Over the school holidays, four South Otago High School pupils were selected for the Dunedin under-17 netball team.
Well done Abby Erwood, Sophie Erwood, Megan Morrison and Mikayla Latta.
The team finished third overall at the national championships. Abby Erwood was named in the tournament team and also had the opportunity to trial for the Dunedin NPC netball team and was named in the team. It is great to see South Otago High pupils playing at this level.
Kavanagh College
Kavanagh curlers took part in an under-21 coaching camp in Naseby during the school holidays. They learned strategy and practised and refined their skills and techniques. Video analysis was completed for each curler and they had an opportunity to practise curling blindfolded. The Kavanagh College First XV has been having a very successful season in the under-18 grade. It has had some great results in recent weeks and is working hard to make the top four. Ben O'Farrell has been selected in the New Zealand under-17 football squad of 20. This wonderful achievement by Ben continues his rapid rise in his chosen sport.
The Kavanagh First XI football team is leading the secondary school football competition and is looking forward to competing in the top four competition, and preparing well for its tournament in Timaru.
Otago Boys' High School
In 1967, two more winter interschools were introduced for the top teams at Otago Boys' High School.
In beating Waitaki Boys' 32-12 this year, the 2014 team under the guidance of Ryan Martin is only the sixth OBHS 1st XV to win all six fixtures in one season.
Other years this has been achieved were 1989, 1991, 1994, 2001 and 2012. The scores in 2014 were as follows: Southland Boys' High School 23-15; King's High School 60-7; Timaru Boys' High School 33-15; Christ's College 60-8; Christchurch Boys' High School 29-7; Waitaki Boys' High School 32-12.
Tokomairiro College
Fourteen Year 12 physical education pupils at Tokomairiro are co-ordinating a community indoor netball tournament, held over eight weeks at the school's gymnasium, as part of an NCEA assessment. Eight teams are fiercely competing for top honours.
Another pupil-led health initiative is the Year 13 Physical Education pupils implementing a cross-fit programme for the community. This will run for six weeks and it is designed to encourage people in the community to get active.
Hockey, a recently revived sport at Toko, is reaping rewards with Liam Grant and Harley Herbert having made the Otago development team for 2014. Both boys are in their first year of hockey and are playing extremely well. They will play in tournaments later on in the year.
Columba College
Congratulations to Charlotte Cahill, a year 13 pupil, and Hanna English (year 12), who have been selected in the New Zealand Secondary Schools cross country team to compete in Perth in August. Hanna won the New Zealand Secondary Schools senior girls' 4km race in Palmerston North recently and Charlotte was eighth.
The college had 14 girls participate in the South Island Secondary Schools cycling championships in Christchurch. The weekend was a huge success with many podium finishes, personal bests and great memories.
In the 3.4km individual time trial, Bailey Saville won gold in the under-20 age group. Ella Harris took silver and Ruby Knight bronze in the under-17 category. In the under-16 team time trial, Holly Cameron, Hannah Rogers, Thirza Smith and Madeleine Cooper-Forster finished second. Bailey Saville, Ruby Knight, Phoebe Swale and Ella Harris combined to take second in the open women's category. Columba College was represented by seven junior swimmers at the South Island Secondary School swimming championships. All swimmers achieved personal bests throughout the meeting, in the 14 and under age group events (50m and 100m events), and the open age group events (200m and 400m events).
Cromwell College
Several Cromwell College netball players have won Central Otago representative honours. Sophie Skimming, Della Clark and Emma Patten were selected in the under-17 team and Chelsea Schwas won under-19 selection. Jesse Cox was picked for the under-15 team and in the under-14 team Tia Clark, Sarah Hogan, Laurel Williams and Claudia Patton made the squad. Jayda King and Alanah Ward were selected in the year 8 team and Kelsie Clark, Shakayla McKinley and Jade Dixon were selected in the year 7 team.
Three pupils have made Otago Country rugby representative teams: Joe Harrison (under-14), Sebastian Downie (under-16) and Jack Harrison (under-18).
A mixed hockey team will compete in Gore during the SISS tournament week and the senior A netball team will be competing in Invercargill.
Liam Robertson recently won the Cromwell Club Golf Championship, a huge achievement.
Emma Smith, Tegan Buchanan, Tristen Paget and Daniel Anderson competed in the Milton relay in the senior mixed grade. Jodie Batt is among the best and has been selected in the New Zealand team to compete in the Oceania karate championship in Fiji in September.
The sporting star this week was Carter McAuliffe, who finished third in the Peak to Peak race last weekend. Carter was competing against boys a couple of years older than him.
Queen's High School
Queen's High School Year 9 and 10 pupils spent the last two days of term two involved in a Commonwealth Games inspired programme. During day one the students listened to a presentation from Raylene Bates, made country flags, researched and rehearsed for their country performances and participated in a range of activities across all curriculum areas. Day two's opening ceremony included a performance from the aerobics, hip hop and kapa haka girls, the running of the Queen's baton and a message read by principal Julie Anderson, and a reading of the Athletes' Oath. The students participated in country teams in seven events that focused on different curriculum areas. The day concluded with performances from all the countries represented and medals presented to the winning countries by Alison Shanks and the singing of the national anthem. Queen's Aerobics athletes competed in the Otago Gymsport Competition in Alexandra the first weekend of the school holidays. In the Step 8, 15-17-year-old grade, Grace McIntyre was first and Kerry Remon second. In Step 6, 15-17-year-old grade, Lucy Elliot was second. Lucy and Sian Remon were first equal in the Step 6 pairs with Riley Haugh and Kylie Lyders. Shania Smith represented QHS in the SISS swimming championships. She finished second and third respectively in the SWID 50m freestyle and backstroke.
Year 10 pupil Caitlin Sue was a member of the Otago under-15 badminton team which competed in the South Island Championships in Christchurch in July.
Bayfield High School
Bayfield pupils are feeling positive about the start of term three sports, starting with the Waimate Exchange. Sports included rugby, netball, basketball, badminton and squash. A chess tournament was also held. A new sporting venture has been introduced this term with the inclusion of the Bayfield High School Basketball Academy. Bayfield is using the skills and resources of former student Greg Brockbank, from the Otago Nuggets, to enrich the academy. Five pupils represented Bayfield at a recent Special Olympics football tournament. Taoka Potiki, Aidan Jamieson, Gian McClutchie-Clark, Bradley Caffell and Gabriel Freeman joined pupils from King's High School to form a very successful combined team. They won all their games.
Congratulations to Bradley Caffell, from year 12, for an outstanding result in the South Island powerlifting championships held in June. He won a gold medal in the sub-junior category, lifting the following weights: squat 105kg, bench press 62.5kg, deadlift 127.5kg, which was a new personal best for Bradley, overall totalling an impressive 295kg.
Bayfield is very proud of Brennan Carne, who has just competed with the Football Otago Youth Development Academy squad in the Dale Farm Milk Cup competition in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. Bayfield looks forward to hearing about this international competition and his experiences when he returns.
Blue Mountain College
The school finished second in the South Island Secondary School junior development netball tournament in Christchurch last month. This young Blue Mountain team, which consisted mainly of Year 9 pupils, played the final against St Peters from Gore which contained only Year 10 pupils. Coach Janine Venz was proud of her young team, which beat Papanui, Ellesmere, Hillview and Menzies and then beat Timaru Girls' 34-23 in the semifinal. The semifinal win was the highlight of the tournament for the side and the entire team excelled on court. Rachael Kummer and Georgia Thomson pounced on any loose balls, Hollie Kelly, Terryn Miller and Lucinda Butler applied excellent defensive pressure and Cindy Weller and Ashleigh Reihana shot outstandingly. The team also had two talented reserves in Amy Tomsett and Emma Stuart, who were invaluable team members. The final against St Peter's College was a close game and the score was even at halftime. St Peters pulled away in the second half, winning 24-18.
Taking second placing in the South Island in 2014 was a great achievement for such a small school.
• These articles are compiled by the Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association (OSSSA), which is sponsored by Perpetual Trust.
