Queen's High School has a small squad of rowing novices who have continued to improve with every regatta throughout the season.
They were able to round off the season with some excellent racing in perfect conditions on the North End course on Otago Harbour on March 9. Riley Homan won the first division of the novice girls singles, and paired with Gemma Clydesdale for second in the first division of the junior girls doubles.
The Queen's crew of Rebecca Scott and Katie Atkinson won the second division of the junior doubles.
These girls teamed together in the junior quad with coxswain Aoife Picken. In a very exciting race, they were pipped for first by just centimetres.
The squad is now looking forward to next season and keen to train throughout the winter.
Tokomairiro athletics
Tokomairiro High School held its athletics day on February 26, with the whole school participating. The pupils embraced the spirit of the house competition and competed fiercely for points. The final results were: Ross 1, Reid 2, Ayson 3 and Malcolm 4. A highlight of the day was the record of 9.17m set by Monique Perkins in the junior girls triple jump.
A team of 11 pupils travelled to Dunedin to compete in the Otago secondary schools athletics championships at the Caledonian. The high point for the team was Matthew Roxburgh's effort in winning the under-14 boys 100m and 200m. He was the leading qualifier throughout the day in his heats and semifinal, and then he came from behind to win his first final, the 200m. The 100m final was more clear cut and he was well out in front by the finish line. Linette Tatupu was also successful, throwing 25m for second place in the under-16 girls javelin. This continues on from her fine efforts last year and with her record, she will only improve. Further highlights were fourth placings for Karta Hewitt (high jump), Clark Darling (discus) and Conner Devlin (triple jump). Most of the team qualified for the Otago-Southland championships.
Bayfield achievements
Two new sporting stars have emerged at Bayfield in triathlon. Elle Cuthbert, who is new to triathlon and admits she is not a great swimmer but catches everyone on the bike, and Denis Gessert both had success at the Otago-Southland and South Island events. At the Otago-Southland championships in Cromwell, Elle (year 11) was second in the senior girls race, despite it being only her second triathlon. Denis, who competed at the South Island secondary schools triathlon in Oamaru, came second in the senior boys grade. Bayfield also won the mixed teams senior duathlon (Jess Todd and Kieran Duncan), the senior boys teams duathlon (Valentin Heuseen and Austen Minards), and the recreational women's grade (Mathea Brennis).
The Bayfield Bashers continue to dominate secondary schools softball at Ellis Park, with wins of up to 30-0 over most other schools.
Bayfield was represented by 27 athletes at the Otago championships. Britta Hamill and Tori Clearwater gained the most notable results. The under-16 girls relay team looks sharp again this year with the inclusion of Julia Oskam.
Kavanagh rowing
A rowing experiment paid off for Kavanagh at the South Island championships on Lake Ruataniwha. New Zealand lightweight double sculls champions Zoe McBride and Hannah Duggan were joined by Catlin Buist and Anna O'Leary in an under-18 quadruple scull. This team had previously only rowed once together but looked like a well-oiled machine as it stroked its way to victory. Jack O'Leary also had a great day, winning the under-17 boys single sculls convincingly. Kavanagh pupils won five golds and two silvers from the six A finals they made.
Tim Morrison was one of the bright lights for Kavanagh at the Otago athletics championships. Tim won the under-16 boys 1500m in a record time of 4min 18sec, beating the previous mark by 1sec. Tim was pleased to get the record but pointed out his personal-best was 4min 8sec, so he was motivated to work hard for the South Island championships. Other pupils who also performed extremely well were Jess Murphy, Mariana Ioane and Sam Bremer.
The Kavanagh softball team has been in a rich vein of form lately, beating some of the all-boys schools in the local competition. The team beat Otago Boys' High School 9-3 and followed that up with a 7-1 win over King's High School 7-1. It is fair to say the team's preparation for the South Island tournament in Invercargill is going well.
Columba success
Caitlin Deans (year 9) attended the New Zealand age-group swimming championships in Wellington. She won four medals - bronze in the 100m freestyle, and silver in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle.
The Columba College rowing club was represented by a committed and enthusiastic group at the South Island secondary schools championships. The crews demonstrated major improvement, with all girls making A finals. Emma Winders claimed a bronze in the under-17 singles and was fourth in the under-18 singles. Emma is representing Columba at the Maadi Cup.
Devon Familton (year 9) competed at the New Zealand surf life-saving championships at Mt Maunganui. Devon won a gold medal in the surf race event and a bronze medal in the run-swim-run event.
Grace Carruthers, Phoebe Steele and Olivia Wilson were members of the Otago under-21 women's touch team that won a silver medal at the national tournament.
Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain College had three pupils gain top-three placings at the Otago secondary schools athletics. Under-14 athlete Yvonne van Baarle won the discus and was third in the 100m, then broke records in the long jump, by 1cm, and javelin, by a massive 5m, throwing 30.44m. Tamara Weller (under-15) was second in the javelin and third in the high jump. Senior Gavin Stark won the open boys 300m hurdles and 100m.
• 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
