We are always so proud to be able to report on our SMC girls. Their achievements are second to none and the skill and dedication to their respective sports pay off. From horses to cars, rugby to gymnastics, we have it all here at SMC, with our talented and sporty school of girls. As always please email us with any news or updates you may have, louise.eder@stmargarets.school.nz

Cycling
There is nothing SMC’s Jenna Borthwick (Y11) can’t do on two wheels! Recently representing NZ at the Oceania Track champs she won no less than four golds, one silver and one bronze!! Gold in the madison, keirin, 2000m individual pursuit and team pursuit. Silver in the team sprint and bronze in 500m time trial. An outstanding achievement- congratulations Jenna!

Equestrian
Fabriana McQuarrie Y9 and her delightful pony Max won Reserve Champion for Dressage up in Auckland a couple of weeks ago. They then went on to compete the weekend afterwards in the South Island Three Day Eventing Championships. Fabriana and Max rode in the one-star, against some very hard competition. They did an awesome job and we are proud to say that they came second in the eventing Championship Individual Event. Great teamwork both of you and we wish you well for the Summer ahead.

Gymnastics
Wow, Lexie Boon (Y5) had a busy school holiday. After qualifying for the Rhythmic Gymnastics National Clubs Festival and getting into the top 5 to go through to finals. Lexie became the Level 3 New Zealand Champion!!!!! Plus her team won the NZ title too. So many congratulations Lexie we are super proud. 

Congratulations Renee Martin (Y11) who won two golds at the NZ Gymnastics Championships for trampolining in the categories 15-16 year old Women's Synchro Trampoline (with her partner Tori Peters) and 15-16 year old Women's Double Mini Trampoline. Well done Renee what a flipping superstar. 

Ice Skating
Hayley Douglas Year 9 has been working hard on the ice. She writes, “On Wednesday 2 October, I travelled down to Gore with my mum for my un-official practice before my competition on Thursday. My un-official went well and to plan as did my official practice on Thursday morning. I skated Thursday afternoon after the opening ceremony and although I didn't go as well as I would've liked I came out with some really good scores and ended up in third. On Friday was my un-official practice and Saturday morning was my official practice for my synchro team. We skated Saturday night and came 2nd.” Fantastic Hayley and what lovely photos of you. 

Junior School News
The Junior School gets even busier in Term 4 as all the summer sports clubs start up again. Thank you to our Senior Girls who volunteer their time to help in the Junior School with Tennis Hot Shots, Flipper Ball and Touch Rugby.
Our Junior School is lucky enough to have Canterbury Rugby Football Coach Kaylee Tavendale, coming in every Thursday lunchtime this term to work with our Years 5 through to 8. This is a great opportunity for the girls to learn new skills and have fun during lunchtimes.

Mini Stock news
Georgia Dobson-Cox Y10 is once more embracing the track. She is on the mentor program for racing which means she is currently racing at Woodford Glen. Her plan is to travel later on in the season, so she is busy getting some more experience under her belt. Georgia says, “ I have won my first race on a technicality. The opening night for Woodford Glen was tricky due to a very muddy track. I only got one race and didn’t get past 4th place due to the state of the track. This will be my last year as a Youth Mini Stock Driver. I want to get my travelling done before it gets harder and more challenging.” Good luck Georgia, keep following your dream. Check out the photo of Georgia’s very cool car.

Rugby
During the last school holidays, Sophie Lightbourne was in the Canterbury Rugby Development team that played in the South Islands U18 tournament. They finished with two draws.

Rugby Sevens
We had a team of twelve girls head down to Timaru for the SISS Rugby Sevens Tournament the weekend of the 20th October. Stella Ashcroft, Tehya Laws, Kate Marfell, Jamie Marshall, Mia McDonnell, Libby Millar, Liberty Perkins, Georgia Reed, Lucy Roberts, Molly Roberts, Molly Williams and Poppy Williams. Dallas Seymour very kindly stepped in to accompany the team as their coach for the Tournament. He did a fabulous job getting the girls well prepared and ready for what lay ahead. SMC old girl, Lucy Jenkins has been coaching the girls but was unable to travel to Timaru, due to her own commitments. Lucy is in the Canterbury Women's Rugby Team and the same weekend as the Sevens, she was playing in the Farah Palmer Cup Semifinal. They won that and have just played in the final against Auckland and won 30-20. This is the third year in a row that they have won this title. Lucy is now focused on playing Sevens and aiming for the Canterbury Women's Sevens Team. We wish her luck. She resumes coaching our team in the meantime.
Prior to the Tournament, the team managed five trainings, with a mixture of girls who are young and new to the team and the game. Sevens is all about safe play, careful tackles and good scrum technique, needless to say, we only came away with one broken finger and a sprained ankle. They played a total of four games, where they won two and lost two, finishing in 5th place. The girls had a great weekend away, gelling together as a team and really embracing each other. They listened well and played incredible rugby demonstrating a healthy team spirit. Thank you to Sharon Lloyd, who travelled with the team as their manager. 
We have four seniors leaving at the end of this year. But before that, they have an important job to do under the watchful eye of our fabulous captain Lucy Roberts. The team are working towards qualifying for the Condors Sevens Tournament. We wish them the very best of luck in this endeavour. And exciting news, we have a brand new uniform for our Sevens Team. See the photos, kindly modelled by Lucy Roberts.

Skiing
Kara Gooding in Year 8 is following in her fathers’ footsteps. He was a great skier in his day, skiing at the University Games in Poland and coming first in his competitions. Kara is looking forward to going to Canada in January next year and skiing at the Big White. Kara first put skis on at the tender age of two and trains every Sunday during the season. She skis for Team Hutt and recently placed 2nd and 3rd in the Junior Interfield Giant Slalom Mount Hutt Ski Club Champs. Kara also skied in the South Island Champs Junior Interfield Giant Slalom and came 3rd. Phew, well-done Kara and enjoy Canada in January.

Zonta Awards
Winners all round at the Zonta Awards. We are super proud of Kate Baird (Badminton), Charlotte Darry (Rowing) and the SMC U18 Rowing eight who were all finalists at the Zonta Awards that recognise the sporting achievements of Canterbury Secondary School Students. Making it this far is a great achievement. And congratulations go to, Kate Baird winner of the award for Contribution as an Administrator (Badminton), our U18 Rowing eight, winners of the award for the Most Outstanding Team of Sportswomen, and Charlotte Darry who was Highly Commended for the Most Outstanding Individual Achievement by a Young Sportswoman Specialising in One Sport.