Strong showing by Tauranga athletes in trans-Tasman challenge

Tauranga junior athletes have scored a big medal haul including two golds at the annual Trans Tasman Challenge held at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium.

Bellevue Athletics Club's Charlie Sinton beat the best sprinters in his age group to win gold in the 100 metres.

And Greerton Athletics Club's Pearl Ngairo, also competing in the 10-year age group section of the challenge, brought home a gold medal in the A-team field relay - a one chance points contest involving shot put, discus and long jump.

The two other qualifiers from Tauranga, Ka din Nogaj (Greerton) and Adisen Mahy (Bellevue) won silver and bronze at the challenge's competition day on January 14.

''It was a huge achievement for all of them to [win a] medal,'' Greerton Athletic Club parent helper Sarah Clark said.

She said the children had been training for the first part of their school holidays and were fresh from competing in the North Island Colgate Games at Mt Smart Stadium.

The Trans Tasman Challenge was a chance for the North Island's top-performing athletes to compete against their rivals from Sydney.

This year it was Auckland's turn to host the Australians in the challenge that was about enjoyment, participation and personal achievement. It alternated between Auckland and Sydney.

To compete against the Aussies, the four Tauranga athletes had to first qualify through trials held in Auckland. Another trial for athletes from the lower half of the North Island was held in Palmerston North.

The four-strong Tauranga contingent all brought home medals. Together with the two golds, they won four silvers and three bronzes.

And because they were competing in the 10-year-old section of the challenge for 10 and 11-year-old athletes, all four could qualify to compete in next year's challenge held in Sydney.

Clark said the challenge was preceded by a carnival and ribbon fun day at Mt Smart on Thursday, followed by sightseeing, dining and a disco on Friday, a haka practice and uniform distribution on Saturday and the Trans Tasman Challenge on Sunday.

The challenge, which involved 200 children across the two age groups, resulted in the Kiwi kids winning this year's event. Most of the children had been competing from about the age of seven.

Tauranga's Trans Tasman Challenge athletes' achievements
- Kadin Nogaj (Greerton club): Competed in long jump, 800m, 1500m and 4x400m relay. Medal: Silver 4x400 relay
- Pearl Ngairo (Greerton club): Competed in discus, shot put, long jump, high jump and field relay A team. Medals: Gold in the field relay, silver in shot put.
- Adisen Mahy (Bellevue Club): Competed in 800m, 1500m and 4x400m relay. Medals: Silver 4x400m relay, bronzes 1500m and 800m.
- Charlie Sinton (Bellevue Club): Competed in 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, high jump and long jump. Medals: Gold 100m, silver 4x100m relay and bronze 200m.