South Otago High School netballers had a very successful trip to Australia in April.
Two teams travelled over to compete in the Polynesian netball festival at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast. The tournament involved three days of competition among 22 international and state teams.
The teams played 14 games each over the tournament - six shortened grading games on the first day and four full games on each of the next two days.
Both South Otago teams ended up in finals - the A team playing Poly Pride to finish runner-up in division 1, and the B team playing Grace Elite to finish runner-up in division 2.
Queen's High School
Year 9 pupil Shani Ayson has enhanced her status as queen of the waves by winning seven awards at the South Coast Boardriders Club prizegiving. Shani received trophies for most improved under-14 grommet, top club woman and most improved woman, and four medals for various competitions.
Judah Kelly (year 10) competed in the Namwon/Korean inline speed skating open championships over the school holidays. She travelled to South Korea for 12 days as part of the X-Tech-sponsored team. She competed in six races and finished second in the 500m, a fine result considering her age.
On May 16, Queen's held its annual school cross-country and fun run events at Kettle Park. The weather was fantastic and the whole school participated in the event.
House points were allocated to the top 13 placegetters in each race, as well as bonus points for teachers who ran for their houses, and points for the best-dressed house, house with the most inventive style of getting around the course, and the house showing the most school spirit. Ballard won the overall house competition.
Cross-country champions for 2013 are Caitlyn McKinley (junior), Casey Kruishoop (intermediate) and Antonia Anders (senior).
Bayfield report
It has been a busy start to term two at Bayfield High School with winter sports teams in full swing in their respective competitions. The football, basketball and netball teams have all started their season well.
The girls First XI won its first game 11-0, the senior A boys basketball team had a commanding win over Kavanagh College, and the junior Gold netball side won its first game.
Footballsouth organised a futsal tournament in the first week of term and Bayfield had three teams competing. The best team of the day was the senior girls side. A highlight was a 2-1 semifinal win over KVC 2-1, after earlier losing 4-0 in round-robin play. Players to stand out during the day were Jodie Little and Gracie Kiore.
The pupils also competed in the Otago secondary schools duathlon championships last week and, despite the weather conditions, all gave their best and gained some excellent results.
The highlight was Elle Cuthbert's who won the individual intermediate girls race by a minute from a very strong field. The senior boys team of Mitchell Wilson and Kieran Duncan finished second.
Cromwell College golfers
The South Island age-group interprovincial golf tournament was held in Timaru recently. Three Cromwell boys - Liam Robertson (captain), Inia Logan (No 1) and Alex Pyper (reserve) - were in the six-man Otago team.
Inia won the individual under-15 event by five shots. While the team was unplaced, the boys enjoyed the atmosphere and are looking forward to the national championships in Christchurch in September.
The college has five boys - Josh Thompson, Jerry Salu, Luke Pyper, Nick Drummond and Chris Drummond - in the Mt Aspiring College team in the Highlanders First XV competition.
Luke Holden defended his Otago duathlon title and won the boys intermediate race in 34min 20sec. Tegan Buchanan won her race in the girls junior event, and Carter McAuliffe placed eighth in the intermediate race.
Columba wrap
The Columba College sports council golf tournament was held recently. It has become an annual fundraising event with many local business and corporate teams supporting the college. It was an excellent day of golf, friendship and fun.
Emma Winders has capped off a successful school and club rowing season with selection in the South Island under-18 team. This team competed against the North Island under-18 team during the recent holidays. Emma raced in the under-18 quad and the single. The quad finished first and Emma was second in the single.
Columba College fielded a strong team of 25 competitors in the Otago secondary schools duathlon championships in North Taieri on May 22.
Despite the cold and wet conditions, the girls performed very well and displayed their talent in both cycling and running. The strength and depth of our senior cyclists and runners was evident as Columba finished first (Sian English, Laura Bridger), second (Hanna English, Bailey Saville) and third (Charlotte Cahill, Georgie Wood) in the team division.
In the intermediate team section, Columba was first (Isabelle Becconsall-Ryan, Ruby Knight) and second (Caitlin Deans, Anna Macdonald). Indiana Williams, who is a strong runner and a member of the Columba College cycling team, competed in her first individual duathlon event and was second in the year 9 category.
• These articles are compiled by the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association (OSSSA), which is proudly sponsored by Perpetual Trust.
