Sports News Term 2, Week 4 2026

As the winter sports season gets underway following the school holidays, it has been great to see all the teams in action around the school and at their various sporting venues. With badminton, basketball, football, hockey, netball and rugby as our main winter codes alongside bouldering, cycling and equestrian that continue during terms 2 & 3, there are a lot of girls out there playing sport.

We look forward to an exciting term ahead and wish all teams and athletes the very best for the start of the winter season. Go well and wear the school colours with pride!

One of the great strengths of school sport is the sense of community it creates. Each week, our students benefit from the encouragement and support of parents, families and friends who give their time to cheer on our teams from the sideline.

As we continue through the winter sports season, we would like to remind our supporters of the important role they play in helping create a positive sporting environment.

School sport is about far more than results. It provides students with opportunities to develop confidence, resilience, teamwork, leadership and enjoyment through participation. The behaviour and attitudes displayed on the sideline can have a significant influence on the experience our young people have in sport.

We encourage all spectators to:

Support all players positively

Applaud effort, teamwork and sportsmanship

Respect coaches, officials and their decisions

Allow players and coaches the opportunity to communicate during games

Model calm, respectful and supportive behaviour at all times

Our coaches and managers give generously of their time and energy to support our students, and positive sideline support helps foster an environment where both players and staff feel valued and encouraged.

We are grateful to our sports community for the continued support you provide our students each week. Together, we can ensure school sport remains a positive and rewarding experience for all involved.

CROSS COUNTRY 

The St Margaret’s College Cross Country on Tuesday 29 April was a fantastic day out at Hagley Park, with students from Years 1–13 coming together for one of the school’s favourite whole-school events.

With clear blue skies and sunshine, the atmosphere was full of energy, encouragement and House spirit. From our youngest girls through to the seniors, it was great to see students supporting each other and celebrating everyone’s efforts, no matter where they finished.

One of the highlights of the day was the sense of camaraderie on display, with girls cheering loudly for their Houses and classmates throughout every race. A number of staff members also got involved, lacing up their running shoes and joining the fun alongside the students.

Congratulations to all of the girls who took part and represented their Houses so proudly. Special congratulations to Manuka House, who took out the overall House title for 2026.

A big thank you to the staff, student leaders and organisers who helped make the day such a success.

CANTERBURY ROAD RACE 

Our girls enjoyed a fantastic day at the CSS Road Race held at Hagley Park on 5 May, with a beautiful sunny day making for ideal running conditions. Eighteen girls competed across the junior and senior grades, with excellent results throughout. Congratulations to our Year 9 team, who placed 3rd, and our Junior Girls team, who finished 2nd overall. A special mention to Sascha Mitchell, who was once again the winner of her age group, an outstanding achievement.

AUSTRALIA TRIP

During the school holidays, our hockey and netball teams had the exciting opportunity to travel to Australia for the biannual pre-season tour.  The trip was filled with quality competition, team development, and memorable experiences.

The tour provided students with the chance to test themselves against strong Australian school and club teams in a number of highly competitive matches. Across both hockey and netball, our players showed outstanding determination, resilience, and teamwork. The games were played in extremely hot conditions, which added an extra challenge, but the students adapted well and represented the school with pride throughout the trip.

While sport was the main focus, the tour also allowed students to enjoy a range of experiences together off the court and field. Students spent time at the beach, enjoyed shopping opportunities, sampled plenty of Australian food, and had a fantastic day at Dreamworld. 

The trip was an excellent opportunity for students to build friendships, strengthen team culture, and create lasting memories together. A huge thank you to all staff, coaches, and supporters who helped make the tour such a success. The experience and lessons gained from the trip will no doubt benefit both teams as they continue through the winter sports season.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday 24th May - One Day Event - Equestrian - McLeans Island

KINGS BIRTHDAY - NO NETBALL

Tuesday 2nd June - ISSA Cross Country - Yr 5-8 - Roto Kohatu

Thursday 4th June - CSS Cross Country - Yr 9 -13 - Ascot Park

Sunday 7th June - Jellybean Netball Tournament - Yr 5- 8

Wednesday 10th June - CPS Artistic Gymnastics 

Sunday 14th June - Year 9 Netball Tournament - Christchurch 

Wednesday 17th June - CPS Cross Country - Nga Puna Wai

20th/21st June - SISS Badminton Cup - Christchurch

20th/21st June - NZSS Cross Country - Upper Hutt

24th/25th June - Huntley Netball Exchange  - Yr 7-8

4th/5th June - SISS Road Cycling - Christchurch