It was great to see everyone at the Bayleys Westmere School Try for 2016 on Sunday – resurrected after a four year hiatus.

Any remaining nerves and jitters the kids had were put at ease on the start line by focusing on which was your left hand! The run was a challenge; all years had to conquer a demanding course but also had to watch for bikes coming in the other direction! The riding component was hard work on the grass but everyone persevered and gave it their best shot. Gears and large wheels were certainly an advantage! And to finish, the relief of the waterslide. There were amazing tummy dives, knee dives and runs down the waterslide. And lastly the finish line; a biscuit and banana along with a congratulatory certificate and handshake from Ms Marino. The rain held off for most of the morning and thanks to all who stayed until the prize giving at the end.

Thank you to the teachers who committed their Sunday morning to helping. Their familiar and friendly faces helped put all the kids (and adults!) at ease around the course. The children really appreciated having their help with finding their bikes and putting on their helmets in the transition area, encouraging them with their run in to the bike area and out towards the waterslide, helping them bike in and out of the transition area, giving them pep talks and warm ups at the start, herding them into the holding pen, helping them onto the water slide and congratulating them at the end.

Thank you to all the volunteers who made the event a possibility – the over 150 who signed up to help on the day plus all the volunteers who helped to organise it. Without this community of people contributing the Try would not have happened. Their names and roles are below; thank you very much.

And mostly thank you to the children who gave it their all, triumphed over the Try and had a terrific time as a result! Well done to you all.

Co-ordinator - Nikki Launder; Strategy - Virginia Stracey-Clitherow, Louise Makgill, Nikki Launder; Council Application - Rory Dalzell (rubbish), Glenn Pearce (past event advice), Caroline Knowles (health and safety); Ambulance - Rawea Osbourne; Course - Sharon Buckley, Sarah Kaye, Adrian Bennet, Dallas Pickering, Rina Crawford; Waterslide - Adrian Bennet, Dallas Pickering; Fencing and Audit of Equipment - Sharon Buckley; Sponsorship - Virginia Stracey-Clitherow; Communications - Louise Makgill; Volunteer Co-ordinator - Stef White, Amy O’Brien (support to Stef); Budget - Kelly Johnson; MC - James Coleman; Food - Belinda Grocott (All Good bananas), Alicia Dowsett (Nice Blocks), Adrian Bennet (Cookie Time), Sonya Havill (Westmere Butcher, Coffee Guy), Lisa Webb (Toro Churros), Julia Hunter and Annabelle Garnett (Ripe); Design - Dave Brady (logo), Sarah Gardner (certificates, entry forms and communications); Entries and T-shirt Order - Katie Krueger, Rina Crawford; PA System - Lucy O’Mahony; Bike Donations - Sally McKinnon.