Thousands of middle school students from around the country return home to their families this evening sharing stories, experiences and celebrations from their time at the 2011 NZCT AIMS GAMES National Sporting Championships.
This year's event saw 4,600 students from 121 New Zealand schools descend on Tauranga. The eight
annual, weeklong tournament wrapped up today with finals in the Hockey, Football and Netball before the closing ceremony celebration.
The spirit of AIMS was alive and well as the gracious Hockey silver medallists from Kamo Intermediate were showered in sparkling grape juice following a loss the local girls from Otumoetai Intermediate. While the boys from Christchurch's Cobham intermediate were victorious over Northcross in the boys final.
Cobham Intermediate also faced Northcross in the boys Football final, this time it was Northcross Intermediates turn to taste gold. Auckland Normal Intermediate collected gold in the girls final with a win over Hamilton’s Peachgrove Intermediate.
In front of a joyous crowd Auckland’s Ridgeview Intermediate collected gold in the Netball, winning over 2009 champions Taupo Intermediate.
It was a bus load of champions that left Tauranga's QEII stadium bound for Auckland Airport following this afternoons NZCT AIMS GAMES closing ceremony. Cobham Intermediate had a flight home to Christchurch to catch with a few extra kilos' of luggage as every competitor from the earthquake stricken school collected a medal this week.
Competitors were cheered on by new friends as medals and cups were collected and tournament teams named at this afternoons closing ceremony. Tauranga Intermediate topped the medal table with 49 medals collected throughout the tournament, ahead of Blockhouse Bay Intermediate on 26.
The prestigious premier award of the NZCT Teammates Cup, awarded for overall excellence throughout the tournament was awarded to Matamata Intermediate who embraced presentation, punctuality, respect, skill and fair play throughout the competition. The Fairplay Award of a $1000 Logotech voucher went to Illminster Intermediate.
“I feel privileged to be a part of such an amazing team and have thoroughly enjoyed the 2011 NZCT AIMS GAMES experience” said Tournament Director Vicki Semple at the tournaments conclusion. “We have a fantastic committee and supporting personnel, which put their heart and soul into their tasks. The 15 individual and team sports were all superbly organised and ran to a very high standard” the Sport Bay of Plenty staff member said.
Planning is already underway for next year's NZCT AIMS GAMES National Sporting Championships to be held in Tauranga from Sunday 9th September to Friday 14th September 2012 as tournament organisers plan to go international.