We wish good luck to our students and staff members who have been named as finalists in the 2024 Central Otago Sports Awards.

Sports Calendar:  Term 2, 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 Ignacio and Claire at the Sports Hub or email us at sports@mtaspiring.school.nz

Term 2

16 May - Central Otago Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships - Cromwell

19 May - Otago Secondary School Swimming Championships

23 May - Upper Clutha Rippa Rugby Tournament

26 May - South Island Secondary School Cross Country Championships

5 June - MAC Cross Country

6 June - COPSSA Rippa Rugby Tournament

9/10 June - Otago Secondary Schools Netball Tournament - Dunedin

15 June - New Zealand Secondary School Cross Country Championships - Christchurch

17 June - Central Otago Secondary Girls Football Competition starts

19 June - Central Otago Secondary Boys Football Competition starts

22/23 June - South Island Secondary School Squash Tournament - Dunedin

27 June - Upper Clutha Cross Country Championships

4 July - COPSSA Cross Country

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

CROSS COUNTRY

The South Island Schools Cross Country Festival is being held on Sunday 26 May at Ashbury Park in Timaru and it is open to Year 7-13 students. Timaru are hosting the South Island Schools Cross Country festival on the challenging Ashbury Park course.

Event Details

What: South Island Schools Cross Country Festival

When: Sunday 26 May

When: Ashbury Park in Timaru

Who: The event is open to Year 7-13 students

Cost: $20

Event Timetable

Saturday 25 May 

4:30pm Course available for inspection

7:30pm Athletes and managers/parents get together with guest speaker/s

8:00pm Supper (provided)

Sunday 26 May 

8:30am Course available

9:30am Year 9 Girls 3000m

9:50am Year 9 Boys 3000m

10:10am Under 16 Girls 3000m

10:30am Under 16 Boys 3000m

10:50am Senior Girls 3000m

11:10am Senior Boys 4500m

11:40am Year 7/8 Girls Race 3000m

12 Noon Year 7/8 Boys Race 3000m

12:30pm Combined Relays (3x1km)

1:00pm Prize Giving at venue

If you are wanting to enter, please complete the entry form on this link SI Cross Country entry form and then you MUST let the Sports Hub (sports@mtaspiring.school.nz) know that you have entered so that we can process your student eligibility form. Please also let us know if you have any questions about the event.

HOCKEY

Goalkeeper wanted for the girls hockey high school team.

Please get in touch with the Hockey Club if you are in Years 9-13 and would like to give goalkeeping a go. Full training will be provided. Practices are Wednesday 5.30-6.30pm and games are on Thursday afternoon/evening.

To find out more, please contact secretary@uppercluthahockey.club or call 021 795 919. 

CENTRAL OTAGO SPORTS AWARDS

Good luck to the following students and staff members who have been named as finalists in the 2024 Central Otago Sports Awards for their effort and performances over the past year.

Junior Sportsman of the Year

• Campbell Melville Ives - Snowboard
• Finley Melville Ives - Freeski
• Raph Anderson - Golf
• Luke Harrold - Freeski

Junior Sportswoman of the Year

• Sophie Fountain - Equestrian
• Phoebe Laker - Athletics
• Eva Small - Skiing & Mountain Biking

Spirit of Central - Junior

• Eva Small - Skiing & Mountain Biking

Spirit of Central - Senior

• Rob Bruce - Rowing

Team of the Year

• Madi Smith and Mabel North - Sailing
• Harry Hope and Hugo Sinclair - Rowing

Official of the Year

• Rob Bruce - Rowing

RUGBY

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers, including a number of parents and MAC teachers who have come on board this year to support our four rugby teams in preparation for the 2024 season which kicked off this week. There have been a number of initiatives and excursions this pre-season to provide a range of fun, challenging and beneficial experiences for all involved, including local fundraising opportunities.

A special thanks and huge shout out to:

1st XV Boys

Coaches: Jason Clarke and Wayne Enoka

Manager: Sally Soper

1st XV Girls

Coaches: Luke Babbington and Aaron Wilson

Manager: Richard Watson

Senior Boys Grade

Coaches: Julian Field, Lincoln Bruce and Luke Kelly

Managers: Hayley Barbour and Leanne Upfold

Junior Boys Grade

Coaches: Aaron Wilson, Luke Babbington and Luke Kelly

Manager: Leanne Tombling

A special mention

Thanks to Aaron Callaghan, ORFU coach developer, who has supported our senior and junior boys coaching teams this pre-season and Di Roy who has worked tirelessly to secure our 2024 sponsors.

2024 MAC Rugby sponsors

Finally, MAC Rugby is hugely grateful every year to our sponsors. So a special mention and thanks to our 2024 MAC Rugby sponsors who have come on board this season:

ITM, Level Construction, Breen Construction, Subway, Wānaka Selection, Templeton Engineering, Craig Read Building, Rockgas, McIvor Plumbers and Gas Fitters, Stirling Sports, Patterson Pitts Group, Mt Iron Engineering, Spy Tower, Go Bus, Mediterranean Market, Bayleys, Vet Southern Lakes, Matukituki Natives, Summit Financial Group, Wānaka Helicopters, Alps Admin and Freeman Roofing.

Fixtures

The following fixtures have been confirmed. Please feel free to come along and enjoy good rugby - the players will appreciate the support:

Saturday 11 May

• MAC Boys 1st XV vs Waitaki Boys 1st XV: MAC rugby field 12:45pm kick off
• MAC Senior Boys (previously Colts) vs Wakatipu 2nd XV: MAC rugby field 11:15am
• MAC Junior Boys (previously U14) vs Cromwell Juniors: UC Rugby Club Grounds 11:15am

Wednesday 15 May

• MAC Girls 1st XV vs Wakatipu at Upper Clutha Rugby Grounds. Kick off 6pm.

Good luck to all our MAC rugby players for the start of the 2024 season.

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.

SWIMMING

Three MAC swimmers recently represented the Wānaka Swim Club at the 2024 National Age Group Championships at the Hawkes Bay Regional Aquatic Centre from 15-19 April. They had some fantastic races and came away with a large number of top 10 finishes and also many personal best times. The Apollo Projects New Zealand Age Group Swimming Championships is the event that brings the best age group swimmers from around the country to race for national title in their respective age group (13-18 years). This is the pinnacle opportunity to compete at the national level for school age swimmers. 651 swimmers from 80 swimming clubs across New Zealand participated at the event this year. There were also some international competitors who travelled to compete.

William Schurink (Y12) had some outstanding performances including 200m Backstroke (2:11.94) where he finished in 4th place in the Male 16 Years, 7th place in 100m Backstroke (1:01.94) and 10th place in 200m Breaststroke (2:39.69). 

13th in 100m Breaststroke

16th in 50m Backstroke

Stella Harper(Y9) competed at her first national championships and had phenomenal swims including 7th place in 200m Breaststroke (3:00.36), 7th place in 200m Backstroke (2:37.25) and 5th place in 200m Freestyle (2:18.14).

9th in 400m Freestyle

8th in 50m Breaststroke

11th in 100 Breaststroke

Hinato Watanabe (Y11) also competed at his first national championships and took nearly four seconds off his best times in the 100m Breaststroke (1:14.08) and 200m Breaststroke (2:45.97), and slashing his personal best time by over a second in 50m Breaststroke.

14th in 50m Breaststroke

13th in 100m Breaststroke

17th in 200m Breaststroke

Comments from the Wānaka swim Club Head Coach, Erika Ikeda: “I know the swimmers felt a lot of pressure and nerves during the national championships, but they performed exceptionally well under these circumstances. It was the first time for us to go to the National Age Group Championships as a team, and the supportive environment that the team created was amazing – cheering each other until losing their voices. I am very impressed by the outcomes they achieved through this competition – not only personal best times but also physical and mental strengths. We had a number of preparations toward this competition, and I would like to congratulate the swimmers on their huge achievements – well done William, Stella and Hinato.”

Report written by Kaori Watanabe

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.

SPORTS FUNDING

Upper Clutha Sports Trust Assn Inc

Applications are now open for funding from the Upper Clutha Sports Trust Inc.

Our aim is to assist local people to achieve elite level in their chosen sport by providing financial assistance.

Application forms can be obtained from:Lynette Winsloe – winsloes84@gmail.com or Bonny Teat – Bonnyteat@gmail.com

Completed forms need to be returned by 4pm, Thursday 30 May 2024.

Any enquiries phone Lynette Winsloe 021 437 171 or Bonny Teat 021 881 263

FOOTBALL

Here is an exciting opportunity for our senior female football players:

A group of Central Otago ladies have been working hard to offer an opportunity for ladies in the Central Otago community to play some football!

Their goal is to have a weekly space to play a game each Sunday within the current Central Otago Football tournament. They have Sundays, 3pm booked at each venue, Cromwell, Alexandra, Queenstown and Wānaka. At this point, depending on numbers, they have options to:

a) Mix players and create teams as required

b) Play as representatives from each community provided the numbers allow

c) Play to skill - divide ability based games

The long term goal is to have a proper league within CO in 2025. This may start as 7 v 7 but with high hopes to generate a space that involves full games of 11 v 11.

If you are a senior student and are interested in this opportunity please contact Jess at jesszeestraten@gmail.com.