Below is a quick snapshot of the incredible experience our 90 Year 7 and 8 students had at AIMs Games last week. It's hard to put everything into words and acknowledge every great highlight. We are immensely proud of all those who proudly represented our school amidst 11,500 competitors, 370+ schools, and over 25 sports.

3v3 Basketball: St Peter's 3v3 Basketball team played seven round-robin games on Saturday and progressed to the top 16 by winning five matches. On Sunday, they faced strong competition in the top 16, ultimately finishing 11th overall. Their performance in reaching the top 16 is truly commendable.

Canoeing: On Monday, Nick Lugton won the Year 8 individual Slalom. He then joined Finn Rolley and Stu Lugton to win the team Slalom title. Kaylee Verhoeven joined forces with Annabelle Jecks and another canoeist from Papamoa College to win gold in the Year 7 girls' mixed team relay. Kaylee's strong performance as a newcomer adds to the success, finishing in the top eight.

Cross Country: Anna Philipps and Chelsy Hurt displayed incredible determination in the Cross Country events, with Anna finishing 9th in the Year 7 race and Chelsy in 32nd in the Year 8 race. Both runners showed great spirit and sportsmanship.

Anna - “It was amazing racing in such a high-quality race, and I am stoked with my result. I gave it my all and completely emptied the tank. It was a great experience overall.”

Chelsy - “I highly recommend AIMs Cross Country to all people. Many challenges are set for everyone; the course offering many opportunities and challenges. I was privileged to be able to run this race; it was an experience that I will never forget.”

Football: The Football teams had mixed results, with the boys facing tough competition but showing good sportsmanship. The girls had a successful start, winning games and showcasing their skills, placing 8th out of 22 teams. Both teams stepped up in challenging conditions.

Gymnastics: Sofia takes Gold! Sofia Moran competed in the Aerobics section of the gymnastics competition. Supported by the girls' hockey team, Sofia put on a flawless display to win gold. Emily McGegg competed in the Open Gymnastic Artistic and scored a perfect ten on the bars.

Hockey: The Hockey teams had their ups and downs but played with determination and spirit. Goals and outstanding goalkeeping were highlights. This includes on day 4, when our boys' team scored 18 goals across two games, and on day 5, our girls took a 5-0 win.

Mountain Biking: The Mountain Bikers faced wet and muddy conditions. Congratulations to Max Gurney (Year 7) for placing 3rd and Mason Van Rijgen (Year 8) finishing 10th. Great efforts from both Fergus Gardner and Jake Prescott too.

Netball: The Netball team had closely contested games, with some wins and losses. They showed great spirit throughout the tournament and made the most of their AIMS  Games experience. Highlights included winning their final two pool games, including an upset win against the top-seeded side.

Rugby: The Rugby teams faced challenging opponents throughout the week and displayed determination and hard work. Across the ten games they played, they had some amazing wins and unfortunate losses but showed great sportsmanship, placing 28th out of 46 teams.

Swimming: Swimmers Sarina Tang and Hugh Ballantyne achieved personal bests in all events, which had over 100 swimmers in their age groups, and both made the top 15.

Table Tennis: Liam Lonsdale and Josh Rabin represented St Peter's in Table Tennis. Liam won four of his six matches to make the consolation quarterfinal. Josh played well to win two of his five matches.

Yachting: Ben Nelson competed in eight yachting races over three days in tough conditions. His race results improved with every race, with a 20th being his best result.

Many thanks to all the coaches, managers, and camp mums for all their help in keeping the kids well-fed, medicated, uniforms clean, and well-supported throughout the week. Your dedication and hard work behind the scenes were crucial in making this event successful. 

Congratulations to all the athletes for their outstanding efforts, and a big thank you to everyone who contributed to the team's success. Keep up the excellent work, and continue shining in your respective sports!