The Columba College Aerobics team competed in the NZCAF Regional competition held in Dunedin on the 14th and 15th of August taking away a number of medals and many qualifying for Nationals in September.

Columba College was well represented at the NZCAF 2021 Regionals with a group of 36 competitors from a variety of clubs, age groups and categories. These competitors have been training since early this year and some have been working since last year!

Heats and finals were on different days for this competition due to a large number of competitors in the Otago region. The competition first kicked off with the Pre-Choreographed Primary individuals in which Harriet Murdoch (Year 4) presented an amazing routine.

The next category of the day was the intermediate individuals. Lula Joseph (Year 8), Rhianjali Giles (Year 7) and Olivia Wallace (Year 8) were all in this category. All of these girls completed amazing routines and Olivia Wallace made it through to finals on Sunday and placing 5th.

Our next category of the day was the Pre-Choreographed Intermediate individuals; Columba was well represented in this category. Meg Bowmar (Year 8), Ariana Smith (Year 8), Sabi Taylor (Year 7), Charlee Smith (Year 7), Olivia Brown (Year 7), Rahwa Steel (Year 8), Hedy Sun (Year 7) and Ryleigh Dey (Year 7) all competed in prelims for this category with amazing routines. Meg, Ariana, Sabi and Olivia all made it through to heats on Saturday evening and Sabi qualified for finals on Sunday. Sabi also placed 4th at finals and has qualified for nationals.

The Pre-Choreographed Secondary Individual was the next category of the day with Zara Glover (Year 10), Kate Baskerville (Year 9), Lila Rhodes (Year 9) and India Dougherty (Year 10) all showcasing amazing routines.

Sophie Derbyshire (Year 10), Ellery Taylor (Year 10), Josie O’Neill (Year 10) and Emillie Matthews (Year 9) all competed in the Secondary Novice Individual category. Ellery, Josie and Emillie competed with outstanding routines in a tough category and Sophie qualified for finals on Sunday, where she placed 4th and has therefore qualified for nationals.

Following this category was the Junior Secondary Open Novice individual category. In this category Frankie Macready (Year 9) and Lucy Quill (Year 10) qualified for finals representing Columba and Jump Start Aerobics in which she placed 4th and has qualified for nationals.

After the lunch break, Madison Logan Ferris (Year 9) took a break from coaching to compete herself. Madison competed in the Junior Open Category; she placed 3rd in heats and finals and has qualified for nationals.

Our next category of the competition was the Pre-Choreographed Intermediate Teams Category. In this category Columba had 4 teams: Meg and Ariana placed 2nd in heats and qualified for Finals in which they placed 3rd. Cameryn Smith (Year 8) and Dani Walker (8) placed 3rd in heats and 4th in finals and qualified for nationals. Sabi Taylor (Year 7) and Rhianjali Giles (Year 7) competed in a pair without their original trio partner Harlow La Hood (Year 7), Ella Reid-Blair (Year 8) and Rahwa Steel (Year 8) also competed in a pair. Both these teams performed impressive routines in heats.

In the Pre-Choreographed Secondary Team category, Columba had 2 teams competing. Kate Baskerville (Year 9) and Lila Rhodes (Year 9) competed as a pair. Ellery Taylor (Year 10), Sophie Derbyshire (Year 10) and India Dougherty (Year 10) competed in a trio, placing 2nd in heats and finals and have qualified for nationals.

The next category of the day was the Secondary Novice sport aerobics teams. Just Juicy consisted of Lucy Quill (Year 10) and Josie O’Neill (Year 10) representing Jump Start Aerobics, they placed 1st in heats and 3rd in finals. Also in this category was Meg Cameron (Year 9) and Emily Ward (Year9) who placed 4th in heats and 5th in finals. Both of these teams have qualified for Nationals.

Following this was the Secondary Fitness Teams category. Emillie Matthews (Year 9), Bridgette Sutton (Year 11) and Tayla Brough (Year 8) were a part of the 80s Ladies fitness team which placed 3rd in heats and 2nd in finals. Jo O’Halloran (Year 12) and Olivia Ferris (Year 13) were a part of the Girls Gone Bad fitness team which placed 1st in heats and finals. Both of these teams have qualified for nationals.

The Intermediate Teams Category was next. Ruby Jones (Year 8) and Tayla Brough (Year 8) placed 1st in heats and finals as a team. Hannah Bloxham (Year 8) and Luciana Brown (Year 8) placed 2nd in heats and finals as a team. Finally, Lula Joseph (year 8) and Olivia Wallace (Year 8) placed 3rd in heats and finals as a team. All 3 of these teams have qualified for nationals.

Lastly, Jo O’Halloran and Olivia Ferris took a break from coaching many competitors to compete themselves in the Secondary Open Sport Aerobics Teams. Jo and Olivia placed 2nd in heats and took out 1st in finals to qualify for nationals.

Overall, the 2021 NZCAF regionals was an amazing experience for all of the Columba girls competing, especially the many for whom this was their first competition. Columba had 18 students who came away with medals and 22 competitors who qualified for nationals. The NZCAF 2021 Nationals will be held on the 25th and 26th of September in Wellington and we are looking forward to seeing all the Columba teams compete again. 

A special thanks goes to Olivia Ferris and Jo O'Halloran for dedicating many hours to coaching the Columba team this year. These fantastic results are a great recognition of the many hours that you have given and we thank you immensely.

Columba College is very proud of everyone's efforts!