‘Smashed it’ at AIMS Games

AIMS games medal winners ilminster -

Ilminster Intermediate received multiple medals and accolades at this year’s AIMS Games International Sporting Championships in the Bay of Plenty.

They won six gold medals, a multisport team cup and the cup for top overall school in indoor bowls

There were over 10,000 students involved in the tournament played predominantly in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.

Ilminster competed in five sports — cross-country, swimming, indoor bowls, multisport and girls basketball.

Ilminster head of PE Shane Hooks said the multisport team “smashed it”.

“There were 11 students and our Year 8 boys dominated their competition.

“Matthew Ney won the Year 8 boys’ race with over four minutes between himself and second place.

“Matthew, along with Gus Baker, won the Year 8 boys’ team title and our three-person team of Matthew, Gus and Tui Ruifrok crushed the ultimate team relay,” he said.

“The girls’ basketball team finished fifth after an amazing tournament in which they won eight games and lost two — to the teams who finished first and second.”

Ilminster’s 20-strong indoor bowls team played “out of their skins” over a tough five days of competition, said Hooks.

“Teleious Downs-Bryant received silver in the singles competition (which had 300 entries), and Alex Shanks and TJ Taylor-Paea won silver in the pairs competition (150 entries).

Ilminster also won the cup for top overall school in the indoor bowls.

“We are extremely proud of our students, not only for their performances and success, but for the way they represented our school — great behaviour, awesome attitudes and outstanding sportspersonship.

“We would like to thank all those who coached/mentored our students — John Scott, Ron Robertson, Helena Ruifrok, Patrick Ney and Lance Terekia (multisport/cross-country), Thomas Tindale and Mike Kemp (basketball) and Tony Garrett (indoor bowls).”