In ideal weather conditions we were able to run the Year 1-8 Cross Country on Monday 17 May.

This year we tried to cater for all our students to participate in a worthwhile event so Y3-8 students could choose a competitive course or be in a team of 3 to complete an obstacle course. Both events were well supported by the students, and their enthusiasm on the day proved this.

The competitive runners set off first with the Year 3/4s covering 1 km, the Year 5/6 ran 2kms, and the Year 7/8 runners did 3 kms around the Oxford A&P Showgrounds and Pearson Park Oval. There were nine teachers or parents marshalling as well as encouraging the runners to give their best efforts. There were some great times achieved with eighteen Y5-8 students invited to compete at the Eyre Cluster Cross Country at Cust next Wednesday.

Soon after the start of the competitive event, the Y1/2 students completed an obstacle course of six different events diagonally across the show grounds ring with their teachers and Y9/10 students to support and encourage them to complete the course successfully. In the finishing chute each student was awarded a card recognising their effort by Y7/8 students.

The third event was the Y3-8 team event around eleven obstacles stations set in a circuit around the inside edge of the show grounds ring. The Y9/10 students supported and cheered the students on through hoops, under tarps, spoon and potato, sack, and skipping race, stepping through tyres and so on. Following the last station, the runners sprinted towards the finishing chute where they waited till all three members of their team had finished then sprinted to the finish line.

The two positions of the finishing chutes were ideal for all spectators to watch the various groups participate and finish their races. Thanks to the large crowd for supporting our tamariki from the designated areas.

These events are not possible without the support of our staff and community. Huge thanks to Euan Pulley for helping to set up/ pack up the three courses, the group of JE/RT Y7/8 boys with getting all the obstacle stations organised, to Emma Don/ Reese Kean's Y9/10 class to manage each of the stations, to the parents/adults who offered to help- Di Te Awa, Aaron Campbell, Tanya Wells, Mike Mullis, Megan Lowen, Ivan Evans and Mary Chisnall, plus to all the teachers who were out there doing various roles, I truly appreciated the contribution by you all so this opportunity could be offered to our tamariki.