Battle of the Bays brings schools together in sport

TRIATHLON VICTORS: Gisborne Intermediate won the Year 7 girls’ team triathlon, and the Year 7 and Year 8 girls’ individual triathlons. They are (from left): Kassie Owen (team — swim), Jodiesha Kirkpatrick (Y7 individual), Sophie Petro (Y8 individual), Chloe Kapene (team — run) and Amy Thomas (team — bike).

SCHOOL CHALLENGE

GISBORNE Intermediate won the Year 7 girls’ section of the Battle of the Bays beach challenge and triathlon last week.

Ilminster Intermediate were second in the Year 8 boys’ section of the beach challenge.

Gisborne and Ilminster intermediate schools, families and supporters hosted the two-day event — surf lifesaving at Midway Beach on the Thursday and triathlons on the Friday.

Gisborne and Ilminster were joined by intermediate schools from Whakatane, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, Otumoetai and Taupo.

The 135 students contesting the surf lifesaving events comprised the biggest field for this part of the challenge. They competed in four divisions — Year 7 boys and girls, and Year 8 boys and girls.

Dave Corrin and Sonia Keepa ran the arenas with support from local families.

Students took part in the beach flags as individuals but gained points for their teams.Other events in the surf lifesaving competition were the beach sprint relay, run/swim relay, run/board relay and mixed-discipline (swim/paddle/run) relay.

Mt Maunganui won the Year 7 boys’ and Year 8 boys’ and girls’ divisions and was top school overall in the surf lifesaving.

The Gisborne Intermediate team of Jodiesha Kirkpatrick, Chloe Kapene, Kassie Owen, Ruby Williams and Rubi Hart won the Year 7 girls’ division — a big achievement against Mt Maunganui.

The Ilminster-run triathlon comprised a swim in the surf, a 12km bike ride and a three-kilometre run.

Ilminster’s Matthew Ney won the Year 8 boys’ triathlon.

Gisborne Intermediate athletes Sophie Petro and Jodiesha Kirkpatrick won the Year 8 and Year 7 girls’ races respectively; and Gisborne Intermediate’s Kassie Owen (swim), Amy Thomas (bike) and Chloe Kapene (run) won the Year 7 girls’ teams event.

Gisborne Intermediate was named top school overall for the triathlon.

Tauranga and Mt Maunganui were second-equal and Ilminster was fourth.