After a massive term of summer sport, we now dive into the crossover season for the last week of the term. Winter sport trials are now underway and signs up for winter options that don’t have trials will also be available this week. Meanwhile in summer sport, local competition wraps up this week, while for some teams, there are South Island and national events still to come. To the following groups heading into competition this weekend and during the upcoming term break, we wish you all the very best:

• Athletics squad – competing at the SISS Athletics Championships in Timaru, Friday, 5 – Sunday, 7 April

• Senior water polo team competing in the NZWP Div 2 Championships in Hamilton, Saturday, 13 – Tuesday, 16 April

• ANZAC hockey squad – competing in the ANZAC Tournament in Auckland, Sunday, 14 – Wednesday, 17 April (team still to be finalised)

• Adventure racing teams – competing in the Kaikoura Adventure Race in Kaikoura, Friday, 19 – Sunday, 21 April

Summer Tournament Week Round Up

Congratulations to all those who represented our kura in various sporting endeavours during the annual Summer Tournament Week held two weeks ago.

A summary of the results is below:

• Cricket - Gillette Regional Qualifying Tournament - 4th
• Dragon Boating - SISS Champs - 2nd 1000m, 1st 500m, 2nd 200m....with 5 less paddlers than any other boat in every race!
• Futsal - NZSS Championships - 22nd
• Mountain Biking - Juliet Freeman - SISS MTB Championships - 1st U20 Girls XC, 1st U20 Girls Enduro
• Multisport - NZSS Triathlon Champs - Charlotte Chiles - 3rd U19 Female. Charlotte was also a member of a Mixed Team which placed fastest overall and Kate Sharpe was a member of an U16 Mixed Team which placed fastest overall
• Rowing -  Top Sweep School in the country, and 2nd Overall School with the following results across the programme:
  • U17 Coxed Four: 5th in the A Final
  • U18 Novice Coxed Eight #1: 3rd in the A Final
  • U18 Novice Coxed Eight #2: 4th in the A Final
  • U18 Coxless Pair: 1st in A Final
  • U16 Coxed Eight: 2nd in A Final
  • U15 Coxed Octuple Sculls: 8th in A Final
  • U18 Coxed Four: 2nd in the A Final
  • U17 Coxed Eight: 2nd in the A Final
  • U16 Coxed Four: 3rd in the B Final
  • U17 Coxless Pair: 2nd in the A Final
  • U15 Coxed Eight #1: 2nd in the A Final
  • U15 Coxed Eight #2: 1st in the A Final
  • U18 Novice Coxed Four #1: 7th in the A Final
  • U18 Novice Coxed Four #2: 3rd in the B Final
  • U18 Coxed Eight: 3rd in the A Final
• Tennis - National Secondary School Tennis Cup - 5th
• Touch - SISS Touch Championships - 5th Equal
• Volleyball - Div 1 Satellite Tournament - 8th
• Water Polo - SISS Champs - 4th and Most Valuable Goalie - Zoe Crisp

Equestrian Round Up

Rangi Ruru equestriennes have had a very successful March with the Canterbury Secondary Schools Dressage Champs and the SUPA Polo Tournament.   At SUPA Polo our riders were in combined teams, with the Rangi Ruru team being the A Grade champions featuring Tabitha White & Honor Forbes. Gretal Meares and Clara Forbes played well in the B Grade division. 

We had three teams compete at the Dressage Champs, and while no overall team placings, we had excellent success with Sophie Clibborn, Alice Murfitt and Holly Bray all taking out wins in their individual classes. 

Ka rawe Team Equestrian!

School Swimming Finals - Thursday,  21 March

After a false start to swimming finals, our competitors only event was held on a sunny Thursday afternoon at the Rangi Ruru pool. This year saw the introduction of a new clan event – the Torpedo Buoy Clan Relay. It was fantastic to see ākonga embracing the opportunity to demonstrate their life saving skills. The event ended with the splash and dash clan relays, with the junior relay won by Glamis, and the senior relay won by Dunvegan.

Congratulations to the following Age Group Champions – ka rawe team!

Year 7/8 Champion: Maddie Ericson
Runner Up: Ada Zhang

U14 Champion: Indy Leeds
Runner Up: Cleo Newman

U15 Champions – Joint: Sofia Harris & Aimee Drennan
Runner Up: Madison Young

U16 Champion: Emily Carr
Runner Up: Jessica Drury

Senior Champion: Ella Harris
Runner Up: Addie Voight 

Canterbury Secondary School Athletics Finals – Thursday 28 March

Some outstanding results from our track & field athletes, who competed at the Canterbury Secondary School Athletics Finals last Thursday at Ngā Puna Wai. Special shout out to the 4x400m Relay Team - Tilly O'Sullivan, Meg Edwards, Ava Rattray, Alyssa Buchan – who won Gold and broke the Canterbury record in a time of 4:06:63. Outstanding!

Under 14

• Sylvie France - 4th in 1500m, 6th in 800m

• Madi Edmond - 3rd in Discus, 4th in Shot Put

• Emelia Handyside - 8th in Shot Put

Under 15

• Hannah Harper - 5th in 100m sprint, 4th in 200m sprint, 4th in Shot Put
• Tilly O'Sullivan - 1st in 400m run, 2nd in 800m run
• Kate Sharpe - 4th in 400m sprint, 6th in 800m run
• Natsuki Hastie - 6th in 1500m run
• Georgia Kelso - 5th in 3000m run
• 4x100m Relay (Hannah Harper, Tilly O'Sullivan, Sylvie France, Honor Thorne) - 2nd

Under 16

• Sophie Sara - 4th in 1500m run
• Zara McDonnell  - 1st equal in High Jump, 2nd in Triple Jump
• Eliza McDonnell - 1st equal in High Jump, 4th in Triple Jump
• Emily Carr - 6th in Shot Put, 6th in Discus
• Nya Kinajil-Reding - 4th in Discus

Under 19

• Ava Rattray - 2nd in 100m sprint, 2nd in 200m sprint
• Brooke Harper - 2nd in Long Jump, 5th in 100m sprint, 5th in 200m sprint
• Alyssa Buchan - 3rd in 800m run, 
• Meg Edwards - 2nd in 100m Hurdles, 4th in High Jump, 2nd in Javelin
• 4x100m Relay (Ava Rattray, Brooke Harper, Meg Edwards, Alyssa Buchan) - 3rd
• 4x400m Relay (Tilly O'Sullivan, Meg Edwards, Ava Rattray, Alyssa Buchan) - 1st and broke the Canterbury record in a time of 4:06:63

Fourteen of the above students have qualified for 28 events at the South Island Track & Field Championships this weekend in Timaru. Wishing you all the best Team Rangi Ruru.

Eke Paihikara Maunga Mounting Biking

Our autumn mountain biking season kicked off with the usual participation in the Canterbury Secondary Schools’ XC MTB Championship series held at Halswell Quarry. The 2024 team consists of Juliet Freeman (Year 13), Sophie Sara (Year 11), Maggie Ardagh (Year 10), and our three newest riders Kokoda Payne, Kiara Bratschi and Rachael Bennett (all Year 9). Completing our squad was the injured Vesper Woodfield (Year 11) and Sophie Gray (Year 10).

With the wonderful support of our mātua Marcel and Charlotte Gray, we were able to get all riders to Haslwell Quarry each week to race. The age group grade racing held in the last round on Wednesday, 3 April resulted in four podium finishes with Juliet taking out the open women’s category, Maggie 2nd in U17, Sophie 3rd in U16, and Kokoda 3rd in U15. It was a busy prizegiving and podium for Rangi Ruru riders, most of whom were not able to be there as they went straight from racing to rogaining. Whāea stayed behind for prizegiving and collected all the medals, prizes and the trophy for Top Girls’ School (shared with Cashmere High School).

Congratulations also to Juliet Freeman who performed admirably in the 2024 Skoda South Island School Mountain Bike Championships held at Coronet Peak in March, placing 1st in the Cross Country, and Enduro Open Women’s. Unfortunately a mechanical issue meant a DNF (did not finish) in one of her favourite events, the downhill.

As the teacher who supports this wonderful team each week it has been a joy to be able to see them in action, their puffed red faces after racing and seeing the progression. From our newest riders who did a road climb and ride down into one of the hubs at the Crocodile Park the first week, to observe them bravely deciding to enter and race the following weeks in sport grade, what courage they showed by being willing to give it their all each week.I look forward to seeing you all in Term 4 where we can extend our skills and confidence at downhill, lapping, sending and shredding the park! Whāia te whanaungatanga, whāia te mana kia tū, whāia to te rangi!

Nā Sherrilee Herangi-Harrison

Year 7 & 8 Update

Students have started learning new skills across football, badminton, hockey and netball. It has been great to see students participating and trying something new, as we gear up for our winter sport options.

CAIMS Swimming
Last week we had eight students participate in the CAIMS Swimming event held at the Selwyn Aquatic Centre, all students did exceptionally well.

Results

• Mixed 6x25 Medley Relay - Maddie Ericson/Lucy Peoples/Indi Osmers/Ada Zhang/Mia Tucker/Aria Lu - 1st 
• 50m Freestyle Year 7 - Indi Osmers - 2nd
• 50m Freestyle Year 8 - Maddie Ericson - 1st, Ada Zhang - 4th
• 25m Freestyle Year 8 - Mia Tucker - 2nd, Lucy Peoples - 3rd, Libby Weastell - 6th
• 50m Backstroke Year 7 - Indi Osmers - 3rd
• 50m Backstroke Year 8 - Ada Zhang - 2nd, Mia Tucker - 4th
• 50m Butterfly Open - Maddie Ericson - 1st, Aria Lu - 4th
• 25m Breaststroke Year 8- Lucy Peoples - 1st, Libby Weastell - 2nd
• 100m IM - Maddie Ericson - 2nd, Aria Lu - 6th
• 200m Freestyle Year 8 Relay- Maddie Ericson/Libby Weastell/Lucy Peoples/Ada Zhang - 2nd

Term 2+3 Signups
Our winter sport signups will be live by Monday, 8 April. A reminder that ALL Year 7/8 students need to choose ONE Tuesday option (compulsory). Students may also select an activity that takes place on another day as long as there are no clashes with other commitments you may have. The sign-up link will be on the Hub (on the Sports + Draws page) and will be sent to students via Teams.

School Cross Country – Wednesday, 10 April, Carlton Corner, Hagley Park
The annual school cross country will be held on Wednesday, 10 April, with the first race underway at 1.30pm. Information on the event can be found here. Whānau are welcome to spectate.

Sports Staff Overview

Ms Mandy Anderson Director of Sport

Mrs Melissa Brooks Assistant Director of Sport

Mrs Nicole Sinclair Sports Coordinator – Head of Yr 7/8 Sport

Miss Trisha Hopcroft Sports Coordinator

Miss Savannah Laws Sports Coordinator - Netball

Mrs Sally Goldsmith Equestrian Manager

Ms Olivia Ling Rowing Manager

Mr Ross Kennedy Strength & Conditioning Coach

Ms Paula Rule Mental Skills Coach

Mrs Lesley Joyce - Fitness Centre Manager