Success in summer sports

04 Apr 2017

Summer Tournament Week marked the end of a very successful summer sports season, with College sportsmen travelling to destinations across the country to represent the school in various sporting codes. They not only achieved some excellent results, but also embodied principles of good sportsmanship and fair play. Congratulations to all.

Athletics

A team of 26 athletes travelled to Dunedin for the South Island Secondary School Championships, held from Friday 31 March to Sunday 2 April. They competed in a total of 45 events, made 37 finals, won nine South Island titles, achieved six second places, five third places, and a number of personal bests, over the course of the weekend. Placegetters:

1st

U16 pole vault – Edward Hsing (new SI age group record – 3.20m)

U16 long jump – Cody House

U16 100m hurdles – Cody House

U19 200m – Sam King

U19 para 200m – Hugh Finlay

U19 para 400m – Hugh Finlay

U16 400m – Jack Tyler

U16 hammer – Matthew Todd

U19 4 x 400m relay – Jack Tyler, Sam Averill, Sam King, Harry Hartstone

2nd

U19 javelin – Nic Murray

U16 200m – Cody House

U19 pole vault – Sam Bennetts

U19 400m – Sam King

U16 hammer – Alex Hemens

U19 4 x 100m relay – Jack Tyler, Sam King, Cody House, Levi Emery

3rd

U19 hammer – Nic Murray

U14 discus – Marcus Hamilton

U19 shotput – Kaveni Balenacagi

U19 pole vault – Sam McKay

U16 pole vault – Lachie Henderson

Polo

The College A polo side – comprising Rohan Tennekoon, Jack Tracy, Freddie Cameron and Charlie Dyer – won the South Island polo championship, held Sunday 2 April at the Rangiora Polo Grounds. The team also defeated a visiting Australian school side in a very close match.

The College C polo team won the B division in the schools’ tournament.

Rowing

The highlight of the schools’ rowing calendar – the Maadi Cup Regatta – was held at Lake Karapiro, from Monday 27 March to Saturday 1 April. College featured strongly, with 10 boats in national top 10s and five crews achieving podium finishes.

The final race of the regatta, for the Maadi Cup, was an intense clash of highly competitive crews. As defenders, College took the lead late in the race, only to have St Andrew’s College sneak ahead in the final seconds to take the title. It was a nail-biting finish to a thrilling race.

After the regatta, Josh Wade was invited to attend a New Zealand junior trial, while Jamie Batchelor, Louis Batchelor, Max Goodwin, Sam Aitken, Sam Darry and Zac Cran were asked to trial for the South Island U18 team.

Medal winners:

Bronze

U18 coxed quad – Josh Wade, Albert O’Shannessey, Robert Turnbull, Monty Batchelor and Paddy Hone

Over 15 lightweight coxed four – Sean Swanson, Harry Hawkins, Jacob Pye, Sam Smith and Wilson Murray

Silver

U17 coxed eight – Louis Batchelor, Sam Aitken, Alex Todhunter, Jamie Batchelor, Max Goodwin, Sam Darry, Zac Cran, Harrison Voice and Guy Flynn

U18 coxed eight – Louis Batchelor, Sam Aitken, Josh Wade, Max Goodwin, Sam Darry, Albert O’Shannessey, James Newton, Monty Batchelor and Paddy Hone

Gold

U16 coxed eight – Erik McBride, Jamie Batchelor, Tom Vincent, Alex Todhunter, Lachie Hazlett, Jack Elvy, Zac Cran, Will Chaffey and Fin Smith

Surfing

College surfers, Angus Mossman, Eddie Priest and Tim Gould, came second overall in the Canterbury Scholastic Surfing championships, held at New Brighton. Tim finished third in the U14 grade, Eddie came third in the U16 grade, and Angus won the boys’ U18 division.

Swimming

At the recent national age group swimming championships, Hunter Wilson was in the top 10 of the seven events he entered, coming 4th in the 100m backstroke and 200m freestyle. While Louis Clark won gold and a national title, as well as achieving an impressive personal best, in the Boys 15 years 1500m freestyle event. Louis has also been selected for the New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Youth Squad.

Tennis

With wins in both the Canterbury and South Island schools’ championships, the tennis team – comprising Dylan Heap, Will Schneideman, Nic Schneideman, Liam Adams and Sam Bubb – were looking forward to testing themselves at nationals. After pool play they were undefeated, but lost to Wellington College in the semi-final and St Kentigern in the play-off, finishing a very creditable 4th in New Zealand.

Triathlon

A small but passionate team of College triathletes travelled to Wanganui for the national championships, finishing third overall.

In the U13 grade Sam Idiens had a fantastic competition, winning both the individual triathlon and aquathlon events, and in the U14 grade Kyle Houston came second in the individual triathlon and third in the aquathlon.

During the season, Kyle also came second in the Canterbury schools U14 triathlon and third in the junior section of the South Island schools’ triathlon championship.

Water Polo

College water polo is enjoying its best season in years. After winning the Canterbury schools’ competition, the team were confident heading into the South Island championship, held at Jellie Park from Saturday 25 to Wednesday 29 March. Undefeated in pool play, they took an easy semi-final win over St Bede’s College, before coming up against Otago Boys’ High School in the final. A comfortable 14–6 win gave College the championship title.

Andrew Campbell, Louis Clark and Bilant Tomozi were named in the tournament team, with Andrew Campbell also being named the tournament MVP.

The team is now training for the 2017 New Zealand Senior Secondary Schools Championships, to be held in Wellington during the school holidays.