Sports round up – August 2025

Adventure Racing

The Senior Adventure Racing team, comprising four boys and four girls, took part in the Hillary Challenge six-hour race in Christchurch and just missed a spot at the national final after navigating 61 checkpoints, and covering approximately 25km on foot and 40km on bikes within the six-hour time allocation.

At the South Island Secondary Schools’ Adventure Race in Kaikoura, 10 St Andrew’s students competed in various teams and race categories. Abigail Scott-Douglas and Joshua Morrow (both Y12) won the six-hour Open Schools' event representing St Andrew’s College. Cohnor Walsh (Y12) was second in the 12-hour Open Schools' event with two students from other schools.

Alumni Basketball Game

A group of more than 20 Old Collegians who left the College between 2001–2024 returned for the annual alumni basketball game against current students. A second-half surge, led by Ben Ashman (OC 2024) and Young-Wook Song (OC 2001), saw the Old Collegians claim a 93–70 victory, making it five wins in a row.

Artistic Gymnastics

ChloeAnn Botha (Y7) achieved a nationals qualifying score at the Gymnastics Tri Star Senior Artistic Gymnastics Championship in Step 5 All Around. She achieved third place on balance beam and was fourth overall.

Artistic Swimming

Kelicia Rui En Purcell (Y8) and Leona Smart (Y7) competed at the South Island Artistic Swimming Championships, with Kelicia winning the Mixed Duet competition and Leona winning the 12 years and Under Solo category and the Duet competition.

Athletics

A group of 17 St Andrew’s students competed at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships, making 36 finals and winning 12 gold, three silver, and two bronze medals. Maiyah Martin (Y9), Melenaite (Tia) Havea (Y12), Jody McCarthy-Dempsey (Y13) and Orla Motley (Y13) were particularly impressive, each winning multiple individual South Island titles.

Results were:

• Kupa Rule (Y12): gold U16 800m;

• Tayla Ford (Y9): gold U14 3000m;

• Maiyah Martin (Y9): gold U14 80m hurdles, shot put, discus;

• Melenaite (Tia) Havea (Y12): gold U19 shot put, discus;

• Jody McCarthy-Dempsey (Y13): gold U19 100 hurdles, high jump, long jump;

• Orla Motley (Y13): gold U19 javelin, hammer throw;

• Molly Michael (Y10): silver Open 2000m race walk;

• Sophie Paterson (Y11): silver U16 triple jump;

• Alice Glover, Maiyah Martin, Tayla Ford, Emma McKellow (all Y9): silver U14 4×100m Girls relay;

• Marshall Coles (Y10): bronze U14 100m;

• Abigail Scott-Douglas (Y12) Molly Michael (Y10), Alice Glover, Tayla Ford (both Y9): bronze U16 Open 4×400m Girls relay.

Basketball

Roma Tuimaunei (Y12) was selected for the New Zealand basketball U16 team to travel to Mongolia for the FIBA U16 Asia Cup.

Ava Jones (Y12) and Maniah Taefu (Y11) were selected to represent New Zealand at the FIBA U16 Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

St Andrew’s teams performed well at the Years 5–8 ISSA Basketball Tournament, where they vied for a chance to represent the zone at the Canterbury Indoor Tournament. The Girls' competitions were particularly intense, with the Years 7–8 Girls’ team putting in significant effort to earn their first-place, and the Year 5–6 Girls’ team facing an unusual outcome, finishing in a tie for first place, but being placed third due to a countback on point differential. The Year 7–8 Boys’ and Year 5–6 Boys’ teams both delivered dominant performances, securing their overall victories with a clear margin over second place.

Boxing

At the Boxing South Island Novice Championships, Sam Payton (Y9) dominated all three rounds to win the gold medal and title of South Island Novice Champion 2025. Sam also competed in the South Island Golden Gloves Boxing Championships, where he secured the Golden Gloves 2025 title by a unanimous decision.

Canoe Polo

Liam Randall (Y13) and Luca Rose (Y12) competed at the 2025 ICF Canoe Polo Oceania Championships as part of the New Zealand Men’s U18B team, winning silver.

Sophie Burnett (Y13) competed with the Nemesis canoe polo team which won the National Ladies A grade title, becoming national champions. Nick Burnett (OC 1994) coaches the team.

South Island Secondary Schools’ Canoe Polo Championships

The St Andrew’s College Senior canoe polo team was unbeaten despite fierce competition at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Canoe Polo Championships to take gold and remain the top team in the South Island. Luca Rose (Y12), Thomas White and Sophie Burnett (both Y13) were selected into the male and female tournament teams, recognised among the top eight players in the championship. Luca Rose was also the highest scorer of the tournament, scoring 25 goals across the two days. The St Andrew’s Senior Girls’ and Junior Girls’ teams both took second place in their respective categories, with the Junior canoe polo team finishing fourth in the Junior Open.

Chess

The Chess A team of Cayden Wang, James Anthony (both Y13), Alex Manson (Y12) and Anthony Song (Y10) were the overall winners of the Regional Interschool Chess Tournament, qualifying for the national tournament. Anthony Song delivered a notable performance, finishing unbeaten with five victories. The B team also played well, finishing in third place.

The Preparatory School took two teams to the Years 1–6 Canterbury Interschool Chess Competition and two teams to the Years 7–8 competition. The Senior B team placed fourth in the B Grade, and all the students had successful wins.

Cross Country

At the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Cross Country Championships, Tayla Ford (Y9) was 19th in the Year 9 Girls’ race out of around 100 athletes. She also competed with the Year 9 Girls’ Canterbury team who won the relay event.

Canterbury Cross Country Championships

The Year 9 Girls won their team’s event at the Canterbury Cross Country Championships, by a huge 50 points over St Margaret’s College. Tayla Ford was second, with Tabitha Ferreira fifth, Penny Scarlett sixth, and Kate Jones 15th. The other athlete to claim a top ten finish was Ashton Harris (Y9) who was tenth in the Year 9 Boys’ event.

Secondary School House Cross Country

The annual Secondary School House Cross Country took place in perfect weather, with enthusiastic participation by students. The top three placings in each age group were:

• Year 9 Boys: Ashton Harris first, Ashton Cody second, Haolin (Harley) Xiong third;

• Year 9 Girls: Tayla Ford first, Tabitha Ferriera second, Penny Scarlett third;

• Year 10 Boys: Kai Sloane first, Oliver Julius second, Willim Fowler third;

• Year 10 Girls: Hayley Stowell first, Alyssa Blackman second, Mia McHarg third;

• Year 11 Boys: Hugo Lewis first, Izaak Keen second, Sam Wilson third;

• Year 11 Girls: Sophie Lampe first, Rosie Gaffaney second, Maria Filipovic third;

• Year 12 Boys: Cohnor Walsh first;

• Year 12 Girls: Abigail Scott-Douglas first;

• Year 13 Boys: James Walker first, Noah Cole second, Alexander Black third;

• Year 13 Girls: Sophia Voice first.

Years 4–8 Cross Country

The Years 4–8 Cross Country took place on Monday 12 May. The students performed and participated to a high level, and teachers were extremely proud of the effort shown by all students who ran on the day. Placegetters were:

• Year 4 Boys: Liam Botha first, Sullivan Street second, Parker Stronach third;

• Year 4 Girls: Zoe Johnstone first, Isabelle Turnbull second, Harriet Foster third;

• Year 5 Boys: Theo Nelson first, Frederick Irwin second, Jack Marsh third;

• Year 4 Girls: Francesca Greer first, Georgia Blyde second, Chloe Shi third;

• Year 6 Boys: Ming Macarthy first, Tom Dore second, Samuel Carline third;

• Year 6 Girls: Giselle Petre first, Alessandra Greer second, Rosie Turnbull third;

• Year 7 Boys: Benji McBride first, Jackson Cutts second, Kip Waghorn third;

• Year 7 Girls: ChloeAnn Botha first, Daisy Feaver-Banks second, Indi Haydon-Uren third;

• Year 8 Boys: Kobe Ford first, Diesel Mackie second, Liam Gravley third;

• Year 8 Girls: Mila Rule first, Kelicia Rui En Purcell second, Willa Rahman third.

ISSA Cross Country

A group of 57 Preparatory School students participated in the ISSA Cross Country Zones event, with Kobe Ford and Kelicia Rui En Purcell (both Y8) winning their races. Students who qualified for the CPSSA Cross Country event were:

• Year 5 Girls: Francesca Greer third;

• Year 5 Boys: Theo Nelson sixth;

• Year 6 Boys: Ming Macarthy second;

• Year 7 Girls: ChloeAnn Botha second, Indi Haydon-Uren sixth;

• Year 7 Boys: Montgomery Fox third, Benji McBride sixth;

• Year 8 Girls: Kelicia Rui En Purcell first, Mila Rule third, Willa Rahman sixth;

• Year 8 Boys: Kobe Ford first, Diesel Mackie second, Joshua Smith fourth.

CPSSA Cross Country

The team of 13 Preparatory School runners showed determination and sportsmanship at the CPSSA Cross Country event. The highlight was two podium finishes in the Year 8 Boys’ event, with Diesel Mackie finishing second, and Kobe Ford third. Students to achieve top 20 placings were:

• Year 7 Girls: ChloeAnn Botha 11th;

• Year 7 Boys: Montgomery Fox 10th;

• Year 8 Girls: Mila Rule fourth, Kelicia Rui En Purcell sixth;

• Year 8 Boys: Diesel Mackie second, Kobe Ford third, Joshua Smith eighth.

Equestrian

Georgia Lewis (Y12) was selected to represent New Zealand at the International Mounted Games Exchange in Birmingham, UK. The team of five will compete against teams from the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia.

Heidi Kendrick (Y12) competed in the Dressage Southland 2024/2025 points series, where she was the Otago winner of the Young Rider Top 10 League Area for Horse Medium Level Dressage, and the winner of the Dressage Southland Points Accumulator Medium Horse for the season.

Flag Football

William Ballin, Toby Park and Adam Beaman (all Y12) defended their national flag football title along with the rest of the Canterbury Youth Flag Football team, which was unbeaten during the three-day tournament. These three students were selected for the U17 New Zealand Youth Flag Football team to compete in an eight-nation tournament in Los Angeles. Alexander Ballin (Y11) was selected for the U15 New Zealand Youth Flag Football team.

Football

Noah Cole (Y13) was a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ U19 football team which toured Australia over the Term 1 break. The team made history by going unbeaten, marking their most successful results in over two decades. The tour wrapped up with a thrilling 2–2 draw in an international clash against Australia. Noah was presented with the award for New Zealand U19 Team Player of the Tour.

During the Term 1 holidays, Indi Haydon-Uren (Y7) had an unforgettable experience at a training camp hosted by West Ham United, with her skill, dedication, and enthusiasm earning her the prestigious Coach’s Choice Award by the U14 West Ham United women’s coach. Indi was also selected to attend the West Ham United Australia National Camp this September on the Gold Coast, alongside some of the best young players in the region.

Half Marathon

At the Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon, Sofia Lagias (Y11) was fourth in the U18 female 12km event, and Theodore Lagias (Y13) was seventh in the U18 male category.

Hockey

Several 1st XI hockey players were selected for Canterbury and Tasman representative teams to play in tournaments during King’s Birthday Weekend.

• Canterbury U18A Men’s: Blake Edwards, Hugo Lewis (both Y11), Edward Connolly, Thomas Gough, Liam Hall and Lucas Munt (all Y13);

• Canterbury U18A Women’s: Annabelle Barker (Y12), Kate Simcock and Sophia Voice (both Y13);

• Canterbury U18B Men’s: Mason Connelly, Oliver Connolly (both Y11) and Lewis Tavendale (Y12);

• Canterbury U18B Women’s: Olivia Ratcliffe and Lila Waghorn (both Y12);

• Canterbury U18 Men’s and Women’s Development: Samuel Gough, Elliot Munt (both Y11), Rebecca Kingsbury (Y12), Rory Forsythe (Y13);

• Tasman U18A Women’s: Sasha McIntyre (Y12), Sophie Roberts (Y13).

Ice Hockey

Rory Forsythe (Y13) was selected for the U18 Canterbury ice hockey team.

Jakob Dana (Y10) was selected for the U16 Canterbury Representative ice hockey team.

Carter Summerfield (Y8) and Ming Macarthy (Y6) were named in the U14 Canterbury Ice Hockey Representative Training Squad for 2025.

Indoor Cricket

Daisy Thake (Y12) was selected for both the Canterbury U22 Women’s and the Canterbury U18 Girls’ Indoor Cricket teams to compete at the nationals.

George Hubbard (Y9) was selected for the Canterbury U15 Indoor Cricket team to compete at the nationals.

Karate

Gemma Thomas (Y12) represented New Zealand as one of 14 Pacific nations competing at the 2025 Oceania Karate Championship in New Caledonia in June where she and her team won a bronze medal in her weight division for kumite (fighting). Gemma’s selection came after receiving her JKF (international) Black Belt in karate in April.

Kartsport

Zongze (Aaron) Li (Y7) was second in the 2025 40th Central New Zealand Sunbelt Sprint Championships and sixth at the Rose City Championships in Palmerston North. He also finished second in the VMR class at the Canterbury Karting Club Championships.

Motocross

In the New Zealand Hard Enduro National Championship Series, Shey Doerner-Corson (Y12) was first overall in round one after two days of racing, and was third overall in round two after three days of racing in challenging weather in Wānaka.

Netball

Hayley Stowell (Y10) was selected for the U16 A Canterbury netball team, which won the regional South Island tournament over the King’s Birthday weekend.

Motorsport

Georgia Lewis (Y12) had a successful final year in the Quarter Midget speedway racing class at her home track, Ruapuna Speedway, completing 100 per cent of racing laps, ending as the top female competitor, and finished fourth in season points. In the Mike Greer Homes Series, Georgia was the top female competitor, finished fifth overall, and was awarded the Rising Star Award for the driver with the most potential.

Road Race

Eight athletes from St Andrew’s competed in the Canterbury Secondary Schools’ Road Race Championships with Tayla Ford (Y9) in the Year 9 Girls’ category, and Sophie Lampe (Y11) in the Senior Girls’ competition both finishing second in their races. Top 10 results:

• Sophie Lampe (Y11): second Senior Girls;

• Taylor Ford (Y9): second Year 9 Girls;

• Cohnor Walsh (Y12): fifth Senior Boys;

• Tabitha Ferreira (Y9): seventh Year 9 Girls;

• Ashton Harris (Y9): eighth Year 9 Boys;

• Alyssa Blackman (Y10): tenth Junior Girls.

Rugby

Fifty members of the U18 rugby squad visited the Gold Coast for a pre-season Australia tour, hosted at The Southport School (TSS). The 1st XV played three games and won one, while the 2nd XV lost all three of their games.

The 1st XV attended the 35th Presbyterian Rugby Quad Tournament hosted at Lindisfarne College. St Andrew’s started strongly winning their first game 67–17 against Scots College. The team then faced Auckland A1 finalists, Saint Kentigern College, in the final. St Andrew’s played with courage and determination but went down 39–12 in an exciting encounter.

St Andrew’s hosted Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) from Brisbane, Australia. In a fast and furious game, both teams played expansive, high tempo rugby, with St Andrew’s taking a close victory 24–22. Noah Fihaki and Marshall Coles (both Y10) were named as Best and Fairest from the encounter.

St Andrew’s College 1st XV players, Caleb Collins-Polata, Lachlan Mitchell, Jett Timbrell, Seymour Stowers-Smith (all Y12), Azaniah Roebeck, Fynn Harris and Christian Tanuvasa (all Y13), were selected to attend an U18 Crusader Development Day.

Rugby League/Rugby

Metua Cranwell (Y12) was selected for both the New Zealand Māori U17 rugby league team and the New Zealand South U18 rugby team.

Hadassan Timo (Y12) was selected for the New Zealand North U18 rugby team.

Sports Exchange – John McGlashan College and Columba College

Just under 150 students travelled to Dunedin for the annual John McGlashan College and Columba College sports exchange. Matches were played across two days, with stunning autumnal weather. St Andrew’s won the exchange convincingly, 9–3 and had three draws.

Squash

George Reynolds (Y10) was second at the Secondary Schools’ Individual Squash Championships after prevailing in a close five-set match in the semi-final, then meeting a much higher-ranked opponent in the final. Having gone in as the third-ranked player, finishing second was a great achievement and is the highest squash result St Andrew's has had for several years.

The St Andrew’s squash team of Rory Forsythe (Y13), George Reynolds and Oliver Gilbert (both Y10) were fifth at the Canterbury Schools’ Team Squash Championships.

Surfing

Amelie Clark (Y12) won the U18 Women’s title at the Canterbury Women’s Surf Championships.

Swimming

Rylee McBride (Y13) competed at the 2025 Apollo Projects New Zealand Open Swimming Championships, where she won a national title and gold medal in the 50m backstroke, setting a new Canterbury record, and won silver in the 100m backstroke.

A team of 24 swimmers competed at the Canterbury Secondary Schools’ Swimming Championships, achieving nine top three placings in individual events, and four top three placings in the relays. Rylee McBride (Y13) was awarded Outstanding Female Swimmer for 2025, which capped off her highly successful school swimming career.

Keira-Leigh Watt (Y9) attended the National Age Group Swimming Championships, qualifying for six events, making the final in four events, and earning six new long course personal bests. Her top national placings were fifth in 800m freestyle, sixth in 50m backstroke, and seventh in 400m freestyle.

Kelicia Rui En Purcell (Y8) competed in the 62nd Wharenui Winter Olympics, with seven podium placings including firsts in 100m and 200m butterfly, which achieved New Zealand Short Course qualification. Kelicia’s

200m butterfly time was the fastest in New Zealand this year for her age group and almost 10 seconds under the qualification time. Kelicia also won two golds, three silver, and a bronze medal at the Ashburton Splash 2025, with her time in the 200m Individual Medley also achieving New Zealand Short Course qualification.

Liam (Y4) and ChloeAnn Botha (Y7) swam at the Makos South Island Country and Town Competition, with Liam achieving six personal bests and placing in the top five in seven of his races, and ChloeAnn achieving six personal bests and placing in the top five in five of her events.

Tennis

Several St Andrew’s tennis players represented Canterbury in Interprovincial Teams events. Marija Filipovic (Y11) played in the U17 Canterbury team which placed third.

Mia McHarg (Y10), Zoe Kelso, Tom Dawson and Haolin (Harley) Xiong (all Y9) represented the U14 Canterbury team which placed fourth.

Umpiring

Alexander Black (Y13) attended both the National Men’s Open Club Softball Championship and the South Island Secondary Schools’ Softball Division 2 Championship, where he was appointed Plate Umpire for the boys’ final.

VEX Robotics

St Andrew’s teams did well at the finals of the annual VEX Robotics Canterbury Challenge. In the VEX IQ division (Preparatory School), the Terminators team, comprising Jack Blyde, William Keir, George Nicholls and Carter Robinson (all Y7) finished in first place. Three St Andrew’s Secondary School teams made it to the Drivers’ skills playoffs in the VEX V5 division, with the team Syntax Error, comprising Hannah Withers, George Bissland, Alex and Luke Mason (all Y12) winning this section.

Volleyball

Mia Montgomery and Catherine Cook (both Y13) were part of the Canterbury Women’s U19 volleyball squad which won gold for the second consecutive year at the Inter-Provincial Volleyball Championships. Both Mia and Catherine were named in the New Zealand Junior Women’s U20 volleyball team which took part in an international development tour to Fukuoka, Japan in July, playing a series of matches against local university teams.

The following players were selected in Canterbury representative teams to compete in the IPC (Inter-Provincial Championship) in Wellington.

• Grace Smith (Y11): Canterbury U17;

• Mia Montgomery, Catherine Cook (both Y13) and Jett Timbrell (Y12): Canterbury U19.

Water Ski

Genevieve Wallis (Y11) competed at the Canterbury Regional Water Ski Championships at Lake Hood where she won silver in slalom, gold in trick, gold in jump, and the overall gold in the U17 Girls’ category. She went on to represent Canterbury at the Water Ski National Championships, achieving five personal best results over six skis, including a bronze in slalom, silver in trick, gold in jump (New Zealand champion) and overall silver.