Success in summer sport

09 Apr 2018

It has been a great summer season for College sport, with outstanding results across a range of codes at regional, South Island and national events. The hard work, determination and success of our young sportsmen was celebrated at a special assembly on Tuesday 27 March.

Athletics

College athletes have competed at both the Canterbury and South Island Secondary School championship events in recent weeks.

At the Canterbury championships, a team of 37 College athletes claimed nine 3rd placings, nine 2nd placings and 13 Canterbury titles, with Alfie Baker, Oliver Beresford, Cody House, Jordy Annand, John Wells, Sam King, Dion Houston, Lachie Henderson, Sam Rutherford, Jasper Moss and the U14 and U19 4x100m relay teams winning gold.

From this event, athletes qualified to participate in the South Island Secondary Schools Championships, held in Timaru from Friday 23–Sunday 25 March. After its success at the Canterbury championship, College had one of its biggest teams ever participating at this meet, and College athletes claimed two bronze medals, seven silver medals and 11 South Island titles, as follows:

Jasper Moss – 400m AWD
Cody House – U19 long jump
Cody House – 110m hurdles
Sam King – U19 200m
Alfie Baker – U16 high jump
Oliver Beresford – U16 Hammer
Marcus Hamilton – U15 discus
Marcus Hamilton – U15 hammer
Nant Prachuabmoh – U14 triple jump
Sam Idiens – U14 1500m
Sam Idiens – U14 3000m – new South Island record, with a time of 9.24.81

For full results from the SISS athletics championships click here

Road Cycling

Jack Drage and Jono Stewart were busy on their bikes at recent Canterbury cycling events. Jack came 2nd in the U17 15km time trial, and Jono came second in the U19 25km time trial, at the Canterbury Time Trial Championships, held at Loburn on Saturday 17 March. The next day, Jack came 3rd in the U17 64km road race and Jono came 1st in the U19 96km road race at the Canterbury Road Race Championships, held in Sefton on Sunday 18 March.

Futsal

After a thrilling but disappointing 5–4 loss to Middleton Grange in extra time at the Mainland Secondary School Regional Futsal Tournament final, the College futsal team agreed the match was great preparation for the New Zealand Secondary School National Championships, held in Wellington from Wednesday 21–Friday 23 March.

In attendance for the first time, the boys played superbly. On the first day of competition, College beat Hutt Valley High School 12–0, then lost to Rathkeale College 5–7, and drew with St Thomas of Canterbury College 4–4. Needing two wins to qualify for the quarter-final, the boys pulled out all the stops and delivered. They beat defending champions St Patrick’s College, Wellington, 3–2 in an epic encounter and then beat Mt Albert Grammar School 6–3. Unfortunately they lost 1–4 to Middleton Grange in the quarter-final, but bounced back and won their final playoff game 4–3 against a strong Wellington College – claiming 5th overall.

College futsal team: Sam Whittaker (captain), Jake Tacon, Daniel Metherell, Caleb Palmer, Caleb Manson, Charlie Cameron, Jamie Barr, Charles Lord, Rheon Salt, Harry Dufton.

Polo

Two College teams played at the South Island Tournament at Rangiora on Sunday 25 March.

Playing in the B grade, the B team had six teams in their pool. With wins against St Margaret’s College A and Rangi Ruru Girls’ School A, and after all the teams’ points were added, College was in the final against Rangi Ruru, which they won 1–0. Winston Hutchinson was named MVP of the grade.

In the A grade, the A team were up against a tough line up. It was great to see one of the American players who hosted College in Maui, Hawaii, playing in the tournament. Apart from College, all other teams were combination teams of top players. College’s first game was a 2–0 win over Christchurch Boys’ High School combined. Next, they lost 2–0 to USA combined and then won 2–0 against Kaikoura. As all teams in the grade had one loss, it went to a goal count to decide the winner. College came out on top, claiming the South Island Schools Polo title.

College A polo team: Rohan Tennekoon, George Hutchinson, Henry Batchelor, Edward Davidson.

College B polo team: Winston Hutchinson, Edward Davidson, Angus Turnham, Henry Bowmar.

Rowing

College enjoyed one if its most successful Maadi Cup regattas ever, winning five national titles and a silver medal.

The novice eight of Josh Johnston, Seb Hudson, Tom McEwen, George Lill, Tyus Dimbleby, Matt Patterson, Tim Ward, Edward Priest and Hugo Nelson were well behind Hamilton Boys’ High School at the halfway mark, but an epic comeback saw them pipped at the line by only 0.2 seconds, to claim a well-earned silver medal.

The U15 Octople crew of Louis Bethel, Liam Alexander, Jono Henderson, Thomas Johnston, Tom McEwen, Guy Chaffey, Gus Orr, Fearghus Bratten and Hamish McCulloch were trailing at the 1000m mark, but managed to find another gear and began to reel in the leading boats. In the last 100m they managed to power ahead of Christchurch Boys’ High School and win the title, by a margin of 0.7 seconds.

The U16 crews had a very successful day, with the U16 eight defending the title College won last year and the U16 four adding another win to the tally. Both races were very close, but the crews held their nerve when it mattered. The U16 rowers were Tim Ward, Fearghus Bratten, Dom Edmond, Fletcher Anderson, Lachie Hazlett, Guy Chaffey, Charles Smith and Fin Smith.

The U17 eight – Jack Elvy, Fletcher Anderson, Guy Chaffey, Lachie Hazlett, Zac Cran, Will Chaffey, Jamie Batchelor, Alex Todhunter and Max Marsh – rowed a perfect race to claim the title over CBHS.

The final race for the Maadi Cup was rowed in perfect conditions before a packed and enthusiastic crowd. Hamilton Boys’ High School took an early lead, but the powerhouse College team soon pulled ahead and stayed ahead, winning the Maadi Cup and finishing an extraordinary day for the College boat club. Congratulations to the Maadi Cup team of Jack Elvy, Sean Swanson, Will Chaffey, Zac Cran, Max Goodwin, Sam Darry, Jamie Batchelor, Alex Todhunter and Guy Flynn.

Sailing

At the Top of the South Secondary Schools Team Sailing Championships, held in Nelson from Thursday 22–Saturday 24 March, College placed a commendable 5th overall. Extra training throughout the season paid dividends, with clever tactics and smart handling evident in the team’s 19 races over three very stormy days. Their win against local rivals Christchurch Boys’ High School was particularly impressive, given CBHS were eventual winners of the regatta.

College sailors also competed in the 420 Class National Championships, held in Lyttelton from Thursday 15–Sunday 18 March. At this event, Rupert Limbrick came 6th overall, earning himself a place in the New Zealand team that will compete in Rhode Island, New York, later in the year.

College sailing team: Rupert Limbrick (captain), Matthew Bayley, Wilson Murray, Humphrey Bullen, Max Luisetti, Tom O’Connor, Jonty Gallagher, Henry Wilson.

Surf Life Saving

Sebastian Fergusson and Louis Clark achieved great results at the New Zealand Surf Live Saving Championships, held in Gisborne from Thursday 15–Sunday 18 March.

Sebastian came 3rd in the U16 board race and was a member of the winning U16 board relay team, while Louis won gold in the Open Men’s surf race, silver in the Open Men’s Taplin Relay and bronze in the U19 Men’s surf race. Louis has also been selected for the New Zealand Youth Surf Life Saving Squad.

Tennis

After a successful Canterbury championship and with a clean sweep in the South Island Tennis Teams Championship, the Senior A tennis team went into the national tournament, held at Wilding Park from Tuesday 20–Friday 23 March, as the top qualifying South Island team.

College had Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Hamilton Boys’ High School and Saint Kentigern College in its pool. The boys made a good start with 6–0 wins over both Palmerston North and Hamilton, with the final pool game deciding which team would finish as top qualifier and play number two from the other pool in the semi-final. College drew their match with St Kentigern, with the teams unable to be separated on matches, sets or games, but went through as top qualifier because the boys had won all their previous matches and St Kentigern had lost one.

College were confident heading into the semi-final against Westlake Boys’ High School. Liam started by taking apart his opponent and giving College a real advantage. This was backed up with wins from Nick and Will. Dylan had the toughest match of the round, up against a current New Zealand player, but fought hard and won in straight sets and, with a 5–1 win overall, College secured its place in the final.

The final was a rematch and another close encounter with St Kentigern. Dylan finished the tournament unbeaten, winning both his singles and doubles match. Nick played a long, hard singles match, which he eventually lost 6–4 in the third set. St Kentigern was in front 3–1 after the singles. Both doubles were needed to go to countback, but Liam and Will lost a very close super tie break 10–7 and College had to settle for a 4–2 loss and 2nd overall. As this was the first time a South Island team had been in the finals at this tournament since 1999, College put in an amazing effort for an excellent result.

Senior A tennis team: Dylan Heap (captain), Will Schneideman, Nick Schneideman, Jenner Johnson, Liam Adams.

Triathlon

Kyle Houston and Sam Idiens competed at the NZSS Triathlon Championships at Rabbit Island, near Nelson, from Sunday 18–Tuesday 20 March. Sam came 1st in the U14 aquathlon (run–swim–run), 1st in the U14 triathlon events and 1st in the U16 mixed team tag triathlon, along with Kyle and Pixie Cockerill and Olivia Kikstra from Christchurch Girls’ High School.