Canoe polo: Karamu High girls country's best

HAPPINESS IS: Karamu High School senior girls becoming national champions in Palmerston North. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

THE Karamu High School senior girls' canoe polo team are national champions after returning from Palmerston North at the end of term one.

The standard of competition in A grade of the New Zealand Secondary Schools nationals was high and Karamu staved off fierce competition in their pool.

Karamu emerged from pool play undefeated against Horewhenu College, Taradale High School, Palmerston North Girls' High School and Havelock North High School.

In the final they came up against Havelock North in a rematch from pool play coming away victors 8-3 to be crowned the country's top high school girls' team.

Their coach and current staff member, Julie Bolton, was proud of the team's achievement, acknowledging the girls' work ethic, determination and commitment to the early morning trainings and constant fitness work throughout the season.

Stand-out players in the team were captain Madison Gaiger, who is in the New Zealand U21 squad, and goalkeeper Phoebe Hinton who soaked up pressure and should be immensely proud of her efforts.

The team is indebted to Erin Bolton, Meghann Corbett, Greg Ross, Karen and Matt Saunders, Adie Grove, who were involved in training them as well as parents and the boys team who boosted the army of supporters.

Madison Gaiger, Michaela Horsefield and Sharnie O'Connor were selected in the New Zealand Secondary School tournament team, a high honour for the young girls who worked so hard.