Even though our numbers have declined slightly, we still have a very interested group of experienced and up-and-coming talent who love their sport of Water Polo.

The South Island Secondary Schools' Water Polo Championships was played here in Christchurch at both Jellie Park and Taiora QEII Recreation and Sport Centre, from Thursday 25 - Sunday 28 March.

The Burnside High Girls and Boys Senior 'A' Water Polo teams competed in this tournament and both teams played some great Water Polo and gained valuable experience playing against excellent competition. The Boys placed 5th overall in the A grade and the Girls 11th overall.

Special thanks to our long-standing Boys coach, (and sometimes Girls' coach as well!) Ben Lamb, for your hours of coaching and at games! Your knowledge and keenness of the sport is huge and much appreciated. Thanks also to our Senior Girls coach for the past couple of seasons, Ella Harford.

These senior teams both played throughout Term 1 in the Canterbury Secondary Schools' weekly competition. In Term 4, due to not enough numbers, our Burnside High Junior Girls combined with Papanui High School to play in the weekly Canterbury schools' competition, and our Burnside High Junior Boys combined with CBHS to play in the same competition. Thanks to Lauren (senior student at Papanui HS), and Dave Bone (from CBHS), who have coached these junior teams in Term 4.

Lastly, we farewell Darius Porter, who has been the mainstay of our Senior Boys team ever since he was a junior, as our amazing goalie. He achieved Canterbury and NZ Junior honours while playing for Burnside High and will be sorely missed!

Tracy Taylor