This week we turn our attention to the pool to celebrate the success of our swimmers and water polo players.

Swimming

Brooke Bennett, Grace Henderson, Amanda Proudfoot, Katia Renata, Bridie and Niamh Quayle, Bella Ealam-Smith, Pippa Jury, Tyler Ryder, Tandia Fisher, and Lily Dunne all competed at the New Zealand Age Group Swimming Championships in Hawkes Bay during the holidays.

They did incredibly well and recorded the following results: 

Brooke Bennett 

🥇 17-18 years 400m (Canterbury record)

🥇 800m freestyle

🥇 1500 freestyle

🥉 200m freestyle

Bridie Quayle

🥇 15 years 100m breaststroke

🥇 200m IM

🥈 200m backstroke

🥈 50m breaststroke

🥈 200m breaststroke

🥈 400m IM

🥈 100m backstroke

🥈 13-15 years 4x100m medley relay 

🥉 50m backstroke

🥉 13-15 years 4x50m medley relay

Tandia Fisher

🥇 13 years 50m butterfly

🥇 100m butterfly

🥇 100m freestyle

🥇 200m freestyle

🥈 400m freestyle

🥈 13-15 years 4x100m medley relay

🥉 800m freestyle

🥉 13-15 years 4x50m medley relay

Lily Dunne

🥈 13-15 years 4x100m medley relay

🥉 4x50m medley relay

Pippa Jury

🥉 14 years 1500m freestyle and finalist for 400m freestyle

Amanda Proudfoot

🥉 multi-class 100m freestyle and finalist for 50m freestyle

Bella, Niamh, Tyler and Grace all made the finals in various events.

Of special note - Bridie, Tandia and Lily were all part of the 13-15 years relay team that placed second in New Zealand for the 4x100m medley relay, setting a new Canterbury record along the way. They also received a bronze in the 4x50m medley relay. Congratulations!

Water Polo

During the holidays the Senior A Water Polo team attended the New Zealand Secondary School Division 2 Championships in Hamilton and Cambridge. We played a total of seven games across four days in a very tight competition with most games resulting in a minimal goal difference. In the end we placed 6th out of 16 teams.

The team played some of their best water polo throughout the tournament and can hold their heads high knowing they left nothing in the pool. It was also a great achievement to be part of the first Villa team to compete at a National Tournament.

We would like to say a big thank you to Josef Power for coaching and supporting us throughout the season, Marie Youngman for being our amazing manager, Mrs Ffowcs Williams for giving her time during the holidays to come as the teacher in charge, Bevan Mark for helping out during the tournament and to all parents for their support.

Jayla Agnew – Captain