The Otago Boys' High School colts (years 9-10) defended their title by convincingly winning all of their games at the NZCT finals in Palmerston North recently. This is only the second time in the history of the event that a school has won the title in successive years.
The First XI won the right to represent Otago-Southland at the Gillette Cup finals at Lincoln in early December. This is the fifth time in the past six years that OBHS has been the zone champion.
The extensive interschool programme ended in late March with the three teams involved all unbeaten. The First XI won three of its four games, the Second XI had a win and a draw, and the colts posted huge wins over Timaru Boys' and Southland Boys'.
As well, OBHS teams have dominated most Saturday competitions run by the DCA, including having two teams in the senior reserve grade. The 4ths, 7ths and 8ths have all won their respective competitions.
Rhys Bayly and Josh Finnie were selected for the 2013 Willows CC tour of Sri Lanka.
Outstanding performances included: Josh Askin, 160 not out v King's 4ths; Josh Huddleston, 133 not out v Taieri College First XI; Jarryd Taig, 130 not out v Napier Boys' colts; Declan Su'a, nine for eight v Southland Boys' colts; Ryan Adam six for 41 v Waitaki Boys' First XI; Second XI openers Jarryd Taig and Cam McAuslan, seven centuries between them.
Bayfield High School
Bayfield has had success in a diverse range of sports, from volleyball to water polo to cricket. Two new sports, surfing and archery, have also been introduced. Both are being run by one of the technology teachers.
Bayfield is looking forward to starting up winter sports teams next term, including hockey, ice hockey, rugby, football, netball, badminton and basketball. New coaches and managers will be required.
Two notable events include the co-ed sports competition on May 28, which will involve Bayfield competing against all of the other co-ed schools in Dunedin. Additionally, on July 11, there will be a sports exchange with Mountainview High School.
Tokomairiro High School
Seven pupils from Tokomairiro High School qualified for the Otago-Southland athletics championships on March 16. The highlights were the gold medals won by Matthew Roxburgh and Linette Tautupu. Matthew won the under-14 boys 100m and 200m, repeating the double from the Otago championships against higher-quality competition. His 100m was very close - he won by 0.03sec. He ran 12.48sec in the heat, but was slower in the final, as he had to battle a 6m/sec headwind. His 200m win was much more comfortable.
Linette reversed her javelin result from the Otago championships, throwing 26.57m and beating her nearest rival, from Columba. There were other fine results from Brandon McSkimming (200m finalist), Karta Hewitt (high jump, seventh) and Conner Devlin (triple jump, personal best, 10.77m).
Both Matthew and Linette competed at the South Island championships in Invercargill on April 6. Linette finished fourth in the under-16 javelin, throwing 27.22m, her best throw for the season. Matthew ran in the 100m and 200m. He had an off day and did not manage to qualify for the finals but, overall, had a fantastic summer.
Blue Mountain College
Yvonne van Baarle has proved she is the undisputed javelin champion in Otago, Otago-Southland and South Island secondary schools athletics, breaking all three records in the under-14 girls section.
Her Otago record was 30.44m, the Otago-Southland mark was 32.27m and her final throw at the South Island championships was a massive 33.83m. Yvonne actually broke the 2007 record twice before she had her last throw. This year 10 pupil certainly has the talent to continue breaking records for the next three years.
Gavin Stark dominated the 100m at the Otago, Otago-Southland and South Island championships, with his speed out of the blocks his major weapon. Gavin is also no slug at the 300m hurdles, winning the Otago and Otago-Southland events before finishing second at the South Island championships with a time of 42.48sec.
Ben Rea recorded a 36.99m throw in the javelin, narrowly missing out on a top-three placing in the under-15 boys section at the South Island championships.
In the NZCT cricket competition, the Blue Mountain girls beat Gore High School. On March 20, the second game was against Otago Girls', which batted first and scored 103 for nine off 20 overs. In reply, Blue Mountain scored 107 for just four wickets, with Georgia Heffernan top-scoring on 58 to secure the win. In the third round, Blue Mountain College managed 87 for six off 20 overs against the formidable St Hilda's team. The Dunedin school chased down the target inside 12 overs.
Columba College
At the New Zealand secondary schools triathlon championships in Christchurch, Columba College claimed bronze medals in the under-19 and under-16 team events. The under-19 team consisted of Olivia Stevens (swim), Laura Bridger (bike) and Sian English (run). The under-16 team comprised Caitlin Deans (swim), Bailey Saville (bike) and Hanna English (run).
As part of the triathlon, the open water swim followed the next day. Columba had great success with Caitlin Deans winning a gold medal in the under-14, Meg Sycamore a silver in the year 7, and Olivia Stevens a bronze in the under-19 section.
Phoebe Steele has been selected for the New Zealand under-17 touch team for a tournament in Australia, and head girl Laura Bridger won the under-19 grade at the South Island mountain biking championships.
A 40-strong Columba team competed at the Otago secondary schools athletics championships, with many athletes achieving personal bests and qualifying for the Otago-Southland event, including all four relay teams.
Sian and Hanna English demonstrated outstanding middle distance running. Sian claimed two senior titles, the 1500m and 3000m, and Hanna won the under-16 800m, 1500m and 3000m. Both girls broke the record in the 3000m in their respective grades.
The senior girls 4x100m relay team consisting of Analise Cowie, Laura Saville, Zoey Flockton and Maddy Spence broke a 22-year-old record, running a smart time of 50.33sec.
At the Otago-Southland event, records were broken by Hanna English, in the under-16 3000m, and the senior 4x100m relay team, which ran a time of 50.31sec. Titles went to the under-14 relay team (Georgia McLellan, Shannon Inch, Lily Robin and Ryelee Breen), Indiana Williams (under-14 3000m), Ruby Coers (under-16 400m), Maddy Spence (under-16 200m), Hanna English (1500m and 3000m), Zoey Flockton (senior long jump), Sian English (1500m and 3000m) and Laura Saville (senior 100m hurdles).
At the South Island event in Invercargill, athletes gained 15 placings. Twenty-nine athletes competed. Titles went to Maddy Spence, in the under-16 200m, and Hanna English in both the 1500m and 3000m.
Mt Aspiring College
Jessica Bailey continues to shine in the kayaking world. She competed at the New Zealand open championships recently, winning the under-18 women's title and finishing second-fastest woman overall.
Finn Moore was a member of the Otago United football team that made the final of the national youth league. Although the team lost to Auckland, Finn had a terrific summer, which included scoring the winning goal in the semifinal.
Thirteen pupils attended the South Island secondary schools mountain bike championships in Dunedin. The Mt Aspiring team was second school overall. Phoebe Young (first cross-country, hill climb and overall), Julius Staufenberg (second cross-country), Max Watt (third downhill), Sam Coupland (second hill climb and second overall) and Alex Young (third cross-country and second overall) did well in their respective grades.
Four Mt Aspiring rowers went to the massive Maadi Cup regatta at Karapiro. Riley Bruce provided the highlight, winning the under-16 single sculls to become the school's first Maadi Cup champion. Under-18 coxless pair Jamie Bowley and James Redai finished third in the B final, 11th overall. Under-15 double scullers Nathan Redai and Riley finished fourth in the A final.
Eleven Mt Aspiring pupils competed at the Otago secondary schools athletics championships in Dunedin. Results included: Harrison Brown (first under-14 1500m and 3000m), Layne Opetaia (first under-14 high jump), Adam Hewson (third under-14 80m hurdles and triple jump), Ned Williams-Holloway (first under-14 80m hurdles), Oliver Jarvie (second under-15 80m hurdles) and Sammy Burke (third under-14 800m).
These athletes qualified for the Otago-Southland championships: Harrison Brown (first under-14 1500m and 3000m), Ned Williams-Holloway (first under-14 80m hurdles) and Layne Opetaia (second under-14 high jump). The final meet was the South Island secondary schools championships. Harrison Brown placed second in the under-14 3000m and Ned Williams Holloway was third in the under-14 80m hurdles.
• These articles are compiled by the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association (OSSSA), which is proudly sponsored by Perpetual Trust.
