual title at the Otago secondary school duathlon championships held last month on the Taieri.
Patrick Williams came third and Fergus O'Leary came fourth. Jimmy Flanagan and Jordan Ward were second in their respective age groups.
Promising golfer Conor Jamieson, whose handicap has been slashed over the last year, recently placed 26th in the New Zealand under-17 tournament. He is a member of the Otago under-16 team.
MacKenzie Haugh who has been selected in the New Zealand under-19 touch team to play Australia in 2013.
King's High School will be celebrating excellence with its sports awards tomorrow night in the school's Performing Arts Centre.
The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Salter Trophy. Previous winners include Glen Denham, Darin Smith, Brendon McCullum and Tony Brown.
St Hilda's multisport/gymnastics
At the Otago secondary schools duathlon, Anna Lindsay won the junior girls individual section, and Ginny Wilson was second in the senior girls individual event. Ginny travelled to Taupo to compete in the national secondary schools duathlon and finished eighth in the under-19 girls event.
Stefannie Gillespie competed in the world aquathlon championships last week and represented New Zealand in the 16-19 age group. After a great swim she came out of the water first equal. The run proved to be very challenging and Stefannie finished in seventh place.
During the holidays, St Hilda's girls competed at the national gymsports championships in Dunedin. To compete at this competition, the girls need to pass a qualifying mark, and then be in the top 28 in New Zealand.
Claire Lau received a silver medal in level 7, Sophie Coutts was fifth overall in level 7, Paige Walsh was seventh overall in level 8, Mikaela Walsh was fifth overall in level 10, and Sophie Coutts, Paige Walsh and Mikaela Walsh received a bronze medal in the grade 5 group. Gracie Hannagan and Emma Cunningham also competed exceptionally well in level 4.
Swimmers at McGlashan
Aquatic sports at John McGlashan College are at an all-time high. The college has a number of swimmers who are either at the top or very near the top in the country in their age groups. At the New Zealand short course championships, McGlashan swimmers performed exceptionally well.
Thomas Heaton set a New Zealand record in the boys 14-year age group. Thomas beat the previous record by 8sec and was over 1min ahead of his closest competitor.
Jeremy Hopkins won a silver medal and two bronze medals as a member of the Neptune and Otago relay teams.
In trapshooting, all three senior John McGlashan boys had success during a three-day event, and two junior boys got their first national event under their belts.
Saturday was the South Island championships, with a wind that made for very difficult conditions, which was reflected in the scoreboard. Garth Sanders shot 60/60 in the points score, finishing first boy after a shoot-off.
Sunday was the New Zealand championships. Garth and Hugh Lindsay got themselves into the single rise shoot-off and Garth repeated his point score performance with another 60/60. He was the only person to shoot the 60 on both days. Clint made the single barrel shoot-off. Hugh, Garth and Clint McAughtrie made the Otago team for the Fish & Game-sponsored five-man provincial event and they claimed the silver medal.
Hugh and Garth were selected to represent the South Island team and to shoot against the North Island, gaining silver medals.
Otago Girls' wrap
Otago Girls' High School pupils Rosa Waters (17) and Melissa Thomson (16) finished second in the grade 5 group at the New Zealand gymnastics championship held recently in Dunedin. Melissa also won a gold medal in the level 7 clubs section of the same competition and was a member of the New Zealand rhythmic gymnastics team that competed in Sydney.
Georgia Knopp (16), Nina King (14) and Charlotte Forbes (16), who are members of the Dunedin junior synchronised figure skating team Icentric, recently competed at the New Zealand championships in Auckland.
Two curling teams from Otago Girls' competed in the New Zealand secondary schools championships, finishing second and third in the South Island, and fourth and fifth in New Zealand.
Kiana Pelasio (14) is one of 60 young netballers from around New Zealand who have been selected to attend the first national netball development camp in Cambridge in December.
Taieri sports
William Pickering travelled to Auckland to trial for the New Zealand under-17 boys water polo team. He was selected to attend the trial from the recent under-16 tournament, where he played for the Otago Crushers. If selected for New Zealand, he will travel to Australia in 2013 to take part in the World Youth Club Challenge.
Melissa Bates was recently awarded a three-year scholarship to study at Otago Polytechnic, while Rianna Palmer received the Mana Pounamu young achievers award.
Today, Taieri College is hosting a lunch for pupils who contributed to sport at the school and in the wider Taieri community.
This lunch, hosted by the Taieri College sports council, will attract more than 65 pupils who have been recognised for their voluntary efforts within sport over this year.
• 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
