NZSS Hockey Audrey Timlin Tier 3 - Silver!

Maia Rasmussen and Mya Gane (Co-Captains) share their experience

Last week during Winter Sports Week the MGC 1st XI Hockey team travelled to Christchurch to compete at Nationals for the Audrey Timlin Memorial Cup. After having a competitive pool against James Hargest (3-0), Otago Girls (8-1) and Middleton Grange (5-0). The team went off to the quarter finals and played against Epsom Girls where we took the win (2-1).

Bodies were sore and the camp was quiet but were all still buzzing after winning the semi-finals against Macleans College (2-1).

The girls fought hard and left everything on the turf in the final against St Hilda's College. The game was very defensive, but the girls kept them out for the first half and kept themselves in the game. But sadly, at full time St Hilda’s had won (4-1).

The MGC team was so proud of how far they had come, and it has been many years since the 1st XI Hockey team has made a final during Winter Tournament Week. So, they took that final with pride and brought home the silver. What a great way to send off our 6 Year 13s that will be leaving at the end of this year, Maia Rasmussen, Mya Gane, Holly Watts, Sophie Rowbottom, Riley Foote and Mia Armstrong.

This week was a week full of tears, laughter, joy, pain and learning a lot along the way but it was all worth it when we made the final. We are proud of how hard everyone fought each game, especially how hard our younger teammates fought so hard for us Year 13s in the final. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to spend my last year of MGC Hockey with, thank you girls. This week was a great opportunity for the team to show how great hockey can be and put it on the map for our school.

To Boycee (Amber Boyce), our amazing coach who pushed us in the weeks before tournament to prepare us for this long, hard week and we couldn't thank you enough for pushing us all to believe in ourselves and our teammates and having our back the whole way through this week and season. You squeezed everything out of us that week and made sure we knew no matter where you come from or how small the place you come from anything is possible when you put your mind to it, and you can be in the final.

Also, a special thank you to Sandy Large for making this week so much fun off the turf with all your activities. We couldn't have asked for a better manager. You made sure we were well fed and recovered for the next game. You did so much behind the scenes and you were always prepared for anything thrown at you whether it be sickness, strapping or injuries you had everything sorted and ready to go. Thank you, Sandy.

A big thanks to the overwhelming support that was shown to us throughout the week from everyone on the side line and everyone back home.

Goal Scorers

• Millie Large scoring 6 goals
• Maddy Large scoring 4 goals
• Alecia Daniel scoring 2 goals
• Brooke Harper scoring 2 goals
• Maia Rasmussen scoring 2 goals (one being a penalty stroke)
• Shani Tilbury scoring 2 goals
• Mia Armstrong scoring 1 goal
• Grace Calder scoring 1 goal
• Holly Watts scoring 1 goal

NZSS Football Gary Sowden - 3rd in Tournament

The MGC 1st XI Football had a brilliant performance at the NZSS “Gary Sowden” tournament in Marlborough last week.

They won their first three pool games convincingly - beating Upper Hutt 2-0, Villa Maria 2-1, and Ashburton 4-1. For their final pool game, they faced off against heavy-hitters Rangi Ruru and did well to hold them to a 0-0 draw (with MGC the only ones in the tournament not to lose to Rangi Ruru).

Their semi-final against the other pool winners (and eventual silver medallists), Lincoln, was hard-fought. MGC was dealt a tough blow when their regular goalkeeper, Riley Preece, was taken out with concussion - but newcomer goalie Arlo Mojzisek stepped up to the challenge incredibly well under pressure to fill the role for the remainder of the tournament. The whistle blew on an unflattering 6-1 semi-final scoreline however.

Undeterred the team rallied for a strong showing in the 3rd/4th final and played their socks off to defeat a very strong Papanui side, 2-1. The team were delighted to be awarded the bronze medal.

Coach, Mr Thomas, said he was incredibly proud of the whole team. “Every single player worked so hard for this result. They were an incredible cohesive team and supported each other every step of the way. They fully deserve this success”.

Top goal-scorer for MGC was Lauren Sloan - with five other players joining her in claiming goals (Freya Thompson, Maddy Rowe, Katie Pugh, Riley Preece and Jaimie Elrick all taking scoring honours). MGC’s MVP of the tournament went to Katie Pugh.

Tournament winners were:

• Gold medal - Rangi Ruru
• Silver medal - Lincoln
• Bronze medal – MGC!!

NZSS Underwater Hockey

Student Perspective

Last weekend we went to Wellington to compete in Underwater Hockey Nationals. As a team of 10 people made up of Year 9 and 10 girls, we played challenging games from Friday to Sunday. We played Nelson, Mahurangi, Wellington Girls, Diocesan, Wellington High, and Samuel Marsden.​​ We played a couple of really hard games that really made us look back on our training and pull together as a team. 

We ended up placing 8th overall, meaning that we are the 8th best Junior Girls team in NZ. A really good place for a little team from Blenheim. We weren't expecting to win anything at the prizegiving and were all surprised when the ‘Marlborough Girls' College Junior Team’ got called up for the upcoming school award. We won a box of gloves that will be really useful in the upcoming trainings. 

We are all proud of what we accomplished and the effort we put in to make it here. Thanks to our Coaches; Shaun Musgrove, Richie Price, our manager; Nicola Poswillo, and all of our parents and supporters who were there for us the whole time, we couldn’t have done it without you.

By Kate Wilkes

Team: Riley Friend, Michaela Grant-Dredge, Georgette Herkt, Charlotte Hutchison, Jasmine King-Turner, Milly Lane, Lilly McMillan, Ruby Price, Kate Wilkes, Molly Wilkes

Coach - Richie Price, Shaun Musgrove, Manager - Nicola Poswillo

NZ Age Group Championship Golf

Aroha Minhinnick placed 3rd in the U16 Girls NZ Age Group Championship held in Auckland.

NZSS Junior Premiership Basketball (Zone 4)

Student Perspective

On Friday the 26th of August a group of talented young athletes ventured to Nelson for the South Island Junior Secondary Schools Basketball Tournament. Although getting there wasn’t smooth sailing, Miss Van Velthooven was more than committed to making sure we got there, even if it meant driving ten hours to get to Nelson!

We faced some talented teams in a total of seven games. All of our games were tight and occasionally nail biting. By defeating Cashmere, we advanced to the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, we ran out of gas throughout our semifinal and playoff games, placing fourth overall out of eleven teams.

A massive thank you to our coach Heidi Stenhouse-Allen for her time through the season, especially coming to SISS for 6 days with us.

By Olivia Brown & Sophia Nicholas

Team consisted of Olivia Brown, Nina Clark, Bree Flynn, Sophia Nicholas, BIrgitta Prescott, Violet Speakman, Tilly Watts Coach - Heidi Stenhouse, Manager - Sophie Van Velthooven

Referee - Ella Sheridan

SISS Equestrian Champs

Hear from one of our students on their experience:

• The initiative that ESNZ took to hold this event provided upcoming equestrians to mix and compete with each other. I had my mount TH Jamie competing where we did preliminary level dressage. He performed and scored well. We were fortunate to place 2nd in one of our tests and 15th overall out of roughly 50 riders. The event organisers held a Dustan quiz night; Dustan were the main sponsor of this event. Our MGC team won the quiz, it was a great evening. We also took part in a New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing evening where we learnt more about New Zealand's largest equine industry.  Hannah Forsyth (Year 12)

Team: Emily Cowan, Hannah Forsyth, Sophie Laws, Taylor Edwards, Ryleigh Gale, Carys McNabb, Livvie Allen

SISS Netball Tournament

Congratulations to the MGC NZ King Salmon Senior A Netball team who placed 9th at the SISS Netball tournament. 

Two students Fiaalii Solomona and Mya Wiapo were named in the Talented Players squad of 15 players.

Team consisted of Holly Feltham, Hazel Glover, Delyth James-Sitters, Liv Matthews, Mele Moli, Zoe Scaife, Fiaalii Solomona, Stormy Tupara, Isabella Tupouto’a, Mya Wiapo. Coach - Bek Scherp, Manager - Megan McKendry, Umpire - MIchelle Stagg

Skoda Southern Tour - Road Cycling

Erin Green, Maddy Sinclair, Paige Horne and Neve McKenzie completed the Skoda Southern Tour for road cycling at the start of Winter Tournament Week. They competed in 4 races including an Individual Time Trial, Criterium, Hill Climb and Road Race over the two-day event.

• Erin Green (U17 Girls) picked up a 3rd in the Individual Time Trial and finished 4th overall
• Maddy Sinclair (U17 Girls) finished 9th overall
• Neve McKenzie (U15 Girls) placed 2nd in the Individual Time Trial and King of the Mountain, 3rd in the Hill Climb and 2nd in the Road Race, finishing 4th overall
• Paige Horne (U15 Girls) placed 3rd in the Criterium (which is a medal race) and Sprint Ace and finished 5th overall.