Auckland schools off to AIMS games

PADDLE POWER: Ryan Blackstock from Matamata Intermediate amidst the action on the water.

A record 63 schools from the wider Auckland region will take part in the upcoming NZCT AIMS GAMES in Tauranga from September 7-12, including 20 schools competing for the first time.

The week-long championship is New Zealand's largest junior sporting festival, attracting more than 7500 intermediate-aged students across 17 sporting codes this year.

The large Auckland contingent will be among 228 schools nationwide, a sharp jump from last year's 10th anniversary of the Games which boasted 193 schools and 6500 athletes.

"We're already bigger than the Commonwealth Games and we're on track to haul in the Olympics at this rate," tournament director Vicki Semple said.

"Our organising committee has been blown away by the enthusiasm of schools once again and we're looking forward to giving all our athletes quality competition and some life-long memories."

Together with supporters and team management, it means more than 10,000 people will be arriving in Tauranga for the first day's cross country championship and opening ceremony on September 7.

Netball star Irene Van Dyk and Commonwealth Games gold medalists Sam Webster (track cycling) and Lauren Boyle (swimming) will help open the championship, while an impressive role call of former sporting stars will be on the sidelines during the week helping coach and manage teams.

They include former All Blacks Rico Gear and Rhys Duggan, former Silver Fern Tania Dalton and Tall Black Dillon Boucher, acclaimed rugby league coach Kevin Tamati and middle distance legend Dick Quax, a silver medalist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Among the 17 sporting codes represented will be 90 netball teams, 62 hockey teams, 79 football teams and more than 500 cross country runners. Table tennis also makes a debut this year, attracting 59 entries from 15 schools.

Several sports have been over-subscribed, with organisers having to limit entries in sports like hockey and tennis, where turf and court access is at a premium.

While big schools like Tauranga Intermediate and Auckland's Northcross and Murrays Bay Intermediates have hefty team numbers, it's the showing from smaller schools which continues to amaze Semple.

"We have nearly 70 new schools taking part this year, many of them from passionate little sporting outposts like Waipipi School in Waiuku, Randwick Park School in Manurewa and Wainui School in Silverdale - they're heartland schools with keen kids who are desperate to show they can foot it with anyone else their age in the country."

Parents and supporters can follow the 2014 NZCT AIMS GAMES at www.nzaimsgames.co.nz or on Facebook www.facebook.com/NZCTAIMSGAMES

Keep an eye out for daily stories and images during AIMS GAMES week. Please email for specific media requests during the championship.

List of schools from the wider Auckland region competing:

ACG Parnell (Auckland)
ACG Strathallan Papakura (Auckland)
Albany Junior High School (Auckland)
Auckland Normal Intermediate (Auckland)
Balmoral Intermediate (Auckland)
Baradene College (Auckland)
Beachlands School (Auckland)
Belmont Intermediate (Auckland)
Blockhouse Bay Intermediate (Auckland)
Bruce McLaren Intermediate (Auckland)
Bucklands Beach Intermediate (Auckland)
Carmel College (Auckland)
Diocesan School Auckland (Auckland)
Farm Cove Intermediate (Auckland)
Glen Eden Intermediate (Auckland)
Glendowie Primary School (Auckland)
Glenfield Intermediate (Auckland)
Helensville Primary School (Auckland)
Holy Cross Papatoetoe (Auckland)
Howick Intermediate School (Auckland)
Kohimarama School (Auckland)
Kowhai Intermediate (Auckland)
Kristin School (Auckland)
Liston College (Auckland)
Marina View School (Auckland)
Marist College (Auckland)
Mission Heights Junior College (Auckland)
Murrays Bay Intermediate (Auckland)
Northcross Intermediate (Auckland)
Pinehurst School (Auckland)
Redoubt North School (Auckland)
Remuera Intermediate (Auckland)
Rosmini College (Auckland)
Royal Oak Intermediate (Auckland)
Sacred Heart College (Auckland)
Saint Kentigern Boys' School (Auckland)
Sancta Maria College (Auckland)
Somerville Intermediate (Auckland)
Southern Cross Campus Coll (Auckland)
St Cuthbert's College (Auckland)
St Kentigern College Auckland (Auckland)
St Mary's College Auckland (Auckland)
St Peter's College Auckland (Auckland)
St Thomas's School (Auckland)
Sylvia Park School (Auckland)
Takapuna Normal Intermediate (Auckland)
Te Atatu Intermediate (Auckland)
Wairau Intermediate (Auckland)
Wentworth College (Auckland)
Wesley Intermediate (Auckland)
ACG Sunderland (Auckland)
Kingsway School (Auckland)
Whangaparoa College (Whangaparoa)
Waipipi School (Waiuku)
Sandspit Road School (Waiuku)
Wainui School (Silverdale)
Buckland School (Pukekohe)
Pukekohe Intermediate (Pukekohe)
Pokeno School (Pokeno)
Orewa College (Orewa)
Randwick Park School (Manurewa)
Bombay School (Bombay)
Tuakau College (Tuakau)