Sports News Term 4, Week 8

St Margaret’s College is once again celebrating after an outstanding winter tournament week, where a number of our teams proudly represented the school across the country. It was a week filled not only with exceptional results but also with teamwork, sportsmanship, and pride.

Throughout the week, our girls embodied the values of SMC both on and off the field. The feedback from coaches, managers, supporters, event organisers, and even hotel owners was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting the respect, grace, and integrity with which our students carried themselves.

Among the standout achievements, we are thrilled to celebrate a national title win by our 1st XI Hockey team, who claimed the prestigious Federation Cup. All our results are a testament to the hard work, discipline, and determination of our athletes, as well as the dedication and support of our coaches, managers, families, and the wider SMC community.

As the winter sports season concludes, except for our netball team, who will represent SMC at the secondary school nationals during the holidays, our attention now turns to summer sports.  Many teams will have already started their trials or will begin in the week ahead, with competition starting in week one of Term 4 for a number of sports.

Thank you to everyone involved in making winter tournament week such a success, and the very best of luck to all our athletes heading into the summer season!

Aerobics

Congratulations to Lucy Hawkins (Year 8) and Kyla McDonald (Year 11), who recently competed at the NZCAF Aerobics Competition held on 17 August at Rangi Ruru. Competing both as individuals and as a team, Lucy and Kyla performed exceptionally well and have qualified to compete at the National Championships in September.

Wishing them all the best as they prepare for nationals!

Badminton

Seven of our SMC badminton players, Amanda Yang, Sophia Yang, Emily Tang, Megan Chew, MaiLinh Sanderson, Ella Shu and Rachel Yan recently took part in the Canterbury Secondary Schools Individual Championships, a tournament that drew an impressive 178 entries across three days of play. All girls competed in both the championship singles and doubles, showing great skill, resilience, and teamwork.

There were some strong results across the age groups. Amanda Yang made it through to the quarter finals of the Y11–13 singles championship, a fantastic achievement in a highly competitive field. Amanda then partnered with her sister, Sophia to win the Y11–13 girls doubles consolation plate title. Sophia and Emily Tang reached the final of the Y9/10 girls championship consolation singles, where Sophia claimed the victory.

It was a fabulous three days of badminton, lots of matches, great sportsmanship, and plenty of new connections made on and off the court. Congratulations to all the girls for the way they represented SMC. We now look forward to carrying this momentum into the 2026 season.

Basketball

Our junior girls' basketball team had a huge few days of travel and competition as they headed to Nelson last week for the South Island Junior Basketball Championships.  After five of our girls competed in the netball finals on Saturday morning, they quickly switched gears and hit the road to Nelson, arriving just in time for their 6:30pm opening game against Christchurch Girls’ High School, who would go on to finish as tournament runners-up. Despite the quick turnaround, the team gave it their all.  The girls finished second in their pool after some strong performances in pool play. This earned them a spot in the preliminary quarterfinal, where they faced Rangiora. A solid win in that game saw them progress to the quarterfinals to take on eventual champions, St Andrew’s College. Still determined to finish strong, the team bounced back with a win over Kaiapoi, securing a place in the 5th/6th playoff. In a thrilling, nail-biting final game, the girls narrowly missed out on 5th place, finishing 6th overall in the South Island — an outstanding result!  It was a massive team effort throughout the tournament, with every player contributing and showing great improvement over the week. Standout performances came from several players, but more importantly, the team worked together and supported each other throughout.

A huge thank you to our amazing coach, Caitlin Glue, for her leadership and support, Jo Haigh for her management of the team, and Alicia Davis, who was an incredible help to both the coaching staff and the girls throughout the tournament.

Way to go, girls, an awesome tournament effort — one you and the whole SMC community can be proud of!

Cycling

Emma Crawford delivered a dominant performance at the National Schools Criterium Championship, showcasing her strength and race smarts in both the criterium and road races. Racing with strategy and adaptability, Emma executed her race plans to perfection — a combination that saw her take out the top honours and bring home all three jerseys:
* Overall Winner
* Queen of the Mountain
* Sprint Ace

Emma now turns her focus to a block of road racing at both club and national level, before heading back to the velodrome in a few months.

An incredible effort — congratulations, Emma!

Duathlaon

It was a fantastic day of racing at Ruapuna Raceway for this year’s Canterbury Primary Schools Duathlon.

Our Year 8 team: Lyla O’Sullivan, Belle Greer, Sophia Foley, and Alexis Robertson, were the first to take on the challenging course of a 2 km run, 9 km bike, and a final 1 km sprint to the finish. All four showed real grit and determination, with Lyla O’Sullivan delivering an outstanding performance to claim 2nd place.

The Year 7 competitors: Amelia O’Connell, Maddie Hames, Sonora Taylor, Mackenzie Taylor, and Charlotte Robertson also gave it their all, with Charlotte securing an impressive 12th fastest finish.

The Year 6 team of Isla Foley, Isla Hughes, Caitlyn Lam, and Celeste Milburn faced particularly tough conditions as a strong nor-wester made the 6 km bike leg a real test of strength and perseverance. Despite the challenge, the girls pushed through, with Isla Foley finishing in an excellent 9th place.

Congratulations to all of our athletes for their determination, resilience, and success on the day.

Equestrian

Last week, 16 of our talented SMC riders competed in the South Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Championships held at McLeans Island. With 53 schools represented, this five-day event is the largest schools' equestrian competition on the calendar, offering a wide range of disciplines and tough competition.  Our riders competed in multiple events throughout the week, showing not only outstanding individual skills but also exceptional teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship.

A message from coach Emily Cammock perfectly sums up the week:

“Once again, the SMC team showed fantastic attitudes, wonderful teamwork, and sportsmanship that make me proud to be associated with Team SMC. There were some wonderful performances, but also some excellent displays of grit, determination, and resilience. Keep up the good work and be proud of yourselves — you are a credit to your school and your families.”

Individual results:

Gemma Blackburn – 1st Horse 70–80cm Show Jumping & Show Hunter

Emma Whitaker – 2nd Pony 60–70cm Show Jumping

Maisie Graham – 3rd Pony 60–70cm Show Jumping, 5th Three Day Event (65cm Pony)

Emi-Lee Elvy – 2nd Area Eventing (Horse 80cm)

Gretel Dampier-Crossley – 1st Pony 80cm Arena Eventing

Sophie Gibb – 1st Horse 95cm Arena Eventing, 6th 95cm Horse Three Day Eventing

Sammy Donovan – 5th Horse 70–80cm Show Hunter, 5th Dressage Level 0C, 6th Dressage Level 0D

Lily Dampier-Crossley – 5th Horse 1.00–1.05m Show Jumping, 4th 1.05m Show Hunter

Tara Morgan – 5th 80cm Pony Three Day Eventing

Bella Cook – 5th 80cm Horse Three Day Eventing

We also celebrate the amazing success of our Red Team:
Emi-Lee Elvy, Gretel Dampier-Crossley, Sophie Gibb, Danielle Vickery, Leilah Pukepuke, and Tara Morgan
* 1st Arena Eventing
* 3rd Competitive Trail Riding
* 6th Overall Team

This was a week full of competition, camaraderie, and character, and our girls truly did SMC proud. Congratulations to all riders, you should be really proud of an amazing week. A massive thank you must go to our wonderful coach, Emily Cammock, who continually goes above and beyond for our girls and brings the best out of them and their horses. To Anna Gibb for being an amazing on-the-ground manager and fighting many fires.  And also to the families and supporters who, without them, this event wouldn’t be possible.  The strong family support and role modelling that is shown by everyone is the reason that this team has been able to be so successful.  Way to go, team SMC.

Football

What an outstanding year the SMC 1st XI Football team has had, culminating in an exciting victory at the Lotto Sportswear Tournament in Timaru last week. This South Island tournament was a nail-biter, with the girls’ final once again decided by a penalty shootout — and they came out on top!

Coach Nick Ryan has compiled some impressive stats from their season, highlighting just how dominant this team has been:

Winners of:
• Winter Quad
• Canterbury Secondary Schools Senior Division One
• South Island Regional Tournament

Season Record:
• Played: 17
• Won: 16
• Lost: 1
• Goals For: 63
• Goals Against: 12
• Goal Difference: +51

Penalty Shootouts:
• Taken: 4
• Wins: 4
• Penalty Shootout Scored: 17/20
• Penalty Shootout Conceded: 11/2

WOW - What a season!

A huge thank you to Coach Nick Ryan for his incredible coaching and for keeping the girls passionate about the game. Thanks also to regular season manager Keith McDonnell for his tireless organisation and encouragement, and to tournament manager Robyn Young, who looked after the girls during their time in Timaru. This winning combination of coaches and managers created an environment that allowed the team to thrive.

And, of course, congratulations to the girls themselves, fantastic ambassadors for SMC all season long. Their grit, determination, and unwavering support for each other on and off the field were key to their success.

Looking ahead, the season’s biggest game is still to come — the highly anticipated Staff vs Students match, scheduled for 2:40pm on Wednesday, 10th September on the school fields. Come along and show your support.

Hockey 

Last week, our 1st XI travelled to Wellington for the 2025 Federation Cup on the back of a very successful season, which included a narrow loss to STAC in the Connetics final.

The girls made the perfect start, winning all of their pool games to finish top, with some outstanding goals along the way. A highlight came in the opening match where Sophie Booth scored a record six goals.

'Big Day Wednesday' lived up to its name. The girls had a strong 2 - 0 win over St Paul’s Collegiate that set up a quarterfinal clash with a very strong Auckland Dio. Having fallen short at the quarter-final stage in the last two Fed Cups, this was a key hurdle to overcome. In an intense match, the girls seized their opportunities, and a goal in the 58th minute secured a much-wanted win.

Momentum carried into the semifinal against Kristin, where a gritty and disciplined performance was rewarded with a hard-fought 1 - 0 victory.

This led to a final showdown with STAC, a repeat of the Connetics decider in Christchurch. The match was intense and physical, with the girls defending their hearts out and taking their chances when they came. At full time, the score was locked at 1 -1, sending the final into a shootout. Goalkeeper Stella Valentine produced a string of crucial saves, taking it into sudden death. With the pressure on, Lily Young stepped up with composure and slotted the winning shot to seal the title.

This triumph was the perfect end to a season and tournament that asked a lot of the team. Through hard work, resilience, and playing for each other, the girls achieved something truly special.

The ‘mighty 2nd XI’ spent winter tournament week in Ashburton competing for the Chris Arthur Cup, the 2nd XI National Hockey Trophy. Under the leadership of captain Holly Griffin and vice-captain Poppy Blakely, the squad enjoyed a fantastic week both on and off the field.

After four pool games—three wins and one draw—the team finished at the top of their pool with an impressive goal differential of +20. In the semi-final against St Andrew’s College, the girls fought hard after conceding early goals but narrowly missed out on victory, going down 2–3.

They regrouped for Friday’s 3rd/4th playoff against local rivals Rangi Ruru. With the match locked at a draw at full time, the team held their nerve in the shootout, coming out on top after the first round. Special credit goes to the five field players who stepped up to this challenge, and to Keira Fulford for her outstanding, aggressive defence in goal. The team was proud to claim their bronze medals at the closing ceremony.

A huge thank you goes to coaches Kelvin Giles and Rachel Duston for the time, knowledge, and encouragement they dedicated to the group. Their positive and constructive approach makes a real difference. Thanks also to Miss Englebretsen and Mrs Shannahan, who kept the team fuelled, managed uniforms, organised recovery sessions, and cared for a number of unwell players.

Finally, the team farewells four Year 13 players: Keira Fulford, Holly Griffin, Emma Scott, and Sophia Van Vianen, who have now completed their hockey journeys with SMC. We wish them all the best for their next adventures and hope they continue to play this sport we all love.

Korfball

Year 13 student Emma Hoskin recently returned from an incredible experience representing New Zealand in China at the Asian/Oceanic U21 Korfball Championships. Emma played a valuable role in helping the team achieve their best-ever result, finishing in an impressive 2nd place and bringing home the silver medal.  Throughout the tournament, Emma gained invaluable experience both on and off the court. She built strong camaraderie and sporting spirit with her teammates during the bus rides and interactions with other teams. A standout moment on the court was when Emma scored a goal, a thrilling surprise since it wasn’t typically part of her role. Off the court, Emma was fortunate to take part in some amazing cultural activities, including a visit to a panda sanctuary, enriching her experience beyond the competition.

Congratulations to Emma for her fantastic contribution and for representing SMC and New Zealand with pride.

Netball

The senior A team headed to Dunedin for the annual South Island Secondary Schools tournament. With 80 teams competing across three grades, it is always a wonderful tournament to showcase the skills of nearly every South Island school. With two games each day and a strong defensive unit, the SMC girls were hard to score goals against for the first three days. After making the top 16, then the top 4, the girls in the red dresses were set to play their semi-final game against St Hilda’s. Unfortunately, the team couldn't match the physicality of the Dunedin team, but went on to win the playoff for 3rd position against Columba College.

There has been much to celebrate for our SMC team over the past month:

- winning the Canterbury Supernet title for the 5th year in succession

- winning the trophy for the highest goal differential in the A grade at SISS

- four players named in the tournament team (Annie Francis, Lulu Inglis, Julia Mitchell, and Sophie Ockwell)

- qualified to attend the New Zealand Secondary Schools tournament during the upcoming holidays

- a massive milestone for Annie Francis and Lulu Inglis, who were both recognised for playing 150 games each for the SMC Senior A netball team

- Lucie Davis, Lucy Farrell, Julia Mitchell, and Sophie Ockwell have been invited to attend the Mainland Netball Advanced camp

All the very best to the team as they prepare to take on the North Island teams at nationals in a few weeks.

Rugby

The SMC Rugby Team participated in the Buller 10s rugby tournament for the second time. A group of thirteen players and three staff made the trip to the sunny West Coast, ably supported by a hardy group of supporters. The team was a cross-section of all age groups and experience, with Year 9s joining the senior members of the team with the aim of building experience and depth to the rugby team. This year, we played each day in brilliantly sunny conditions on a very hard surface, which made for some exciting rugby.

Day 1 saw us beat Greymouth High. A slow start against Rangiora in game 2 left us with a gap that was too much to peg back once we got playing our own game. 

Day 2 was a big day with four games, the highlight was winning against St Andrews College in a tough and physical game where we were able to dominate in defence and also unleash our secret weapon on the counterattack. Outstanding performances by Jessica Brown-Shi in the forwards and Amelia Knight in the backs helped secure the win. Both players are new to rugby this year and showed the progress the team has made. We came away from the tough day with two wins and two close losses. This meant we finished pool play tied for 4th with 3 other teams, but points differential put us out of the top half of the finals.

Day 3 saw us play Rangiora again, and lifted by their haka, they were able to put us away, so we ended up playing Greymouth again for 7th, which we were able to win. Coming away with four wins and four losses was a great effort by the girls in a very even competition. The new and young players benefited from the experience of the tournament, and the improvement across the team was great. Special mention must go to Savena Fagalima, who played her 25th game, and to Captain Ellie Scotland, who played her 50th game for the College, a feat not reached very often in any team.

Skiing/Snowboarding

After the original day was postponed, our junior skiers headed to Porters to compete in the Independent Primary Schools Ski Racing Championships last Tuesday. Manager Bindy was super proud of the girls up the mountain who not only had a great day and represented SMC beautifully, but also managed some great placings.  The year 1-6 girls and year 7-8 girls came in 2nd place in the teams.  Belle Greer (Year 8) was second fastest, and Henrietta Williamson (Year 8) was the fourth fastest in the Year 8 girls' grade.

Mini Course for Athletes and Parents

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Upcoming Events

6th & 7th September - South Island Secondary Schools Skiing - Mt Hutt

12th September - Mahuika 7’s - Linwood

16th - 18th September - Koru Games

30th September - 3rd October - NZSS Netball Championships - Porirua

6th October - First round of Volleyball competition

10th October - First round of Korfball competition

15th October - First round of Wednesday summer sport