Blue Black Sport
Update from the Sports Department
Kathmandu Coast to Coast 2025
Coast to Coast 2025 – Multisport Event | Three CBHS Teams Conquer the Challenge
We had several teams compete on the 8th & 9th of February at the 2025 Kathmandu Coast to Coast. The CBHS Boys which took part was:
Francis Gillies, Xandy Haycock & Joshua Davies
Cameron Buckingham, Will Haycock & Sam Hewitt
Jonty Hickman, Reuben Hart & Dardy Harrington
Day 2 – Paddling the Mighty Waimakariri
The boys were up before dawn (some as early as 3:30 AM!) to witness a spectacular sunrise and prepare for the day’s grueling stages. The day began with a 15km road bike sprint from Klondyke to Mt White, where the team’s runner quickly transitioned to deliver the transponder to their kayaker.
The 70km paddle down the Waimakariri River, which reached Grade 2 rapids in parts, was particularly tough this year due to low water levels, making for a long, 5+ hour slog. Despite the challenging conditions, Xandy put in a phenomenal effort, clocking the second-fastest time among boys’ school teams. However, a mechanical issue with Will Haycock’s kayak caused Whats Ya Bench to lose their lead, allowing the St Thomas team to take over first place.
At the end of the kayak section:
Whats Ya Bench dropped to 2nd place, +16:38 behind St Thomas.
Joshua’s team held onto 4th, +23:51, thanks to Xandy’s strong paddle.
Adams House slipped to 6th place.
The Final Push – 70km Road Ride to the Finish
The last leg of the race was a grueling 70km road bike ride from Gorge Bridge to New Brighton Pier, notorious for strong headwinds and long, unrelenting straights. Joshua delivered a strong performance, closing the 23:51 gap to St Thomas, propelling his team to a 2nd-place finish.
Final CBHS team standings:
2nd place: CBHS (Joshua Davies, Francis Gillies, Xandy Haycock)
3rd place: Whats Ya Bench (Cameron Buckingham, Will Haycock, Sam Hewitt)
6th place: Adams House (Reuben Hart, Jonty Hickman, Dardy Harrington)
At the prize giving, Joshua Davies was awarded the Fastest Final Cycle Stage (70km) across all competitors, including elite one-day athletes, with a quick time of 1:43:29.
All nine boys demonstrated CBHS blue-black values, showcasing sportsmanship, character, determination, and resilience throughout the event. Their performance in one of the country’s toughest multisport challenges was inspiring
All the boys gave their best efforts on the course, and we are immensely proud of their achievements. Their dedication and perseverance are truly inspiring. A special thanks to the parents for their incredible support. From ensuring the boys had the correct gear at checks, to moving all the necessary equipment, and being their biggest cheerleaders, your efforts were invaluable.
We hope this year’s success encourages more teams to join the Coast to Coast Challenge in 2026. Well done to all participants!
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Secondary School Boys 1st XI Cup – NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
The Final - Napier BHS
CBHS lost the toss and were sent in to bat on a wearing wicket. Early wickets fell, leaving the team at 26/4 after 10 overs. Cam Jones (60) and Carter Woodgate (33) rescued the innings with a crucial 103-run partnership, guiding CBHS to 182 all out.
Napier BHS started cautiously but lost key wickets at regular intervals. A superb run-out from Corbyn McClurg and tight bowling from Matla and Frame slowed their progress. Rain interrupted play, and CBHS secured victory by 15 runs via the DLS system. This saw CBHS take out their 13th National Title!
Tournament Progression
Dec 11 – vs Otago BHS
Otago: 128 all out (McClurg 3/11, Forrest 2/25)
CBHS: 129/2 (Rumball 44*, Samson 38*, O’Loughlin 35)
✅ CBHS won by 8 wickets
Dec 12 – vs St Paul’s Collegiate
CBHS: 268 all out (Rumball 75, O’Loughlin 63, Samson 25)
St Paul’s: 145 all out (Samson 4/14, Wessels 3/26)
✅ CBHS won by 123 runs
Dec 13 – vs Westlake BHS
CBHS: 273/9 (O’Loughlin 120, Samson 58)
Westlake: 269/9 (Frame, Wessels, and Jones with key wickets)
✅ CBHS won by 4 runs
Dec 15 – vs Hutt International Boys' School
CBHS 273/6 (Robinson 71, O’Loughlin 44)
HIBS 183/10 (Sam Frame: 5/32 | Wessels, Jones, and Matla: Key breakthroughs)
✅ CBHS won by 90 runs
A fantastic tournament for the team, showcasing resilience, skill, and teamwork. Huge congratulations to captain Callum Samson, Coaches Rob Smith, Denis Aberhart, Nick Cooke, and the entire squad!
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Surf Life Saving, Canterbury Championships, January 2025
We recently had several students compete in the Surf Life Saving Canterbury Championships where our boys placed as follows:
U19 Canoe Crew Long Course - Gold Medal
U19 Canoe Crew Short Course - Silver Medal
Max Dillon-Roberts
Daniel Flaszynski
Corby Allison
U17 Beach Sprint, gold medal
Daniel Flaszynski
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South Island Swimming | Long Course Championships 2025 - Invercargill
We had several boys swim at the recent South Island Swimming Long Course Championships in Invercargill
Results as follows:
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George Kavanagh (yr9) NZ Champion: U15 Boys Elimination
George recently represented Canterbury at the Age Group Track Championships, competing against some of the best young cyclists in the country. One of his key individual events was the thrilling Elimination Race, a true test of endurance, strategy, and sprinting ability.
The Elimination Race is a high-stakes event where riders start together, and every second lap, the last rider across the line is eliminated. The race continues until only one remains—the winner. With positioning, timing, and tactical awareness playing a crucial role, this event demands both physical and mental resilience.
George’s participation at this level is a testament to his dedication and skill on the track. Representing Canterbury at a national event is a fantastic achievement, and his experience in such a competitive field will only strengthen his future performances.
Well done, George, on taking on the challenge and showcasing your talent on the national stage!
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CBHS Rowers Shine at New Zealand Rowing Championships
Nine Christchurch Boys’ High School rowers (U15) recently competed at the New Zealand Rowing Championships, taking on the country’s best in both the Men’s Novice Coxed Eight and the Men’s Intermediate Coxed Eight events.
The competition was fierce, particularly in the Intermediate Coxed Eight, where the field proved too strong for our boys this time. However, they showed great determination and resilience, gaining invaluable experience at the highest level of domestic rowing.
Their perseverance paid off in the Men’s Novice Coxed Eight, where they delivered an outstanding performance to claim the bronze medal. This achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and ability to step up under pressure at what is the pinnacle event of New Zealand rowing.
The entire squad should be immensely proud of their efforts. Competing on this stage is an incredible achievement, and their success highlights the strength and depth of rowing at CBHS.
Congratulations to the team on this fantastic result!
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Senior A Tennis Team Battles Hard at South Island Tournament
Over the weekend, the Senior A Tennis Team competed in the South Island Tennis Tournament at Wilding Park, facing tough competition despite being depleted by illness, injury, and academic commitments.
On Saturday, Ray Xu, Henry Cooney, Liam Jones, and Mitchell Keller fought hard against a strong Christ’s College side but narrowly fell short, losing 4-2 in a tightly contested match.
Sunday presented further challenges, with Liam ruled out due to a sore back and no available substitutes, forcing the team to play with only three players. Despite defaulting matches to Marlborough Boys’, the team showed resilience, with the final score locked at 3-3, but Marlborough taking the win.
Adding to their achievements, Ray Xu and Henry Cooney claimed the Year 11 Doubles title at the Canterbury Tennis Championships two weeks ago—an outstanding effort and a testament to their skill and determination.
Well done to the team for their perseverance and sportsmanship in challenging circumstances!
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Auckland Grammar & Westlake Boys | 2025 Annual Exchange
Auckland Grammar & Westlake Water polo results:
From February 23-25, Christchurch Boys’ High School welcomed Auckland Grammar cricketers, tennis players, and water polo teams, along with Westlake Boys’ High School water polo players, for the annual exchange.
Our boys represented the school with exceptional sportsmanship and hospitality, making it a memorable few days of competitive fixtures and camaraderie.
Results:
Tennis
Day 1
The exchange kicked off under hot conditions at Wilding Park, with the boys competing in two sets of doubles followed by reverse singles.
Ray Xu secured a strong singles win, while Isaac Boomer fought hard but narrowly lost in a super tie-break. In doubles, Ray & Henry and Koji & Isaac both won their two matches. The final match saw Koji & Isaac edge out Auckland Grammar’s second team 10-6 in a super tie.
At the end of the day, the overall score stood at 8-4 to Auckland Grammar.
A special mention to Year 13s Fergus Barnett and Ben Shearer for stepping in. Fergus has been training with the Wednesday morning squad for the past three years, while Ben previously played for the Senior A team in 2023.
Day 2 – Seeded Singles & Doubles
Day two began with seeded singles, where Mitchell Keller was promoted to #3, taking on a tough challenge. Fergus Barnett and Ben Shearer were also given opportunities to compete. Ray continued his impressive form with a convincing singles win, while Koji narrowly missed out in another super tie-break.
Doubles remained a highlight across both days, thanks to James Meredith’s coaching efforts. Ray & Henry claimed victory in the top-seeded match, while Ben & Mitchell fought hard but fell in a super tie-break against Auckland Grammar’s second team. Koji & Isaac delivered another thrilling performance, taking their final match 7-5, 5-8, 10-8 after a two-hour battle.
The exchange was played in great spirit, with both teams showing excellent sportsmanship and camaraderie.
A huge thank you to the host families and the hostel for accommodating the Auckland Grammar boys—this exchange wouldn’t be possible without your support.
Final Score: Auckland Grammar Wins the Exchange
A huge thank you to all players, coaches, and supporters for making this exchange a success. Well done to everyone involved!
Water polo
CBHS, Auckland Grammar Westlake and St Bedes all took part in the exchange playing water polo. Five full games for each team took place over the 3 days.
Auckland grammar won all 5 matches, with Westlake winning 4 and CBHS winning 1. All the games were competitive, but the 2 Auckland based teams just showed a greater skill level in the crucial moments. Our final result against Westlake going down 8-3 showed how much the boys learnt over the games and how close we were to being competitive against them.
Cricket
The CBHS 1st XI faced a formidable Auckland Grammar School in a challenging three-day match on the Number One ground. After a rain-delayed start, play finally got underway on Sunday, setting the stage for a competitive encounter.
Auckland Grammar batted first, posting a solid 220 all out, with CBHS bowlers working hard to restrict their opposition. In response, our batsmen struggled to gain momentum, eventually dismissed for 151, giving AGS a first-innings lead.
AGS pressed their advantage in their second innings, declaring at 234/5, leaving CBHS with a tough chase. Despite a determined effort, the 1st XI fell just short, bowled out for 224, handing Auckland Grammar a 79-run victory.
It was a hard-fought contest against a high-quality opponent, with valuable lessons learned as the team continues to build towards future challenges.
During the exchange match, Year 13 student Corbyn McClurg took his 100th wicket for the CBHS 1st XI - Well done young man - Altiora Peto.
Upcoming Westlake Boys exchange | Cricket, Tennis & Golf:
2 - 4 March
1st XI Cricket | Cricket Games are Sunday, Monday & Tuesday @ CBHS
Tennis | Monday & Tuesday - 3rd & 4th March @ Wilding Park
Golf | Monday & Tuesday - 3rd & 4th March | Monday @ Russley & Tuesday @ Harewood
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CBHS Swimming Sports 2025 – A Fantastic Event!
The Annual CBHS Swimming Sports was held on Wednesday, February 26th, in the school pool, and once again, it proved to be a fantastic event. With 80 boys competing, the energy and enthusiasm were outstanding, making for an exciting day of racing.
A big thank you to Dave Boone Krissteen Smith, Janelle Wilson, and Ricardo De Sousa for their efforts in running the event, as well as to the monitors for timekeeping. A special mention to Jared Mitchel and ODP for setting up the pool, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
The relay was a highlight of the day, with teachers Ed Finch, Conor O'Neil, Jared Mitchell, and Nic Hill giving it their all in the final race. While the staff didn’t quite bring home the win, the support from the crowd was electric!
Congratulations to all swimmers who took part—your effort and sportsmanship made the event a great success!
Results as follows:
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Summer Sports
We’re thrilled to see Summer Sports underway for Term 1!
Most trials have now taken place, and it’s fantastic to see the boys out competing—whether on the field, court, on the water, or in the pool.
Best of luck to all the Fine Young Men representing CBHS or their clubs this summer!