Here are current and upcoming sports notices and events.

Welcome to MAC Sport for 2023! Term 1 is a busy term with lots of fun sports events on, so make sure you keep up to date with all of the information through the school newsletter and the daily notices. If you ever have any questions come and see Ignacio (Head of Sport) and Claire (Sports Co-ordinator) in the Sports Hub (at the entrance to the gym) anytime. You can also contact us via email at sport@mtaspiring.school.nz

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

Our sports teams are on the move again this week.

- We have a strong team of athletes heading to Dunedin this weekend, to take on the rest of Otago at the Otago Secondary School Athletics Champs.

- Our rowers are currently in Twizel competing in the South Island Secondary School Rowing Championships. This is their final push for the season before heading to MAADI in two weeks.

Good luck to everyone involved. Safe travels, have fun and we can’t wait to hear all about it when you return. We want to say a huge thank you to all the parents, teachers and coaches involved, who make these opportunities possible for our students. You’re all amazing!

Sports Calendar: Term 1, 2023

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 Ignacio and Claire at the Sports Hub or email us at sport@mtaspiring.school.nz

Term 1

23 February-30 March: Central Otago Senior Volleyball competition - Thursday afternoon games (venues TBC)

10-11 March: Otago Secondary Schools Athletics Champs (Dunedin)

10-12 March: SISS Rowing Champs (Twizel)

21 March: Upper Clutha Athletics Champs Year 7 and 8 (Wānaka)

23 March: MAC Downhill Mountain Bike Champs (Cardrona)

26 March: Otago Primary Schools Swimming Champs Year 7 and 8 (Dunedin)

27 March-2 April: MAADI Cup Rowing (Cambridge)

29 March: Central Otago Primary Schools Athletics Champs (Alexandra)

30 March: NZSS Triathlon Champs (Glendhu)

30 March-1 April: SISS Mountain Bike Champs (Coronet Peak)

31 March-2 April: SISS Athletics Champs (Invercargill)

4 April: Top Bike - Year 7 and 8 (venue TBC)

5 April: MAC Cross Country Mountain Bike Champs (Deans Bank)

Extra Info: The following websites / pages have detailed information regarding sport and competition the latest updates regarding school sport:

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

There are lots of exciting events coming up in our sporting calendar. Entries are now open for many of these events and we are also taking registrations of interest for some events later in the year too. Please read below and get in touch with us if you have any questions.

MAC DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPS

The registrations for the MAC Downhill MTB champs are now open. This event is held at Cardrona on Thursday 23 March.

● Competitors must be able to ride at an intermediate level and be confident on both Blue and Black trails.

Information Link: Downhill MTB Champs Information

● Entry Link: Downhill MTB Entry Link

● Cost - $20 entry fee. All competitors must also have a lift ticket to race. A ‘local schools’ discounted $40 full-day pass is available to riders without a season pass.

NETBALL

The Mt Aspiring Netball Club registrations for the 2023 season have closed and trials are now underway. If you have missed registration, please contact the club at mtaspiringnc@gmail.com.

Information for the MANC Netball Trials

Year 11-13 Thursday 9 March and Thursday 16 March. At Wānaka Rec Centre indoor court. Arrive 5.30pm to self warm up with Netball Smart Warm Up outside. Trials 6.00pm to 7.00pm

Year 10 Thursday 9 March and Thursday 16 March. At Wānaka Rec Centre indoor court. Arrive 4.30pm to self warm up with Netball Smart Warm up outside. Trials 5.00pm to 6.00pm.

Year 9 Thursday 9 March and Thursday 16 March. At Wānaka Rec Centre Arrive 3.30pm to self warm up outside with Netball Smart Warm Up. Trials 4.00pm to 5.00pm.

Year 8 Thursday 9 and 16 March. 3.30pm to 5.00pm NOTE: MAC School Outside Courts. We encourage all year 8’s to attend.

Year 7 - no trials or selections.

BASKETBALL

The Central Otago Senior Basketball Competition takes place for six weeks in Term 2 and we are now taking registrations from any students in Years 11-13 who are keen to be involved. Games are on Thursdays and it involves travel to different schools - Cromwell, Dunstan, Roxburgh and Wakatipu. The transport is organised by the school and you usually travel in school vans. This competition has a great mix of social and more competitive teams, so if you’re keen to give it a go, please come and see us at the Sports Hub to sign up.

TRIATHLON

The New Zealand Secondary School Triathlon Championships are being held at Glendhu Bay Motor Camp on 30 and 31 March. Given that they are being held so close to Wānaka, it is a great opportunity for us to increase the entry numbers and get some more of our students competing. You don’t need to enter as an individual, you are able to make up teams and just compete in the one aspect that you feel most comfortable with. Please come and see us at the Sports Hub if you are interested in participating and we can help to put teams together. This event is open to all MAC students from Years 7-13.

Here is the entry link for more information: NZSS Triathlon Champs

HILLARY CHALLENGE

2023 marks the 23rd year of the Hillary Challenge for Year 11-13 students. The South Island Hillary Challenge event is a 6 hour long, navigation-based challenge that requires the students to traverse the course on foot and mountain bikes. The South Island Challenge is being held in the Geraldine area on 21 May.

No prior experience is necessary, as these challenges are designed to attract students of all levels, so you don’t need a high level of skill and experience to join in and have an awesome time. Teams can choose to be as social, or as competitive as they like. Some basic skills, a little fitness and a 'give it a go' attitude is really all that is needed.

For those students who are more competitive, there is the chance to earn one of the places to compete in the National Hillary Challenge Final later in the year. Here is a video from last years final showing what it is all about 2022 Final.

More info about the 6 hour challenges can be found HERE. If you are keen and interested to be involved in a MAC team this year, please come and see us at the Sports Hub.

COACHING AND UMPIRING WORKSHOP

The Central Otago Sports Association is running a workshop for secondary school students who coach, umpire or act in an official role in any sport. It is taking place during the school day in Cromwell on Wednesday 22 March. MAC will organise transport for the students and we are keen to get as many Mount Aspiring College students as possible involved in this great initiative. Can you please come and see us at the Sports Hub if you are keen to participate in this event. Please note that this opportunity is only available to Year 9-13 students. 

SPORTS RESULTS

New Zealand Track and Field Championships

Congratulations to Phoebe Laker (Year 10) who attended the Jennian Homes New Zealand Track & Field Champs in Wellington last weekend (lead photo). She won the U16 women's 400m in a time of 58.18s. This is an absolutely superb performance for her as a 14 year old, adding to her 3rd place in the New Zealand Secondary Schools U16 400m event late last year.

Also of note are two recent former students of Mount Aspiring College. Hannah Prosser (Year 13 in 2022) won the U20 women's 5000m in 16.51:76 and Ryan Young (Year 13 in 2021) won the U20 men's triple jump with a jump of 13.70m.

South Island Secondary School Triathlon Championships

Last weekend we had nine MAC students competing across both individual and team events at the South Island Secondary School Triathlon Championships in Oamaru. The students had the most amazing day and they all came away with outstanding results.

Individuals:

U19 Boys - Tom Sides 2nd, Josh Moody 3rd

U16 Boys - Jack Sides 3rd

U14 Boys - Marshall Watson 5th

Teams:

Intermediate Girls - ‘MAC Attack’ - Mabel North, Rhian Telfer & Amaya East - 1st 

Junior Girls - ‘Macsters’ - Liv Fairmaid, Sybella Pepper & Georgia Murray - 2nd