MAC SPORTS
Welcome to MAC sport for 2024! 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. Our Mount Aspiring College Sports Hub Facebook page is also a great place to keep an eye on upcoming sporting events and opportunities. If you ever have any questions come and see Ignacio (Head of Sport) and Claire (Sports Coordinator) 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:
- Good luck to Tom Sides and Zavier Taylor who are competing in the Two Day Tandem Coast to Coast in the Open Men’s Grade this weekend. We wish them all the best for the awesome adventure they have ahead of them!
Sports Calendar: Term 1, 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 1
15 February - Challenge Wānaka Triathlon Events
16 February - Central Otago Senior Touch Tournament
19 February - Central Otago Secondary School Golf Tournament
22 February - Central Otago School Senior Volleyball Competition starts
25 February - Otago/Southland Water Ski Champs
28 February - MAC Athletics Sports
1-3 March - South Island Secondary School Rowing Championships
2 March - Otago Secondary School Touch Championships
3 March - South Island Secondary School Triathlon Championships
5 March - Central Otago Secondary School Futsal tournament
7 March - Upper Clutha Primary School Athletics Championships
8-10 March - Otago Secondary Schools Athletic Championships
9-10 March - Otago Secondary School Senior Volleyball Championships
13-14 March - QUAD Tournament
15 March - MAC Swimming Sports
16-17 March - South Island Secondary School Touch Tournament
18-23 March - MAADI - NZSS Rowing Championships
21-22 March - New Zealand Secondary School Triathlon Championships
21-23 March - South Island Secondary School Mountain Bike Championships
27 March - Central Otago Primary School Athletics Championships
3 April - Top Bike
5-7 April - South Island Secondary School Athletics Championships
7 April - Otago Primary School Swimming Championships
10 April - MAC Enduro Mountain Biking Champs
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
CHALLENGE WĀNAKA SECONDARY SCHOOL TRIATHLON
Our school entries for the Secondary School Challenge Wānaka Triathlon close on Friday - so enter quickly if you haven’t yet!
What: Challenge Wānaka Secondary School Triathlon
When: Thursday 15 February
Where: Glendhu Bay
COST: $12
The Course:
For U14, U16: the course will be made up of a 300m swim, 10km bike and 3.5km run
For U19: the course will be made up of a 400m swim, 20km bike, 4km run
Entries: All MAC entries are completed by the school. To enter, please use this link and complete the registration form: Challenge Wānaka Entry Form . DO NOT enter via the Challenge Wānaka website.
Event information: 2024 Event Information
CHALLENGE WĀNAKA TRIATHLON ADAPTIVE EVENT
The Challenge Wānaka Adaptive event is running on the morning of Thursday 15 February (before the secondary schools event). This is open to anyone over 10 years old with an impairment (either intellectual or physical), the course can be customised to suit each participant.
Please contact Jo Knight to discuss the course and any requirements via email (jknight@sportotago.co.nz) or phone (027 2329 390).
Entry is $10 per person and this can be done through the Challenge Wānaka website.
RUGBY
The 2024 rugby season kicked off with a successful open afternoon and pre-season training session last week run by the 1st XV coaching team, Wayne Enoka and Jason Clarke. It was great to see so many MAC students keen to dust off their boots and put themselves through an intense workout on the rugby field.
Pre-season training for all those students in Year 9-13 who are wanting to play in the 2024 season will continue throughout this term.
Where: MAC rugby field
When: Wednesdays 3.30pm start
What do you need: Please bring along water, mouthguard and boots.
Coming up: Boys 1st XV have their first preseason game confirmed for 23 March against Central Southland. This will be played in Winton.
NETBALL
Netball for our students is run by MANC - the Mt Aspiring Netball Club. This volunteer committee works year round to coordinate the participation of over 200 of our students in netball each year.
Registrations for the upcoming season are now open. Please see the links below to register and also for more information on each year group.
Registrations: Netball 2024 Registration Form
Year 7/8 Information: Netball year 7 and 8 FAQ's
Year 9/10 Information: Year 9 and 10 Netball Info
Senior Non Competitive and Competitive Info
Contact: Please email mtaspiringnc@gmail.com with any queries.
WATERSKIING
The Otago/Southland Water Ski Championships are coming up later this month. Please see the information below for more details and the link to the entry form. Please note that this is a parent-led event, so parents will be responsible for processing the entries, transport to and from the event and also supporting the students at the event. Once you have completed your entry form, please come and see us at the Sports Hub to get a school jacket to wear at the event.
Key details:
Sunday 25 February
Millers Flat, Perkins Pond
Entries due Thursday 22 February, although on the day registrations will still be accepted
Enter here
See the event facebook page here
If you have any further questions about the event, please contact Glyn Burrows (glyn@speedprint.co.nz or 027 454 6073).
GOLF
There are two upcoming tournaments which are open to Year 9-13 students.
1. The Central Otago Secondary Schools Golf Tournament is coming up on Monday 19 February.
This is a fun new teams tournament which has two categories:
Competitive (18 holes) - Teams of 3 with best 2 scores counted
Ambrose (9 holes) - Teams of 3
Please read the information below and complete the registration form if you are wanting to play. Please note that registrations for this tournament close on Monday 12 February at 9am, so you need to complete this form ASAP!
Venue: Cromwell Golf Course
Date: Monday 19 February 2024
Time: Tee off – 1pm Competitive and 2.30pm Ambrose
Cost: TBC
Grades: Junior & Senior
Format:
Competitive (18 holes) – Briefing at 12.40pm and Tee off at 1pm (Teams of 3 with best 2 scores counted)
Ambrose (9 holes) – Briefing 2.10pm and Tee off at 2.30pm (Teams of 3)
Teams can be single or mixed gender
Prizegiving / spot prizes at approximately 5pm with departure by 5.30pm
Fun competitions whilst on the course.
Rules:
GolfNZ Secondary School rules apply
Handicap is required for the Competitive section
Players are to provide their own clubs
Central Otago Tournament Registration Form: Registration Form
2. The Eagles Intercollegiate Schools Golf Tournament is taking place on Monday 4 March. This event is open to all students in Years 9-13. Please let us know if you would like to enter in this tournament by Monday 19 February.
Key details:
Monday 4 March 2024
Venue: Taieri Lakes Golf Club
Tee off 11am - 18 holes
Team and individual categories
Teams to comprise of 3 players. The best 2 out of 3 scores count as the team total.
The winning team will represent the Otago district at the New Zealand Secondary Schools tournament in September.
Individual entries for the individual section are encouraged.
All players must have an official handicap.
Maximum field of 100 players.
A non-handicap division may be added depending on numbers.
The best two individual schoolboys (gross scores) and best individual schoolgirl (gross), aged under 17 years on 1 October 2024, qualify for entry to the NZ Eagles Girls & Boys Championships.
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.
SNOWSPORTS
Four of our MAC students recently competed at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea. Lucia Georgalli, Luke Harrold, Fin Melville Ives and Cam Melville Ives all absolutely excelled at the games, bringing home 6 of New Zealand’s 7 medals between them!
Lucia Georgalli won a silver medal in the women’s snowboard slopestyle and a bronze medal in the women’s snowboard big air. Lucia was named as one of the flagbearers for the opening ceremony. “I'm really grateful to be named flagbearer. I've been thinking about this competition for years, so it's pretty cool to get to lead the team, I'm stoked."
Luke Harrold (Year 11) won gold in the men’s freeski halfpipe and bronze in the men’s freeski big air. His gold medal was the first ever New Zealand Individual gold medal at any edition of the WInter Youth Olympic Games and when Fin Melville Ives joined him on the podium with the silver medal, it was the first time ever that there has been two New Zealanders on the same podium at any form of the Winter Olympic Games! Following his successes, Luke was named as the Closing Ceremony Flagbearer for the New Zealand Team. “To be named flagbearer is such an honour, to finish off the these games with two medals and the opportunity to carry the New Zealand flag is unreal.”
Fin Melville Ives (Year 13) won silver in the men’s freeski halfpipe, joining Luke Harrold on the podium for a New Zealand gold and silver combo.
Cam Melville Ives (Year 13) won bronze in the men’s snowboard big air and narrowly missed out on more medals in both the men’s snowboard halfpipe and men’s snowboard slopestyle events where he finished in 4th place.
ATHLETICS
In the last week of Term 4 2023, six of our students headed to Christchurch to compete in the 2023 New Zealand Secondary School Track and Field Championships. It was a fantastic event to be involved in, competing against New Zealand's best school age athletes. MAC had some outstanding performances from all of the athletes, including Niamh making the Senior Girls 100m finals and the 4x400 Senior Mixed relay became National Champions when they won the 4x400m Senior mixed relay! A special mention to Phoebe Laker, who still turned up to the event to cheer on the team despite being injured and unable to compete, and also to Mandy Enoka for taking on the role of team manager - thank you!
SWIMMING
In December, Hana Carnie (Year 8) travelled to Australia to compete at the Queensland State Swimming Championships. She competed in six events and made it to three finals. She was only able to swim in one final (due to the visitor limit), where she claimed a Bronze medal (the 12 Years 200m Backstroke with an impressive time of 2:28.95). That time slashed the Otago 12 Years Long Course Record by over FOUR SECONDS! The current record of 2:33.04 was set by Erika Fairweather in 2016. And on top of that, Hana also took down the 100m Backstroke Otago 12 years Long Course Record via her split of 1:12.07 at the 100m mark - taking down club mate Luisa Palmer's record from 2022.
Amazing work, Hana - we can't wait to see what the future holds for you!
BASKETBALL
Congratulations to Deacon Gwilliam Browne and Trinity Pullar (both in Year 9) who were selected to trial for the New Zealand U15 basketball teams. They have been training hard all summer and attended the South Island section of the trials in Christchurch on Waitangi Day. Fantastic work you two! We look forward to seeing you out on the court in our MAC colours this year!
ROWING
Two weeks ago, 32 of our MAC rowers attended the Meridian South Island Club Championships in Twizel. They had a very successful regatta taking home 1 gold, 2 silvers and 1 bronze across a range of events. Junior Club Captain Will Radford noted that “it was an outstanding result for the club across all age groups at this point in the season.” He said that “as a club we are punching well above our weight against the bigger clubs”
It has been a very challenging regatta season to date, with constant disruptions to training and competition due to the wind. This regatta was similarly affected with most of the racing on Saturday abandoned. Sunday saw some rain but overall good water conditions. The amended schedule (including a very early start!) had final placings taken from the timed heats.
The students were competing for the Wānaka Rowing Club as this was a club event and the club were thrilled with some top medal performances:
● Annie Wells and Annika Massey placed first over 4 heats in the Woman’s Club Double (Gold) - coached by Matt Rickard.
● Annie and Annika joined with Lola Ritchie, Kate Ritchie and Lauren Bensemann (cox) to place 2nd in the Woman’s U19 coxed quad (Silver) - coached by Matt Rickard.
● Fenella Millen and Sienna Marsden also took home a second place (Silver) in the Girls Intermediate Double Scull - coached by Chris Brooks.
● Our novice boys Hugo Sinclair and Will Pascoe came in 3rd place in the Novice Boys Double Scull (Bronze) - coached by Rob Bruce.
In addition we celebrated some great racing in the heats:
● Boys Novice Quad of Sinclair, Hope, Pascoe , Pederson + E Hunt - 4th place across both heats.
● Woman’s novice double 4th in their heat - Lily Garrett and Maddie Smith.
● Girls U17 coxed quad placed 3rd in their heat with Lucy Radford, Ebony Howes, Hana Jones, Sienna Marsden and Lauren (cox).
● Men’s club single with Philip Massey placing 4th in heat, Anton Jones 7th in his heat and Tom Irvine placed 9th in his difficult heat.
● Sienna Marsden 4th in her heat in the girls U17 single and Fenella Millen placed 3rd in her heat for the girls intermediate single sculls.
● Girls U16 double sculls, Lucy Radford and Hana Jones placed 2nd in their heat and Fenella Millen and Ebony Howes placed 5th in their heat.
● Finally, the Womens Novice Coxed 8 had a strong row to finish 5th in their heat. (Ritchie, David, C Smith, Hay, M Smith, Shore, Hartnett, Garrett and E Hunt).
Junior Club Captain Will Radford said that “the coaches and rowers have dedicated a huge amount of time and effort to get to this point and should be very proud of their efforts. We now build toward the final 2 school regattas of the season and ultimately Maadi cup - bring it on!! “
The club would like to thank everyone who helped with the regatta, in particular our van sponsors Aspiring Guides, The Alpine Group and Dinki.
Finally many thanks to our coaching team of Matt Rickard, Aj Humphreys, Rob Bruce, Nina, Olivia, and Chris Brooks for all the hours you volunteer and the inspiration you provide.
Report by Angela Rickard (TIC Rowing)
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.
HOCKEY
Upper Clutha Hockey Club 2024 Season Information
If you are considering playing hockey this season you can join the Upper Clutha Hockey Club, our local club, which belongs to the Central Otago Hockey Association.
We have a half sized turf in Wānaka located beside the Wānaka Recreation Centre (41 Sir Tim Wallis Drive) where practices will be held.
REGISTRATION
● Open in March; keep an eye out for the registration link on our Facebook Page, website or in the school newsletter (https://uppercluthahockey.club /Facebook: Upper Clutha Hockey Club)
SEASON
● Club: May - August (term 2 and 3)
● Rep hockey: July ( National U18s men/ U18s women tournaments take place during the winter holidays); you are eligible to play for the Central Otago Hockey Association if you sign up with a club in Central Otago;
● School: Winter Tournament Week ( Term 3, week 8) - there will be a separate trial held to be selected for the school tournament team.
GAMES
● Games are played on the full sized turf in Cromwell and some games in Queenstown during weekdays.
● The Division 1 or Senior Reserve A teams are co-ed teams and play on a Friday afternoon/evening - UCHC will have one 1st XI mixed gender team entering this grade
● The division 2/ Senior Reserve B grade is a single sex competition with girls teams (Y9-13) playing on a Thursday and the boys teams (Y9-13) playing on a Mondayl; Upper Clutha Hockey club hopes to enter a girls and a boys team into this grade;
● In the High School grades 3 games are usually played each afternoon (@4.30pm or 4.45pm @5.45pm or 5.50pm @7pm or 7.10pm)
TRIALS
● Trials for the 1st XI mixed hockey team will be held after registrations have closed at the end of March (date to be announced; you will need to register for trials should you wish to play in the 1st XI team)
TRANSPORT
● Transport for hostel students to the games will be sorted by the managers of the teams
OP CLASSES
● There is often a clash with OP classes on the afternoon hockey is on; If you have OP you most likely won’t make the first game played in the afternoon; if you are an experienced hockey player who thinks they most likely will make the 1st XI team and your OP class in on a Friday, you may want to discuss a change of OP class with your teacher.
COACHING/UMPIRING
● If you are keen to coach a team or want to umpire, let us know! Coaching hours count towards the student in the community (SIC) hours and will reduce your subscription. We pay our umpires
● You may also play up a grade for the men or women's team in the Senior Central Otago competition for no extra fees (game day is on Saturdays)
CONTACT
● If you have any further questions, please contact Chrissi Pettit via email (secretary@uppercluthahockey.club) or phone (021795919)
2023 UCHC 1st XI mixed team (winner of the Div 1 grade)
PEAK ENDURANCE TRAINING
Peak Endurance Wānaka is offering two different training groups for Mount Aspiring College students in Term 1.
The High School Run Group is on Tuesdays at 3:30-4:30pm from the MAC field. It costs $172.50 per term, and the registration link can be found on valburke.com. This group is for people of all ages and experience; each week there are options for beginners all the way up to students who want to race athletics or triathlon. If someone wants to get fitter for their team sport, this is a good option for them too!
The High School Strength Group is at the Peak Endurance gym on Thursdays 6:45am-7:45am. It costs $201 per term and the registration page can also be found at valburke.com. This class is also for all levels and students with a range of interests- high performance in a specific sport, or just learning how to get stronger.
If you have any questions please contact sammy@valburke.com.
FOOTBALL
Wānaka AFC - 2024 Registrations Now Open!
We’re excited to let you all know that registrations are NOW OPEN for the 2024 Wānaka AFC club season!
Registrations are open for the following:
2024 Wānaka AFC Club Season: Juniors, Youth and Seniors
Come & Try: 4 weeks of free, non-committal 'have a go' sessions
Soccer Sisters Come & Try: 4 weeks of free, non-committal 'have a go' Girls Only sessions
Pre-Academy: Players U7-U12
The Academy: Invitation Only
School Holiday Programme: U7-U12, January 2024
You can find everything you need to know on the Wānaka AFC website, including information about age groups, training dates and times, season dates, fees, payment, how to register and more.
VISIT HERE to read more and register.
Make sure you check us out on Facebook and Instagram where we post regular updates, too!
Please feel free to get in touch with us directly if you have any questions or concerns, we are more than happy to help. You can reach us at info@wanakafootball.nz or academy@wanakafootball.nz
NETBALL SKILLS
BASKETBALL
MOUNTAIN BIKING
WORD Term 1 2024 programmes kick off next week!
We still have a bunch of spots available in a few of our programmes below, bookings will stay open till Friday this week so get in quick!
Check out How the Term Rolls for more information about the programme.
Cost: $235/term (7 sessions, 2 hours each session)
Click the links below to find the Term schedules on our website!
Mondays - Rāhina
7 - 9 yr old boys - 12 February - SOLD OUT
Tuesdays - Rātū
10 - 12 yr old boys - 13 February - 6 spots left
Wednesdays - Rāapa
7 - 9 yr old girls - 14 February - 5 spots left
10 - 12 yr old girls - 14 February - 4 spots left
Thursdays - Rāpare
13 - 17 yr old girls - 15 February - 7 spots left
13 - 17 yr old boys - 15 February - 8 spots left
