by Sport Coordinator (Pip Deans)

DHS Sport T1 Wk9 2023

Week 9

SISS Dragon Boating Championship Lake Ruger

For the second year in a row, our Dragon Boating Crews competed in the SISS Dragon Boating Champs. This years event was held at Lake Ruger, Eyrewell.

We were pleased to be able to fielded two crews, a 20 paddler girls crew and a 10 paddler mixed crew with both teams completing 7 races over the course of the day.1km - one race - the first race of the day 500m sprint - 2 heats and a final 200m sprint - 2 heats and a final

We had a semi experienced crew of 20 who placed 3rd in the Girls 20 1km race and 2nd in the Girls 200m Final, backing up their 2nd place in the 420m turns from 2022.  Our 10 paddler boat was made up on generally year 10s, new to dragon boating this year but they proved they could compete with crews from other schools with much older students.  This team, narrowly missed 3rd place in the 1km and won both the B Finals of the 500m and 200m races.

A huge thank you to our Sweepers who put up with us for the last 7 weeks - Evan and Cam - you guys rock!  And to Jo Beswick for all your help with the team this term, thanks heaps.


South Island Secondary Schools Athletics in Invercarhill

Its been a busy term for Athletics and athletes qualifying for Canterbury and South Island Events.  Over the weekend of 31st to 2 April we have 4 students travel south to Invercargill to compete in the SISS Athletics Championships.

Spaces and events are limited and qualifying times and distances are required so it is a great honour and experience to be part of the group representing Canterbury Schools.

Kirsty McCarthy Dempsey - Senior Girls
Shot Put 3kg - 2nd - 13.11m
Javelin 500g - 2nd - 39.39m
Discus 1kg - 2nd - 35.60m 

Oscar Stevenson - Senior Boys
Shot Put 5kg - 7th - 11.04m
Javelin 700g - 9th - 30.58m
Discus 1.5kg - 6th - 30.95m
400m - 10th - 56.87s

Jody McCarthy Dempsey - U16 Girls
High Jump - 1st - 1.55m
Long Jump - 1st - 5.26m
80m Hurdles - 1st -12.52s

Brooke Ebdon Collings - U16 Girls
Discus 1kg - 3rd - 29.31m
Shot Put 3kg - 5th - 9.74m

Great results - Congratulations to our athletes.


Canterbury Primary School Swimming Champs

This year our Year 7 and 8s headed to the Selwyn Aquatic Centre to take part in the the Canterbury Primary Schools Swimming Champs.  We had a team of 8 swimmers who qualified from the DHS Champs in February.

Year 7 - Oscar Le Compte, Ben Molloy, Saphia Ridgen and Sophie Wright

Year 8 - Saige McNae, Anna Smith, Leon Tymons, Luke Oliver-Albon (withdrew due to injury)

After some technical issues with the scoring, the events eventually got underway about 12.30pm and all the results were done on times with no finals.  Our swimmers did extremely well and while they didn't place in any events, it was a great experience for them and good day out.


DHS Claybird Shooting Team

Thanks to the Darfield Clay Target Club and teacher Josh Jackson for reintroducing Claybird Shooting at DHS. 

This is an exciting opportunity for some of our Students to show their skills and be part of great team.  Ben Sharp was the last students who showed a lot of promise in the sport.  in 2019, Ben won the SISS Single Rise HOA *High Overall) Trophy and the Boys HOA Trophy.

Last term we had some Have A Go evenings at the Darfield Club which proved to be very successful.  We now have enough interest to start regular training sessions and interschool shoot competitions.

The is also a Darfield High School Trophy up for grabs - the BC and EM Smart Trophy for DHS Individual Claybird Shooting Champion.


Quick Rip Rugby

Week 9 is Summer Tournament Week across NZ Schools, generally Summer at DHS is taken up with Inhouse events, such as athletics, cross country and swimming, but this year we entered a Girls Quick Rip Rugby Team in a one day competition at Burnside Park.