Sports News 2 May

Term 1 was full of summer sporting achievements across all codes. We hope you all had a restful holiday break and are ready to launch into the winter sporting codes. 

A Hockey and Netball Development group enjoyed nine days exploring the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. The groups played various school, representative, and club teams over there, and they checked out some local tourist spots, including the beaches, Australia Zoo, Movie World, Aqua Land, and shopping malls. 

Thanks to the staff and families who attended the tour and all the planning that went on to make this happen. The students represented St Margaret’s with school pride and gifted each opposition team Maggie Bear keyrings as a token of appreciation. The squads enjoyed the opportunity to prepare for their seasons ahead. 

Athletics - Canterbury Secondary School Champs

Our Senior 4x 100m Relay team placed first at the Canterbury Secondary Schools Athletics competition, bringing the summer season to a close. Exciting great teamwork and an assured performance; well done to Arisa Iijima, Samantha Lascelles, Rosa Turner and Indy Gibson.

Under 15:

Chloe Drinkwater - 3rd 200m

Elsie Seeto - 1st 800m, 2nd 1500m

Under 16

Izzy Bridge - 2nd 1500m, 2nd 3000m

Senior

Samantha Lascelles - 1st 400m, 1st 800m

Indy Gibson - 1st 100m, 1st 200m

Arisa Iijima - 3rd 200m

Isabelle Harrison - 3rd 3000m

Charlotte Coughlan - 3rd Shot Put

Senior 4 x 100m Relay 1st: Sam, Indy, Rosa Turner, Arisa

Open 4 x 400m Relay 2nd: Sam, Indy, Elsie, Isabelle

A special congratulations to Samantha Lascelles (pictured 2nd from the left) for breaking the current record in the Girls 800 Meter Run Under 19 event with a time of 2:10.64. The current record time was 2:11.69 (2008). Amazing work, Samantha!

Athletics - South Island Secondary School Champs

A group of SMC athletes travelled down to Timaru at the end of term 1 to compete at the SISS Athletics event. A special thanks to Sharon Lloyd for supporting the girls throughout the weekend. 

Congratulations to the following students on their results: 

Under 15

Elsie Seeto - 3rd 800m, 3rd 1500m

Under 19

Indy Gibson - 2nd 200m

Sam Lascelles - 1st 400m, 1st 800m - new record

Mia McMath - 3rd 3000m

4 x 100m Relay - 2nd Indy, Rosa, Sam & Arisa

Cricket
Term One 2024 has been filled with exciting cricket for all teams this season. It has been great to see the number of girls involved in cricket increase over the years. This is due to the fact of the warm and inviting environment that cricket at SMC provides. SMC cricket provides a space for girls to grow and develop while being pushed outside their comfort zone. 

The Junior School skill sessions on Thursdays have been a great way to introduce cricket to the younger girls and to help them learn the basics. They all seem to have smiles on their faces and are always happy to be there. The Year 5&6 girls have had the challenge of playing St Albans Primary A and B teams. This has allowed them to practice their skills, and it is cool to see them collaborating with each other. A big thank you to the coaches who have put in hard work and dedication to ensure that many junior girls are involved. Thanks to Millie Spear and Bindy O’Callaghan (Years 5 and 6) and Sophie Gibb, Eva Grace, Lexie Boon, Ciara Hartland, Georgie Campbell, Alex Campbell, Ivy Mehrtens, Emma Crawford and Annie Allen (Years 0-4). 

It is great that SMC now has two teams playing in the Saturday competition. This was some of the girls' first time involvement with cricket. Both Saturday teams had vast improvements over the season. Many thanks to the coaches Scott Willoughby and Abby Gerken (SMC Division 2) and Lily Young (SMC Junior Sparks Division 3).

2023/2024  was the first season we had three teams enter in the Gillette Venus Cup. Fortunately, the weather held up, allowing us to play in Term One. SMC had some great results this year, with SMC 1st XI coming in 2nd. Thank you to Richard Lough, who coached the girls throughout the season and was always there to support us and give great feedback. SMC 2nd XI came 7th, so thank you to Scott Willoughby and Abby Gerken for providing great coaching to these girls. SMC 3rd XI came 13th. Thank you to Katie Midwood for your support and encouragement to the team. 

The 1st Xl had some great matches this term. Starting with the Summer Quad tournament hosted by St Margaret’s, this tournament was a great way for us to begin the season. It was an excellent experience getting to play some tough competition from down south. SMC was placed 2nd in cricket and 1st overall. Playing at the Willows was another highlight for the 1st Xl. It was a privilege to be playing at the Willows Cricket Ground against Otago Girls High School for the Satterthwaite/Bates Trophy. It was a fantastic result, with SMC coming away with the win by 14 runs. 

This year, St Margarets won the Outstanding Female Engagement Initiative. This was awarded to Ms Hardy at the New Zealand Cricket Awards. Ms.Hardy was a well-deserving recipient of this award. All of the hard work and dedication that she puts in doesn’t go unnoticed. We are all incredibly grateful for what she has done for cricket at SMC!

Frankie Jack - SMC Cricket Captain of Code

Gymnastics
Congratulations to Stella Lee, who recently participated in the 5th L'Ecrin Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition in Tokyo, Japan. The competition was held in the stadium of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the competitors came from Japan, China and New Zealand. Based on the age classification in Japan, Stella competed against a total of 57 gymnasts between Year 3 and Year 4 and won 1st place. 

This is Stella’s very first international Rhythmic Gymnastics competition. An amazing achievement, Stella - great work!

Equestrian
Last term, Briar Sharp competed at the NZ Show Jumping Nationals in Christchurch and won two National Equestrian titles for her ponies.

She won the Emerging Stars class (90cm-1m) on her pony Second Edition from 37 starters. She jumped a total of 5 clear rounds as the course got bigger each round. On her other pony, “ She’s a cracker”, she won the NZ Show Hunter Equitation Class. It was very exciting, awesome work, Briar.

Rowing
A special congratulations to Coco Flood, who was named as a travelling reserve in the New Zealand Women's U19 Team to compete at the 2024 U19 World Championship Regatta in St Catharines, Canada, 21st-25th August. Amazing work, Coco, and we wish you all the best with your preparations for this event.

Swimming
SMC had a great group of students qualify and attend the Canterbury Primary School and Canterbury Secondary School Swimming Champs held at the end of Term 1. The relay teams competed exceptionally well, taking 1st place in the Year 6, 7 & 8 events, and our middle school swimmers also had great success in their individual events. Congratulations to all the students who competed.

Under 14

Olivia Vivian - 1st 50m Breaststroke, also 3rd Open 200 IM

Rachel Kim - 1st 100m Freestyle

Under 15

Sydney Alva - 3rd 50m Backstroke

Chloe Drinkwater - 3rd 50m Freestyle

Under 16

Millie Bell - 1st 50m Freestyle, 2nd Open 100m Butterfly

Year 8

Kathy Gai: 1st Open 100m IM, 1st Open 100m Freestyle, 1st 50m Breaststroke

Gemma Scott: 5th Open 100m IM, 3rd 50m Freestyle

You You Tang: 3rd 50m Breaststroke, 1st Year 7&8 50m Butterfly

Relay: 1st Kathy, You You, Gemma, Scarlett Doig

Year 7

Lyla O’Sullivan: 1st Open 100m Backstroke, 4th 50m Freestyle, 1st 50m Backstroke

Relay: 1st Lyla, Caitlin Cooper, Alexis Robertson, Sophia Foley

Year 6

Amelia O’Connell: 2nd 50m Backstroke

Relay: 1st Penny O’Sullivan, Amelia, Inka Somerville-Smith, Charlotte Robertson

Water Polo
Congratulations to the SMC Senior A Water Polo team who attended the NZ Secondary School Water Polo Div 2 Nationals in Hamilton in the April school holidays. The team made the finals after some tough pool play and playoff games. The team finished runners-up to a competitive Marlborough Girls College team, going down 6-5 in the final. It is a great way to send off the Year 13’s Charlotte, Amelia, Brooke and Lulu, who have all served the sport well. 

Thanks to Casie Bowry, Georgia Reed and Sharon Lloyd, who coached and managed the team. 

Winter Sport Codes
We are moving into Winter Sport codes next term, and this is a gentle reminder to all students to wear uniforms correctly, no jewellery, to play with good sportsmanship and to adhere to the SMC code of conduct. Sport draws will be posted to Student Notices weekly, please ensure you communicate with your coaches, sport convenors and the Sport Office if you have any issues.

A reminder..

SMC Cross Country - Wednesday 8 May

SMC Summer Sports Awards assembly - Thursday, 9 May.