Columba claimed their seventh South Island secondary schools title in eight years after defeating neighbours St Hilda’s Collegiate 8-3 in the final in Christchurch recently.
It has been a remarkable run for Columba, who won silver at the national event in December and have finished in the top three of the national event six times since 2016.
But it has not come easy, and the squad has put in the hard graft under the watchful eyes of father-daughter coaching duo PJ and Dayna Turnbull.
Dayna Turnbull was thrilled with her team’s efforts.
"I am immensely proud of the girls for all they have achieved over the last few months," she said.
"Making a second national final in December and narrowly losing the final, but backing it up last weekend to claim gold at South Island championships is a huge feat.
"They put the work in to earn those results and the culture we create not only on the field, but off it as well, ensured we are a connected unit."
Turnbull, who is also Columba’s director of sport, has represented the Touch Blacks several times, and coached age group representative teams.
She grew up watching her father represent Otago and New Zealand and always wanted to follow in his footsteps.
"Tables then turned and he became my biggest fan when I was privileged to make the New Zealand open women’s Touch Blacks and honoured with captain."
They began coaching together in 2016, and despite her father taking a break in 2020, he returned to lend a hand when Turnbull had her daughter Oakley, now 3.
"He taught me a lot of what I knew growing up in touch and my passion came from idolising him as a child.
"It really is a family sport, as my daughter Oakley is being brought up around the team as our mascot, making for a special environment where she feels she has 16 big sisters to run around with."
Her attention now turns to the national tournament at in December, with the goal of a top-four finish for a third consecutive season.
South Otago High School won the mixed grade and Cromwell College were runners-up at the South Island event.
