Out to get ‘job done’ at AIMS Games

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

GISBORNE athletes are among the thousands of students competing in the massively popular AIMS Games International Sporting Championships in the Bay of Plenty.

This year’s Games have attracted 10,000 middle school students from 302 schools, competing over 21 codes from badminton to yachting.

The cross-country race was run at Waipuna Park at Tauranga’s Welcome Bay on Sunday and featured nearly 850 competitors.

Gisborne has an impressive history in this event but was out of the medals this year — the best result coming from Ilminster student Myah Houthuijzen, who placed 21st in the Year 8 girls’ race.

In other Gisborne results of note from yesterday, both Gisborne Intermediate students competing in the indoor bowls have qualified for post-section play in the singles.

Nathan Trowell and Dylan Foster each won all four of their games to qualify.

Ilminster’s 16-strong team were all in action today.

Gisborne Intermediate’s Zach Rolls shot 97-23-74, for 34 points, in the opening round of the golf on the Omokoroa course.

The Ilminster boys’ basketball team had a win (29-15 over Mission Heights Junior College) and a loss (23-22 to Auckland Normal Intermediate).

Gis Int’s Jacob Haynes had a win and a loss on day 1 of the squash.

Gis Int, Ilminster and Campion College are also involved in several other sports over the weekend including swimming, multisport and performance group.

Matawai School also has a small contingent competing while Tolaga Bay Area School has a 12-strong entry in the badminton.

Paralympian gold medal-winning swimmer Mary Fisher was among the guest speakers at the opening ceremony in Mount Maunganui.

She told the young sportspeople “to get the job done” and “live your lives in whatever passions you have”.

Diminutive New Zealand rugby international Selica Winiata, a member of the Women’s Rugby World Cup-winning New Zealand Black Ferns squad, said “bold power can come in petite packages”.