Secondary School sport is vital for New Zealand sport. In many countries this is not the case as almost all development comes through the club system, rather than at schools.
It was the importance of school sport that led to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council creating Winter Tournament in late August or early September to allow the continuation of Tournaments that under the three term year were held at the same time of the year in the first week of the longer holiday between term 2 and 3.
I write this from Dunedin where I am with the Collegiate Girls Hockey team who I do some fitness work with. The benefits for motels, airlines and rental vehicle hire companies is clearly visible with Dunedin hosting hockey, football and ice hockey tournaments.
This scene is repeated throughout the country bringing clear economic benefits to venues throughout New Zealand. Whanganui will gain benefit from the summer equivalent when the North Island Schools are hosted at Cooks Gardens in early April following on from the success of the Secondary Schools Triathlon earlier this year.
Next week's annual Round the lake Relay although not in Tournament Week will again bring active school age athletes to enjoy the best of Whanganui. The relay brings the curtain down on the winter running season. The Wanganui Harrier Club ran a fun event at the same venue last Saturday in preparation for the annual Marton to Whanganui Relay which enters its impressive .87th year.