This is a fun one day event in August. Schools enter mixed teams of 8 year 9 & 10 students. Schools such as ours combine with another school. We put in three teams: 2 with Wellington College and 1 with St Pats. Teams with 4 girls and 4 boys are “premier teams” and the top such team goes to the final which is one week long at Great Barrier Island in December. There are Get2Go Challenge events in 12 regions around the country to find those 12 finalists.

Our teams had a fantastic time and the weather was kind. We started with an orienteering event in Avalon Park where you collected as many orienteering points as you could. The team was split into 4 groups of 2 and it’s up to the teens how they do this to maximise their points.

Our next event was mountain biking at Petone and each team has two bikes on the go at any one time, completing a circuit. The aim is to complete as many circuits as possible in the time frame with the proviso that every team member has to do at least one circuit and there needs to be a change of rider every circuit.

Event number three was water-based competition at the lagoon. We were all surprised to find it was on stand up paddle boards this time as it is usually in kayaks. Nevertheless our three teams had a fab time and did their best. They had practices with kayaks and could transfer some of their paddling skills to the SUP’s. The aim is to complete as many laps as possible. Extra points if you had some passengers on the board!

The fourth and final event of the day was climbing in the gym at Fergs on the waterfront. Our teams had a super time - they had prepared well for this particular event.

Students in the teams:

● with St Pats: Catherine van der Gulik, Charlotte Reynard, Isla Cumming and Maisie Hartnett.

● With WC: Manvi Sharma, Maddie Guerrero, Pearl Winkworth and Sera Muringathery

● Other team with WC: Ruby Farrow, Kahlia-Haze Temarama

Ruby and Kahlia-Haze had the pleasure of being the winning team! However as it had 6 boys and 2 girls it was not a premier team so does not go to the final. However they had a great day and were very pleased with their win.