On Thursday 8 March, students Rory MacLeod, William McArthur and Ethan Tyree travelled to Rotorua to compete in the New Zealand and National South Pacific Highland Pipe Band Championships, competing among nearly 50 other bands from across New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The boys competed in the South Canterbury Grade 4 and Grade 2 bands; on the 9th of March the Grade 4 band managed to place an overall 3rd out of 13 bands in the grade and picked up a 2nd place in the street march event. 

On Saturday, the Grade 2 band was awarded 4th overall with 1st in the Drumming in the medley event. The boys competed extremely well considering they were still mourning the loss of their good friend and fellow superstar drummer George Hill, who had passed away less than a week before the competition.