The Year 9A and 10A netball teams recently competed in the Junior South Island Secondary School Netball Tournament in Christchurch.

Sports Calendar:  Term 3, 2024

The term calendar is an overview of the sports events that are happening this term. If you have any questions about any upcoming events, please come and see Laura, Claire and Di at the Sports Hub or email us at: sports@mtaspiring.school.nz

Term 3

29 July - Central Otago Schools Junior Basketball Competition starts

31 July - MAC Ski and Board Champs (Cardrona)

2-4 August - NZSS Squash Championships (Wellington)

5 August - Otago/Southland Ski and Board Championships

6 August - Upper Clutha Swimming Champs (Year 7/8)

17 August - SISS Ski and Board Championships 

22 August - Wakatipu Exchange

28 August - MAC Cross Country Ski Champs

31 August - 8 September - Winter Tournament Week

16 September - Get2Go Adventure Race - Queenstown (Year 9/10)

19/20 September - Trinity College Exchange (Year 7/8)

24-26 September - Koru Games - Christchurch (Year 7/8)

7-10 October - NZSS Mountain Bike Championships - Christchurch

Extra information

http://www.osssa.org.nz/ (Otago Secondary Schools Sports Association Inc.)

https://www.schoolsportnz.org.nz/ (School Sport New Zealand)

https://sportnz.org.nz/ (Sport New Zealand)

SPORTS NOTICES

ADVENTURE RACING

The Central Otago Get2Go Challenge for Years 9/10 students is coming up in Queenstown on Wednesday 11 September. This is a great fun event where teams of 8 represent their schools and compete in challenges which include orienteering, mountain biking and kayaking/stand-up paddle boarding. The challenges are designed for all levels of skill and experience.

The teams of 8 can compete in one of four categories: All Girls, All Boys, Mixed (any gender combination), and Mixed Premier (4 girls and 4 boys). Teams can be a mix of Year 9 and 10 students. Please note that ONLY the teams entered in the Mixed Premier category will be eligible to try and qualify for a place to compete in the National Final in Tongariro 2-6 December.

If you are interested in participating in this event please come and see us at the Sports Hub ASAP as spots are limited and they do fill up fast. You are welcome to make up your own teams, or we can help put teams together.

If you want to find out some more information on the event, have a look here:

https://www.hillaryoutdoors.co.nz/torpedo7-get2go/.

SKI/SNOWBOARD

Entries are now open for the Otago/Southland Secondary School Ski and Board Champs.  They are being held at Coronet Peak on Monday 5 August.

For more information and to register please use this link: Information and Entry Form

Registrations close on Monday 29 July.

SPORTS RESULTS

We love to hear what our MAC students have been up to in the sporting arena. Please keep us up to date with any news at sports@mtaspiring.school.nz.

NETBALL

During the holidays the Year 9A and 10A netball teams competed in the four day Junior South Island Secondary School (JSISS) Netball Tournament held at the Christchurch Netball Centre. 

Year 9A Team

The Year 9A netball team played in the Combined section which includes

• teams made up of composite Year 9 and Year 10 players

• teams made up of players from two or more schools

• mixed teams of boys and girls in the respective age groups.

Our Year 9A team included Ivy Craig, Lily Faulkner, Vienna Harley, Stella Harper, Maia Highsted, Amelia Millen, Eve Pfahlert, Deacon Gwilliam Browne and co-captains Bess Wilson and Stella Brown.

They won their first three games against Menzies a win of 32-14, Middleton Grange a win of 32-10 and Nayland a win of 30-22 which placed them to play off in the top 16 teams. 

In the pool with the top 16 teams they lost against Marlborough Girls (an all Year 10 team as a late entry) 22-29, and to Christian College 29-15. They beat Garin College with a one point margin of  24-23 which gave them one point to play for 8th position in the next round.

On the final day of the competition they lost to Roncalli by just 2 goals, 22-20. It was a close game with a draw at full time, with extra time played at the end. The final game was against Mount Hutt where the team had a convincing win of 27-14 which meant the team was placed in 11th place for the tournament. 

The students, coaches and parent supporters should be very proud of their achievements. 

Coach: Hannah Bendle

Managers: Kim Badger and Amanda Dorset

Year 10A Team

The Year 10A netball team played in the Year 10 Grade for Year 10 females only. Our Year 10A team included Lyla Craig, Lily Garrett, Emily Hunt, Charlotte Knowles, Rylee Lange, Gretchen McCarthy, Meela McQueen, Cameron Shore, Georgia Murray and captain Nieve McRae.

The focus for this team was on their resilience during the tournament. They had some tough losses at the beginning of the tournament to Verdon 25-37, St Andrews College 17-37, and Geraldine 23-27. A highlight from these three games was how strong they came out against St Andrew’s College (STAC) in the first two quarters where they were ahead by 1 at half time with a score of 17-13. This was a credit to the team. 

The points from these games meant that the team was not placed where they would like to have been for the rest of the tournament which meant the students had to dig deep for the following games. A second highlight was the game against St Kevin’s College, who they lost to by four at the Otago Tournament. At JSISS they secured a win against the same team of 32-22 which demonstrates the improvement of the team. 

Unfortunately the team had a loss against Queen’s in the following game 18-26, although they held their own in the first half of the game. 

On the final day of the competition they finished with two strong wins against Logan Park 36-18 and Taieri 34-15. Although the team did not place where they would have liked in the tournament, they should be congratulated on the improvement they have made throughout the season and coming together as a team. 

The students, coaches and parent supporters should be very proud of their achievements. 

Coach: Maree Lange

Managers: Liz McHugh and Jules Hunt

Thanks to the Coaches:

Thanks to Hannah Bendle (9A Team) and Maree Lange (10A Team) for their energy, enthusiasm and knowledge for the game. Behind the scenes there was a focus on good nutrition and recovery activities such as ice baths and compression. Both Hannah and Maree worked tirelessly with the team as a group and individually so that the teams could perform to the best of their ability. 

Special thanks for behind the scenes:

A massive thanks to Jules Hunt for organizing and coordinating the food for both teams over the four days. Also thanks to Kim Badger, Amanda Dorset and Liz McHugh who were supporting behind the scenes where they could for the duration of the tournament. We were very lucky to have other parents also rotating in and out over the time with food preparation and scoring at the games. 

Report (and photos) by Liz McHugh.

Mt Aspiring Netball Club report

by the Mt Aspiring Netball Club committee

As we reflect on another fantastic season at Mt Aspiring Netball Club, we are thrilled to share some highlights and express our gratitude to those who have supported us along the way.  The season continues for most teams until early / middle of August.  

This year, our club has grown to a record 220 players, showcasing the enthusiasm and dedication of our netball community. Our Senior teams kicked off their pre-season training in Term 1, setting a strong foundation for the competitive season ahead.

In Term 2, we celebrated a milestone as our Year 7 and 8 teams had their inaugural games at Paetara Aspiring Central's new indoor court. This new facility has provided our players with an enhanced playing experience and fostered their skills development.

Additionally, our Year 9 and 10 teams had an exciting season participating in a new competition alongside Wakatipu High School and Ligar Academy. The opportunity to play in both Wānaka at Paetara Aspiring Central and Queenstown Wakatipu High School has enriched their game experience and strengthened inter-school ties.

Our younger players also had the chance to showcase their skills in two exhilarating tournaments against Wakatipu and Arrowtown, gaining valuable game time and enhancing their netball abilities.

Our Seniors have had a productive season competing at the Wānaka Recreation Centre in the Senior Competition. With teams spanning from non-competitive levels to Senior A, we have enjoyed challenging matches against clubs from the Upper Clutha region and beyond.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our coaches, managers, umpires, and hardworking committee members. Your commitment ensures our players thrive both on and off the court.  We also have many student coaches and this year we have 12 rookie umpires taking the whistle. 

We are immensely grateful to our sponsors whose generous support has been instrumental to our success this season. A special thank you to Lane Hocking and the team at Universal Developments for the Platinum Sponsorship for new netball dresses and bibs for our Year 7 and 8 teams. The players look fantastic and feel proud wearing their new gear.

We also extend our appreciation to Mike Greer Homes for being our Gold Sponsor of warm-up tops, sports bags, sideline jackets, and hoodies for our travelling teams. These essentials have been invaluable for our tournament players from years 8-13 and coaches during their travels.

Thanks to Galloway Cook Allan for their Silver Sponsorship towards essential tech gear, including a video camera. This equipment will play a crucial role in analysing player performances and refining skills throughout the season.

A big thank you to Mitre 10 Ltd for their Bronze Sponsorship for their donation of four wheeled trollies, which have proven invaluable for transporting gear and supplies to tournaments. Additionally, Custom Digital's Bronze Sponsorship support in funding extra sets of bibs has been indispensable in adapting to new game rules and player rotations.

We are deeply appreciative of the support from all our sponsors, whose contributions have made a significant impact on our club and players.

Finally, mark your calendars for our upcoming Prize Giving on Wednesday 28 August, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm in the School Gym. It will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our member’s achievements and acknowledge their hard work throughout the season. All are welcome to join us for this special event.

Thank you once again to everyone who has played a part in making this season a resounding success. We look forward to watching the games for the rest of the season and look forward to  another exciting year ahead.

YEAR 7/8 CROSS COUNTRY

At the end of last term, our Years 7/8 Cross Country runners had a busy few weeks with two events.  In the first event 64 students competed in the Upper Clutha Primary Schools Cross Country Championships in Hawea.  This was a great fun course with lots of mud involved.  From this event, 33 students qualified to compete in the Central Otago Primary Schools Cross Country Champs. 

Across the two events we had some great performances and outstanding results:

UPPER CLUTHA PRIMARY SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS

YEAR 7 BOYS

2nd - Willis McCarroll

3rd - Ollie Wright

4th - Bill Dobson

5th - Billy Dean

6th - Alex Bartlett

7th - Arley Baker

8th - George Cruden

9th - Jared Enoka 

YEAR 8 BOYS

1st - Harper Norman

2nd - Theo Taylor

3rd - John Quirke

4th - Dean Coll

6th - Max McClean

7th - Finn Tomes

9th - Jack Sutherland

10th - Charlie Sloan

YEAR 7 GIRLS

1st - Jesse Steel

2nd - Harriet Grant

3rd - Emily Boswell

4th - Harper Brown

5th - Rosie Hirst

6th - Charlise Wyatt

8th - Mia Sklenar

9th - Isabella Dye

10th - Rylee Bennett

YEAR 8 GIRLS

1st - Hana Carnie

2nd - Ally Gray

3rd - Naiah Beazley

4th - Billie Piccard

5th - Lily Lake

6th - Janey Mavor

7th - Fern Goodwin

8th - Elliot Lovelock

9th - Lea Moylan

10th - Amy Thomas

CENTRAL OTAGO PRIMARY SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY

YEAR 7 BOYS

4th - Willis McCarroll

9th - Billy Dean

10th - Bill Dobson

YEAR 7 GIRLS

3rd - Jesse Steel

8th - Emily Boswell

9th - Harriet Grant

10th - Isabella Dye

YEAR 8 BOYS

1st - Harper Norman

3rd - Max McClean

4th - Theo Taylor

6th - Finn Buckland

10th - Dean Coll

YEAR 8 GIRLS

1st - Hana Carnie

RUGBY

Congratulations 

During the school holidays, a large number of our MAC Rugby community experienced a range of great opportunities:

• Sam Soper, Ryan Enoka, Charlie Roy, Jackson Clarke and Tom Sides were selected to attend the Highlanders Schools camp. 

• Jackson Clarke (player) and Wayne Enoka (coach) were selected to attend the NZR National Māori U18 camp.

• A large number of our Senior and First XV players attended Otago Country representative trials held in Alexandra.

Fixtures

The following fixture has been confirmed for this weekend - Saturday 27 July:

• MAC Boys 1st XV vs JMC at MAC - kick off: 12.45pm.

• MAC Boys Juniors vs JMC Juniors at Wānaka Rugby Club - kick off: 12.45pm.
  

Good luck to all our MAC rugby players.

MAC Rugby Match Report

MAC Boys Seniors vs Taieri 2nd XV

On the final weekend of the holidays we travelled to Mosgiel to play Taieri 2nd XV with again, only 15 players, however this would not have any negative effect on our playing ability or scoreboard result. Coming off the back of a win against Wakatipu two weeks prior, we were mentally in the best state possible for another win. The game kicked off and was instantly in our favour. We were playing well as a team, with our first try going to Riley Upfold, which was quickly followed by another from Will Miller (returning for his first outing after a serious shoulder injury). The rest of the first half Taieri only managed to score twice, however we scored three more times (Jacob Toomey and Lachlan Hay (2)).

Coming into the second half with a comfortable lead, we managed to keep Taieri scoreless until the final whistle. With more trys from Will Miller, Ryan Coupe and Lachlan Hay, we managed to secure another good win for the MAC Senior team. Behind the tries were awesome ball-carries, ruck-cleaning and effective tackling from the whole team. The final score was 50-12. This puts us into 4th on the table with a chance of reaching the finals. It is good to see that coming to the end of the season we are starting to get some better results on the scoreboard.  

For putting so much effort every week into supporting our Senior MAC rugby team, I would like to thank Aaron Callaghan, our coaches Lincoln and Julian, and our manager Hayley.

Jack Sides, MAC Seniors Captain

KARTING

Over the school holidays Angus Wilton and George Tucker competed at the National Schools Karting Championships in Nelson. This was a two day event, with qualifying followed by three heats of 10 laps on the Saturday. Sunday was a pre-final of 15 laps (with grid positions determined by points from Saturdays heats) followed by a 20 lap final. The format of the event meant that the final was a “winner takes all” so it’s really the only race that mattered.

In the final George in the VMR category qualified and finished 4th. Angus in the Rotax Junior category qualified 11th and finished 8th . Their combined points earned Mount Aspiring College 4th place overall in the National Schools standings. This was a good result given the technical nature of the Nelson track and limited running time compared to the locals, with George being within 0.15s of the fastest lap time and Angus making a couple of very brave overtakes under braking into turn one.

Well done both boys, for doing your college proud.

Just some statistics on the karts, George’s engine is around 10 horsepower and he was doing 85 kph at the end of the straight. Angus kart is around 23 horsepower and he was hitting 96 kph. Both engines rev to around 14-15,000 RPM, and when your backside is actually 2cm from the ground this is quite an extreme experience.

Report by Andrew Wilton

COMMUNITY SPORTS NOTICES

These activities are all run externally (not through MAC), but they are aimed at our students, so we don’t want you to miss out!  If you have any questions about the activities listed below, please contact the appropriate club/organiser and they will be able to help you.

MULTISPORT

Early bird registrations for the Challenge Wānaka Multi event on Saturday 19 October are open. There is a secondary school category at this event, with opportunities to participate as an individual or team, in a triathlon or duathlon.

Early bird registrations close on Saturday 15 June. 

See the information below and the Challenge Wānaka website for more details. 

RUGBY

Otago Māori Rugby are running a rugby programme for U17 and U15 Māori rangatahi in the lead up to a Te Waipounamu wide tournament held annually in October.

In our region they have the following teams:

U17 Taiohi Ki Uta

U15 Taiohi Ki Uta

They are looking to begin a dedicated Ki Uta Kōhine team as well.

TOUCH RUGBY

ROGAINE

Cromwell College is running a Cromwell Urban Rogaine on 11 August 2024. This fun, family-friendly event that will help raise funds for the Cromwell College First XI football team. Participants will navigate to find as many checkpoints as possible within 3 hours. Registration starts at 9am at Cromwell College.

More details on the event and entry information can be found here.