Here are current and upcoming sports notices and events.

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

• Good luck to our Year 8 A Netball team who are heading to Christchurch next week to play in the Koru Games Tournament.

Calendar: Term 3, 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 sports@mtaspiring.school.nz

Term 3 

19-21 September:  KORU Games

(Upcoming: 4-7 October: NZSS Mountain Bike Championships - Blenheim)

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

RUGBY LEAGUE

We're calling all interested boys and girls who are keen to take part in the Otago Secondary Schools Rugby League 9s Tournament. Meet Mr Kelly on the rugby fields at the start of lunch on Monday 18 September. Please bring a change of clothes and a mouthguard.

The tournament details are: Otago Secondary School 9s Tournament

Date: Saturday 14 October 2023

Location: To be confirmed (likely Bayfield Park)

Age Groups: U15 boys and U15 girls

Team Size: Squads of 15 players

This tournament is your chance to earn a spot in the Junior Otago 9s representative teams for 2024 (U16s boys and U16s girls). If you make the cut and want to join, you'll be part of the action in the South Island District 9s tournament in early March 2024. If your team shines there, you'll move on to the national tournament over the Easter weekend in 2024. Note if you are selected and are 14 or 13 years old this year, you will still be playing in the Under 16 comp next year against that year level, there is no U13 boys or girls competition.

Keep in mind: The Otago tournament is for U15s, so players in that age group will be eligible for the 2024 rep tournaments when they move up a year.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out via email: kellyl@mtaspiring.school.nz.

MULTISPORT

The Challenge Wānaka Multisport event is being held 28 October. It involves a kayak, mountain bike and trail run. The Secondary School age categories include - individuals, teams and a duathlon option. Please note that the Secondary School Team athletes must be 16 years of age or older on 17 February 2024.

For more information on the event check out these links: Event Details, Pricing Information, cut off dates etc 

MAC ADVENTURE RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS

In October, MAC will run its first Adventure Race Championships. This is a great opportunity for all of our students to experience adventure racing in a fun format in their own backyard.

The event runs for three hours for Years 7 to 9 students and six hours for students in Years 10 to 13 and involves three disciplines: foot (walk or run), bike and paddle. In Term 3 we will offer training and learning opportunities in preparation for the race.

So gather your team and register! If you can’t find a team, please register as an individual and our sports department will help find you a team.

For more information and to register please see this link: MAC Adventure Race Champs

We want to thank Mark Watson, Adam Fairmaid, and Bob and Cat McLachlan for helping to develop this fun event and for volunteering to share their amazing knowledge and experience with us - we are so lucky!

SPORTS RESULTS

TRINITY COLLEGE SPORTS EXCHANGE

Last week, after a three-year hiatus, the Trinity College Sports Exchange was reinstated and 60 Years 7 and 8 students travelled to Dunedin to compete in volleyball, basketball, netball, hockey, rugby and football. The trip was a great eye opener for the students and it was awesome to see them watch and support each other at all of the different sports, and also to interact with the Trinity College students. MAC competed with great pride and sportspersonship and we came away with an overwhelming victory, winning 8 out of the 9 matches played. The Exchange was a great success and we can't wait to welcome Trinity College to Wānaka next year, so that we can repay their fabulous hospitality.

A huge thank you must go to Clare Scurr, Luke Kelly, Belinda Sides and Lydia McRae for their support in organising and running this exchange.

ADVENTURE RACING

On Monday, a group of 16 Year 9 and 10 MAC students was involved in the Get2Go Adventure Challenge in Queenstown, along with 7 other schools from the Otago/Southland region.

In the first challenge, all teams paddled an inflatable pack raft around a set of buoys on the lake and rode a MTB circuit as many times as they were able to in an hour. Immediately afterwards they headed to another destination to complete an orienteering challenge where speed and map reading skills were advantageous.

Both of our teams did themselves proud. They gave it their absolute all, worked incredibly well together by utilising each other's strengths, and they demonstrated grit and determination throughout. Their hard work paid off and was reflected in the results: One of our teams finished in second place and the other finished equal fourth. These are outstanding results in what was a really tight competition. It was a privilege to see them in action.

Well done Max Bagley, Monty Field, Jack Sides, Jacob Toomey, Chantel Rudhall, Nico Pettit, Ruby Smith, Belinda Hope, Finn Woolley, Jack Stanley, Luka Cowan, Arnaud Mackenzie, Hana Jones, Mabel North, Heidi Kendrick, and Ivy Adams.

Also, a big thank you to the parents who helped transport the students and who supported them throughout the day - Hayley Stanley, Joss Toomey, and Chrissi Pettit. It is people like you who enable our students to get involved in such wonderful events like this.

Written by: Rochelle Robertson

GOLF

On Tuesday we took 20 Years 7 and 8 students to the first ever Central Otago Intermediate Schools Golf Tournament. This was a new concept developed by Golf Otago to provide opportunities for young people to give golf a go. Teams of four competed in an Ambrose competition, with the teams playing nine holes. Our students had a great day and we came away with both 1st place (31) and 3rd place (44). Thank you very much to Mrs Kemp and our parent helpers (Harley Anderson, Kelly Brown, Charlotte Schorling and Sam Manson) who made our participation in this event possible.

GIRLS FOOTBALL

The 2023 Secondary Schools Sports Winter Tournaments were recently held at various locations around the South Island. Here’s an account of the week that was for our girls’ football team, written by Evelyn Armstrong:

This year's SISS tournament was held in Timaru and we were lucky to have perfect weather. It was a memorable and really great bonding experience for the team. We had a lot of new players this year who had never played football before, so to reach the top eight was an amazing result. Despite the tiredness, sickness and injuries we kept pushing for an awesome outcome. I am proud of the girls for giving it their all, especially in a new sport.

One of our best games was our second one against Columba College, who then went on to win the tournament. Although we lost 3-1, I admired the teamwork, communication and dedication shown on the pitch. In pool play we drew against Roncalli College 2-2 and had a win over Craighead Diocesan 2-1. Finishing second in our pool we qualified into the top eight where we then lost games to Trinity College, Otago Girls’ High School and Marian College.

A big thank you goes to our coach Ignacio Sande, team manager Vicky Brown and our support person Ainsley Gemmell. We also extend our gratitude to Fico Finance who generously sponsored our team which helped us all so much. We felt proud of our achievement and the opportunity to represent Mount Aspiring College in our glorious black and yellow kit!

ADAPTED SPORTS DAY

In August Lachlan, Eli and Reuben had a great day, teaming up with students from Dunstan High School and other schools from across Central Otago for a day of Curling at Alexandra Ice Rink.

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.

BASKETBALL

There are two exciting opportunities coming up for basketball:

● A youth basketball skills camp is being run on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September at the Rec Centre by Basketball Otago. There are lots of options for students of all ages. See this link for more information and to register: Registration Form

● Aspiring Basketball Academy runs a very successful 3x3 competition on Friday nights in Term 4 for Years 5/6, 7/8, 9/10. See this link for more information and to register: 3x3 Registration

TOUCH RUGBY

The Wanaka Junior Touch Rugby season kicks off on Monday 23 October. Head to www.sporty.co.nz/wanakajuniortouch for more details and to register your teams/individuals.

ATHLETICS

The Aspiring Athletics Club are taking registrations for the 2023/2024 season. For more information and to register please see their website: https://www.aspiringathletes.nz/

CRICKET

Registrations for the 2023/2024 season are now open. For more information and to register please use this link for the Wānaka Cricket Club website: https://wanakacricketclub.co.nz/junior-club/

GOLF

During the first week of the school holidays we’re running a Have-A-Go day for all primary school aged kids in the area. The event is a great opportunity for kids to give golf a try. The event is free and available for all primary school aged kids.

Term 4 is around the corner, which means warmer weather and longer days for golf. Please see the flyer below for junior golf and the different groups available.