A rather different sports newsletter comes to you this week. As you may have noticed, even the 6:00pm news is struggling to find sports news in the current climate!

We hope that as you stay safe during this time you are all still able to fit in some form of exercise, be it walking the dogs countless times to setting up some sort of home gym. Amazing what you can do with cans of baked beans as weights!

While we all struggle to accept the conditions we find ourselves in at present, it is important that we look after ourselves first and foremost. A couple of key messages from John Quinn and Dr Sarah Anticich on managing uncertainty: ‘It’s ok not to be ok’ - anxiety is normal and stress can be helpful, however, it is important to manage our stress. Be mindful, stop and pause, and check-in with ourselves periodically throughout the day. Ask yourself ‘how are you feeling’? We need to look after ourselves first and foremost.

It is easier to be resilient if we do simple things like eating healthy, having healthy routines and exercising.

There are many options available to help you stay motivated to exercise. If you haven’t already, then sign up to Liv and Josie’s Iso Challenge and record your active sessions each week. Tune in to Mrs Seymour’s daily workout or take advantage of any of the many other options available online.

Performance Wellbeing’s advice is to stay physically distant but emotionally close during this time- be socially connected.

Look after ourselves and observe Dan Siegel’s healthy platter.

Equestrian
We have included a couple of photos from Millie Harris from the Horse of the Year Show as they missed the last newsletter.

Lifesaving Tests
Our girls worked hard during Term One learning the correct life-saving techniques. It was fortunate they were able to sit their tests before we all went into lockdown mode. We will post results in due course but in the meantime here are a few pics from their exam day.

Rowing
A few weekends ago the St Margaret’s rowing squad travelled down to Twizel for the South Island Secondary Schools’ regatta on Lake Ruataniwha. We had a very successful weekend, making 16 A finals, 2 B finals including placing third in the U15 8, U16 8, U15 4 and U17 8, second in U18 pair and U18 four and first in the U15 4 and U18 8. We take heart that we had the fastest time out of both the North Island and South Island schools in the girls U18 8.

All the girls have spent hours and hours training not only during term four and term one but also during the summer holidays. Rowing is a very mentally and physically demanding sport but teaches you so many valuable lessons along the way. We are all so proud of how highly the girls achieved this weekend, it really shows how hard everyone had been working.

Unfortunately, the season has come to an abrupt ending, with Maadi Cup, this year to take place in Lake Ruataniwha being cancelled. Whilst we are all upset by this call, we do all understand why. The season has been one to remember and the culture of the 2019/20 squad was a very special one.

Wishing everyone the best, thanks
Emily and Charlotte
(Co-Captains of Rowing)

Congratulations Charlotte Darry and Anna Wilson who have been named in the Rowing New Zealand junior trial squad which was announced over the weekend. Anna and Charlotte won a gold and two silver medals together in three boats at the South Island Secondary School's Champs to earn recognition. And Charlotte was part of the national team last year.