After a purely internally run Mathix competition in 2021 our top junior Math-letes were rearing to challenge themselves in a head to head with schools from our region in some toughly contested mathematical problems.

Waimea college hosted this year’s competition and we fielded two teams from Year 9 and one from Year 10 (a solid performance from the latter after MCAT exams earlier in the day).

Our year 9s worked solidly and enthusiastically together to come 2nd and 6th respectively, outstanding results against a room full of tough competition and both teams securely in the top half of participants. The 2nd place was especially hard won as it came down to a tie-breaker question against one of the Waimea college teams, with the whole crowd getting in on the excitement in the 4 minutes it took for the Nayland team to get the correct answer.

The second placed team consisted of Keshia Linyard, Femke Kleinloog, Luke Halcrow and Jamie Harding and our sixth placed team Albie Denley, Sam Donovan, Emerald McCartney and McKenzie Curl.

The Year 10 Mathix team consisted of Maya Ricciardi, Gabby Olander, Aaliyah O’Connor and Thora Moffat. This quick-thinking, problem-solving team was able to beat Motueka High School in a nail-biting tie-breaker to take home first place! This is the first time the Nayland Year 10s have won the Nelsomathix trophy since 2012. This was an amazing achievement by a great group of mathematicians.

Congratulation to all our participants, you did Nayland proud!