What a fabulous couple of weeks as we wound up winter sport for 2023. Congratulations to everyone who took part – be it for fun, for friendship and hononga or to achieve to the highest level.

Below is a summary of the events that took place:

Badminton – Senior Koura and Junior Kowhai teams
This year Rangi Ruru had a junior and senior team contesting the Canterbury Secondary School Badminton Champs, held during tournament week. The junior doubles placed 2nd while Abby Fleming also placed 2nd in the individual champs. Congratulations team.

Basketball – Intermediate A
Attending the Junior Girls Zone 4 Basketball Tournament in Dunedin was a chance for our junior basketballers to gain invaluable tournament experience.

Some tough games throughout pool play were an opportunity for growth for these Year 9 and 10 players, and in cross over play, the team continued to fight hard, learning how to build a lead and hold it or fight back when behind.

A solid final performance against Marian College saw the team place 15th overall.

Football – 1st XI
The 1st XI football team had a very successful tournament playing for the first time in the NZSS nationals in Taupo.

Although placed in a tough pool to begin with – they held their own, displayed excellent defence, team skills and endeavour.

Our departing Year 13s - Natalya Flood, Georgie Gardner and Renee Maddigan - were excellent examples of what it means to be a team player, leader, and role model.

Playing seven games in five days, our players gave it their all to the very end. Placing 24th, the team gained 5-star ratings for their fair play in all games, and were mentioned on more than one occasion for their perseverance, losing the last few games by only one goal.

Well done on your huge improvement over the season and especially in this tournament. Mahi tika ana. Great work!

Equestrian
33 riders from Rangi Ruru competed in the South Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Tournament from Year 7 through to Year 13.

Nearly all riders managed to win or place in their individual classes with several riders competing in all disciplines - dressage, eventing, trail ride, show jumping and show hunter.

We had three individual overall champions in their sections, Mikey Wildermoth Champion Level 2 dressage rider, Rose Bowden Champion 90-100cm jumping and Holly Bray Champion 80-90cm jumping.

The Gold team were reserve champion dressage team and the Stripe team were 3rd in the arena eventing.

The Year 7 & 8 team performed extremely well and we are still awaiting their final result.

Hockey – 1st XI
On the back of winning the Connetics Shield and SSP competition, the 1st XI were looking forward to contesting it with the best in the country at Federation Cup, hosted this year in Christchurch.

Solid round robins performances saw the team top their pool and lead the goal scoring, heading into the cross-over matches.

Coming up against a strong St Cuthbert’s team in the quarter finals was always going to be tough, and this time the game went to St Cuthberts. While disappointed, the team bounced back to contest a spot in the 5/6 play off before facing a spirited Villa Maria in a replay of the local semi-final a couple of weeks earlier. Like that game, this one also went to shoot-out and this time Villa Maria took the win.

Congratulations team on a great season and a ngā mihi nui to our six Year 13s, Caitlin, Phoebe, Arabelle, Mila, Mary, and Lucy for their contribution.

Hockey – 2nd XI
The 2nd XI hockey team spent the week in Ashburton, competing in the Chris Arthur Cup.

Strong round robin performances saw the team finish 2nd in their pool, before heading into the quarter final against Westlake Girls' who they lost to in a penalty shoot out. This put the team into the 5-8 play offs and two solid performances against Villa Maria and Whangarei Girls' saw the team eventually finish 5th.

This was the last season with coach Sian Fremaux who has made a significant contribution to Rangi Ruru hockey over many years. A final thank you to our Year 13 “Lemons”, Bex, Emma, Ella and Sophia who also have made a huge contribution on and off the turf.

Netball – Senior A
The Senior A team headed to Invercargill to contest the SISS Championships. A predominantly young team, all season the players have been keen to learn and grow and there has been a huge improvement throughout the season.

Although the team missed out on top 16 after the first day of the tournament, the overall win/loss ratio was 6-2, including convincing wins over teams that had previously beaten us earlier in the season.

A shout out to Year 13 players Zara and Eliza who played out of their skins in the final game against Rangiora High School to help the team secure the Georgie Salter Plate which is awarded to the team who placed 17th overall in A grade.

Ka rawe to mahi team.

Composite teams
This year we had several students taking part in composite teams with other schools.

Shout out to:

- Tessa Langman and Lucy-Jane Hart who were involved in ice-hockey with two different schools, St Andrew's College and Burnside High School.

- and to Stevie Combes, Jessie Moffat and Zara Stewart who competed in a Rugby 10s tournament in Buller with players from Rangiora High School and St Andrew's College.

Finally - a huge thanks to all the staff, coaches and managers who supported our teams over the term. We simply couldn’t do it without you all.

Summer Sport – Term 4
For students in Years 9-13, sign ups for Term 4 sport have now closed. If any student hasn’t yet signed up, please ask them to come and see the Sports Office and we can work out what they would like to do, 'Have-a-Go' and trial.

For students in Years 7 & 8 – see below.

Years 7 & 8 Hākinakina Update – Upcoming Events
What a term! Term 3 brought an end to our winter codes with our hockey and football teams finishing the season by placing 3rd and our badminton team finishing 2nd at the CAIMS winter tournament – well done. Over the next 3 weeks students will be participating in our summer sport 'Have-a-Go' sessions run by expert coaches.

It is a busy end to Term 3, with our Year 7 football and badminton teams looking to compete in the Koru Games. Week one, Term 4 students will be sorted into teams ready to start the first game of summer CAIMS every Tuesday from the second week back.

Upcoming events:

• Koru games – Term 3, Tuesday, 19 – Thursday, 21 September – Year 7 football + badminton team.
• Huxster MTB Race – Term 4 on Thursday, 25 October at McLeans Island – Good luck to Hollie Tribble + Matilda Coomer
• CAIMS Summer Weekly Sport starts – Term 4, Tuesday, 24 October at Hagley Park + School – all students.
• CAIMS Summer Tournament – Term 4 on Wednesday, 8 November various locations in and around Christchurch – teams will be selected to attend.
• CAIMS Athletics – Term 4, on Tuesday, 21 November, Nga Puna Wai. Students will be selected based on PBs or past performances.

Term 4 Sport Signups
Our sports programme will be a mix of in-house and offsite sport options both delivered on a Tuesday afternoon in periods 5 and 6. We hope to offer a wide variety of sport options to further enhance their skills and create new sporting opportunities.

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 they may have.

Weekly sport offsite competition will start Tuesday, 24 October and finish Tuesday, 21 November.

THIS SIGN UP WILL CLOSE ON Friday, 22 September.

If you require any extra information, please see Mrs Sinclair in the Sports Office, or send a message via Teams.

Please sign up via this link - TERM 4 Years 7& 8 Sign up

Students will continue to wear PE uniform every Tuesday in preparation for Tuesday sport.

Nicole Sinclair
Head of 7 + 8 Sport

Quiz Fundraiser – Saturday, 16 September
Brought to you by the Rangi Ruru Sport Department & the Parent/Whānau Sub-committee.

To help support ongoing costs for involvement in tournaments, the Rangi Sport Department and Parent/Whānau Subcommittee are staging a Quiz Fundraiser on Saturday September 16, in Atawhai.

The monies raised will be split between sporting codes.

As part of the fundraising efforts, we are hosting an online auction….now live! Check out the great auctions up for grabs here:

Rangi Ruru Sport Fundraiser | Free Online Silent Auction Fundraisers | 32auctions

The auction will run until Tuesday, September 19.

Thank you for your support!