The Cobham team have returned from Tauranga, where they competed in the 2019 Anchor AIMS Games. Finishing up with a medal count of 12 in total, it was our most successful Games on record. Well done to everyone involved!

The Anchor AIMS Games is the pinnacle of sporting events on the Cobham sporting calendar and is now considered the International Championships for Intermediate and Middle schools across New Zealand and the Pacific, with over 11,000 athletes involved. In 2019 we had our largest ever Cobham group compete, with 59 students in total competing across 11 different sporting codes. Overall, this was our most successful AIMS Games on record, with nine of our sporting codes placing in the top 10 of their respective competitions. 

We are extremely proud of the sportsmanship, desire, commitment, and passion displayed by our athletes throughout the week at this National tournament. It was fantastic to see our students embrace the opportunity to compete amongst the top group of athletes in the country, allowing them to showcase their skills, talents and hard work, as well as test their resilience and grit. As a school, we couldn't be more proud of each and every one of our athletes and the way they conducted themselves both on and off of the sports field.

Some of the highlights from the week included: 

• Hanna Abdou winning 7 gold medals, as well as being awarded Top Overall Girl's Swimmer in her age-group.
• Medals won in the individual codes of swimming, gymnastics & rock climbing.
• Our girl's hockey and basketball teams winning silver in their respective team competitions.

FINAL RESULTS - TEAMS

Hockey Girls = 2nd place overall - Silver Medalists.
Basketball Girls = 2nd place overall - Silver Medalists.
Table Tennis  = 4th place overall in the team event.
Water Polo (mixed) = 9th place overall.
Football (boy's grade) = 29th place overall.

FINAL RESULTS - INDIVIDUALS

Swimming:

• Hanna Abdou - Awarded Overall Top Swimmer; Competed in 7 finals; 7 x 1st place finishes - Gold Medalist x 7.
• Jackson Close - Competed in 5 finals; 3rd place finish - Bronze Medalist.
• Natalie Sturt - Competed in 3 finals and placed 5th, 8th & 10th; Achieved 3x P.Bs. 

Gymnastics: Hamish Inwood = 11th place overall in the Mens Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) Junior Competition; 2nd place overall in the Gymnastic Tumbling - Silver Medalist. 
Rock Climbing: George Darnbrough = 3rd place overall - Bronze Medalist.
Golf (18 holes): Estelle Lin = 4th place overall.
Table Tennis: Johnny Bae = 4th place overall.
Tennis: Nithisha Maarka: Top 8 (QF knock-out).

Cross Country:

• Y7 Girls: Amber de Wit = 33rd place; Margo Dalling = 49th place.
• Y7 Boys: Jaeger Pryce = 76th place.
• Y8 Girls: Stacey Morgan 17th place; Julia Lowe 22nd place.
• Y8 Boys: Jake Burrowes = 27th place.

OVERALL MEDAL COUNT

7 x Gold; 3 x Silver; 2 x Bronze = 12 Medals.

Cobham would like to make a special mention to our amazing coaches, managers, teachers and support staff who went above and beyond for our Cobham AIMS Games team, both up in Tauranga and behind the scenes. Also to those who travelled up North to support from the sidelines and those who were cheering on Cobham from afar; we appreciate your support and couldn't have done it without you. Thank you!