'Field fishing' pulls in pupils at sports expo

Pupils try marching during the Kaikorai Valley College Sport Expo yesterday. Photos by Gerard O'Brien.
Pupils try marching during the Kaikorai Valley College Sport Expo yesterday. Photos by Gerard O'Brien.
Halfway Bush School pupils (from left) Soliana Freeman (9), Liza Piatova (10), Emma Pain (10) and...
Halfway Bush School pupils (from left) Soliana Freeman (9), Liza Piatova (10), Emma Pain (10) and Kaikorai Valley College pupils Henry King (11) and Rion McFadyen (11) learn to fish at the Kaikorai Valley College Sport Expo yesterday.
Mornington School pupil Coban Sullings (9) tries his hand at rugby.
Mornington School pupil Coban Sullings (9) tries his hand at rugby.
Abbotsford School pupil Daniel Lawrence (11) takes a swing.
Abbotsford School pupil Daniel Lawrence (11) takes a swing.

Fishing. Without a drop of water in sight, it can be tricky, but Dunedin primary school pupils have shown it is not impossible.

More than 900 pupils from schools across the city, tried their hand at fishing on the Kaikorai Valley College sports field yesterday, as part of the college's annual 1000km Challenge and Sports Expo.

No actual fish were caught in the challenging sport, but many children managed to latch their lines on to dinner plate-sized rubber fish laid out on the grassy field.

And for the achievement, they were rewarded with a chocolate fish - almost as good as the real thing.

Kaikorai Valley College deputy principal John Downes said this year's event was the largest held at the college, with more than 900 pupils taking part in 37 sports and activities which were offered by local sports clubs and organisations.

''As well as the more conventional sports and activities, this year we also offering fishing, marching, ultimate disc, La-crosse, rock climbing and slack lining.''

He said the event was designed to encourage pupils to get involved in sport-related activity.

''Kaikorai Valley College is an active education school, so there's an obligation for us to encourage community involvement - it's designed to create a healthier community.

''We've seen quite a big increase in activity among our own school population, but also what we're hearing is primary school kids in the community are taking up less well known sports like table tennis, in much increased numbers.

''This event is giving them increased exposure to different sports.''

As part of the event, junior pupils at Kaikorai Valley College took part in the college's 1000km challenge.

Running 1000km may sound daunting, but it was a case of many feet making light work.

As a group, each pupil ran several kilometres to produce a grand total of 1000km.

Mr Downes said the 1000km Challenge and the Sports Expo were established in 2010 by former teacher Neil Mackenzie.

Despite now being retired, he was back as part of a team of event organisers yesterday, to make sure it ran as smoothly as previous years.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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