Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Boys' College's sailing team has assisted New Zealand to top country overall at the 2011 schools teams Interdominion championships raced at Port Lincoln in South Australia.
The team was made up of Tauranga Yacht Club sailors Nick Gunn, Ben Caundle, Trent Rippey, Berrick Fitzsimons, Ben Warren, Dylan McKinlay and Josh McConnell.
Two annual teams trophies were up for grabs - the Interdominions for top country overall and also a trophy for the top individual school.
Tauranga Boys' raced well over the three days but lacked the consistency to push for top school, finishing fourth behind St Joseph's, Kerikeri and St Michael's.
Port Lincoln is an hour's flight from Adelaide across the Australian Bight, a fishing and grain town of about 14,000 people.
Coach Richard Burling said the first two days were set aside for training and getting used to the Pacer yachts being used, with the boats a little bit like a Sunburst with thin gunnels to hike off.
"We were greeted by two beautiful days under 10 knots, just perfect for familiarisation of the boats."
Tauranga won just one of their five races on the first day, with 25 knot winds on day two curtailing early competition before a mid-afternoon start, with St Joseph's extending their day one lead ahead of Kerikeri, with Tauranga making progress, winning four of five races in the last round robin to help New Zealand to a narrow lead in the top country stakes.
On day three Tauranga managed to win four of five in round-robin 4 but faded in the last round-robin, winning just one race from five.
"St Kentigern never really captured their first day's form but kept getting enough wins against the Australian schools to keep New Zealand in the hunt for overall top country.
"Finally it came down to the last race of the day for top country overall - Kerikeri vs St Michaels, the Australian schools champions from Adelaide," Burling said.
"To add to the drama a new sea breeze came in just before the start sequence. Kerikeri dominated for New Zealand to retain the Interdominion schools teams sailing trophy."
Meanwhile, the Tauranga Boys' second XI cricket team had a good win against the Te Puke Pickers in the last weekend of the holidays, bowling Te Puke out for 189 thanks to Connor Fifita's 3/25.
After a shaky start, Francois Potgieter carried the team to a win with a solid unbeaten 45.
Our tennis team played five ties on their South American tour, managing three wins, one draw and a loss to San Martin.
Tauranga Girls' College
The last week of term three saw the annual sports awards take place, where top sportswomen are recognised for their hard work throughout the year.
It also is a time for friends and family to come together to celebrate successes and look forward to the future.
This year the awards had a Rugby World Cup theme which fitted perfectly into the time of year.
Amongst many teams awarded with colours, or national champion badges, we also had 22 students who are New Zealand representatives across 12 sports.
They are Alice Bain, Stephanie Pierce, Andrea Tauai, Amy Robinson and Dylan Vaetoe (beach volleyball/volleyball), Sage Hemara, Simone Te Kani and Toni Bullock (volleyball), Jessie Banks (triathlon), Chelsea Barns (gymnastics), Kate Carlton and Olivia Chance (football), Hayley Dangen and Anna Higgins (kayaking), Makayla Daysh, Rebecca Hughes and Moana Whare (basketball), Ashleigh Dunston (squash), Charlotte Eglington (waterpolo), Nicky McCool (hockey), Irmak Thompson (sport climbing) and Kara Timmer (tae kwon do).
There were also 15 teams that placed 1st-3rd in national championships this year, a great achievement.
There were nine supreme awards given out at the end of the evening to the girls who have been recognised as excelling in their given sports.
The West Bay Credit Union Performers Trophy is awarded to best all-round Year 9 sports performer. The recipient was Kirsty Burrows, who represented Tauranga Girls College in seven sports.
The Active Outdoor Clothing Award for outstanding achievement at junior level was given to Jessica Bitcheno, who has represented the school in three sports.
The House of Travel Trophy for a junior student who represents Tauranga Girls in a variety of sports and demonstrates leadership qualities was given to Ariana Moffat.
The winner of the Hynds Trophy for Junior Sportsgirl of the Year was Isabella Kirk, who has represented Tauranga Girls in four sports at a high level.
The senior awards started with the Christine Hammond trophy for fair play, commitment and assistance to others in sport. The winner was Jacinta Coleman who has represented us in six sports. The Chica Gilmer Trophy for outstanding sportswoman at Year 11 or 12 was Kara Timmer, a world champion in tae kwon do.
ANZ Bank trophy for Team of the Year was awarded to the senior A volleyball, winners of the New Zealand secondary schools division one championship for the second year in the row.
The Eves Realty trophy for outstanding all-round excellence in sports went to Amy Robinson, who competes in six sports.
The final award was the Aneta Reweti Cup for Sportsgirl of the Year. This year we had joint winners. The two winners were Andrea Tauai and Olivia Chance. Andrea is not only a New Zealand representative in two sports but also won the MVP award at the national volleyball champs.
Olivia played football for the New Zealand women's team in Cyprus and China this year.
Also, the national synchronised swimming nationals were held in Hamilton over the school holidays. The Tauranga Girls College team - Alexandra du Bruyn, Kaitlyn Gabel, Eva Morris, Beth Taylor, Emma Weston and Janaya Worthington - won the interschools, along with Eva Morris placing third in the figures section. Eva also placed second in duets routine with her partner Georgia Coughlan (Tauranga Intermediate).
Beth Taylor with her partner gained third and Alexandra du Bruyn also placed third, with the team second in the routine section.
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Tauranga Girls' College sports award winners, top row left to right: Kara Timmer, Jordyn Gregory (sports Captain), Amy Robinson, Jacinta Coleman Ariana Moffatt. Front row left to right: Olivia Chance, Andrea Tauai, Kirsty Burrows, Isabella Kirk
Bethlehem College
During the holidays students achieved in a variety of sports.
In beach volleyball, Molly Anning has been named in the national rep squad that will compete in the trans-Pacific tournament in Vanuatu in January.
Hannah Marshall and Rose Keddell took part in a New Zealand under-18 hockey training weekend and last Wednesday were named in the squad to play later in the year. Congratulations to these students on being selected for national representation.
The college was also successful in the annual Netball Bay of Plenty awards. For the first time, Bethlehem College won the School of the Year.
Administrator of the year was our netball president, Liz Davenport, and Heather Richards won the Primary and Intermediate Coach of the Year.
Libby Drake was the most improved player for the under-19 premier team, Sally Davenport was most outstanding player for under-17 premier team and Paula Muller the most improved player for under-15 Gold.
Sally Davenport was chosen for the UNISS top 10B grade tournament team, Libby Drake chosen for UNISS top 10 B grade tournament and 24 tournament teams.
Kelsey Randrup was a finalist for the student coach of the year, Libby Drake finalist for the student player of the year, Nicki Clement and Jodi Tod finalists for coach of the year and our Open A side were finalist and runners-up for the team of the year.
Kelsey Randrup was also honoured in the Sparc sports volunteer awards and won the Watties student sport volunteer Award recognising her efforts as a volunteer in netball.
Kelsey has volunteered at the Harbourside Netball Centre for the past three years assisting with Tauranga's "No Exceptions" programme for athletes with disabilities. She also coached the school's 7A netball side and assisted with the junior A side, while also being a member of the Bethlehem College A and Bay of Plenty under-17 teams.
In kayaking, Karina Radley participated in the CRNZ Blue Lakes kayak sprint racing regatta in Rotorua. She won the under-19 women's K1 500M and K4 500m and came in second in the under-19 women's K2 500m.
In skiing, Anae Dixon came in fourth in the dual giant slalom at the Ski and Snowboard Nationals held at Cadrona, also achieving bronze in the slopestyle, ski cross, big mountain and runner-up overall junior female national champion.Hannah Marshall and Mat Smalberger, sports captains.
Aquinas College
Matthew Braid, James Cooper and Alice McFall took out top sportsmen and sportswoman of the year awards at the Aquinas College sports prizegiving.
The Judge Richard Kearney Memorial Cup senior boys' sports sportsman of the tear award was shared by Matthew and James. James also won the prestigious Sidwell Cup senior boys' sporting achievement/performance award.
Alice McFall was the recipient of the Active Outdoor Clothing Cup senior girls sportswoman of the year award.
Also featuring in the line-up for top honours was Dannielle O'Connor, who won the Megan Braid Trophy senior girls sporting achievement/performance.
These four talented students appeared on stage numerous times during the prizegiving.
James was acknowledged as a national representative squash player, Alice as triathlete of the year and the recipient of the Combined School Champion Award for under-16 girls.
Dannielle took the cup for senior swimming champion, while Matthew was declared the volleyball player of the year and recipient of the Combined School Champion Award for under-16 boys.
Aquinas College's leading sports prizewinners, from left, Dannielle O'Connor, Matthew Braid, James Cooper and Alice McFall .