Search
Ashburton College school leaders (from left) Poppy Kilworth, Henry Chapman, Kyle Cabangun and Maria Costas are part of the 15 students taking part in the AshColl Student Exec 24 Hour Bike Challenge. Photo Jaime Pitt-MacKayWith lockdown behind them, Ashburton College’s students will give back to the community by testing out their endurance in a 24-hour cycling challenge next weekend.
A total of 15 students will take part in the challenge, which will see them take one-hour shifts on a spin bike in an attempt to raise funds for the Salvation Army.
Starting out the challenge at one of the student’s houses, they will then head to Countdown North where they will pedal away from 8am to 8pm.
Head girl Poppy Kilworth said they had seen other endurance challenges online during lockdown, and had wanted to combine that with fundraising for local services that had been working supporting the community during lockdown.
“We decided we wanted to do something for the essential workers during lockdown,” she said.
The idea initially started as a kilometre challenge, before they eventually decided on the cycling challenge.
Long Zoom calls starting about halfway through lockdown ensued as they planned the fundraiser.
“We’ve got a really mixed group of people so there are some that will be able to get through the hour easily and some that might struggle a bit,” she said.
The spin bikes have been donated by the EA Networks Centre for them to use, with the first section of the challenge at Kilworth’s house to be livestreamed before they complete the second half outside Countdown.
As well as collecting cash donations outside Countdown, they will also have an area for food donations, will be running a sausage sizzle and will also have a Givealittle page set-up.
“We will have the food donation area set up so if people can’t donate money they still might be able to donate a tin of spaghetti or something,” Kilworth said.
The senior leaders have taken on the task of the bike shifts in the early hours of the morning, while local MPs and school principal Ross Preece may even chip in with a stint on the bike.
The challenge will kick off from 8pm on Friday this week and will run until 8pm on Saturday.
By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 8 June 2020
Sporting excellence was decided last week in the Mid Canterbury Sports Awards. While the majority of profiles of the nominees of the categories appeared in last weekend’s Guardian, some were missed off the list so make their appearance today.
OUTSTANDING JUNIOR TEAM
The Ashburton College – Smallbore Rifle
It’s been a dominating 12 months for the Ashburton College Smallbore Rifle Team, who have delivered outstanding results once again. They were untouchable during the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Shooting Championships, holding off the challenge of 25 other schools, where they showed real consistency in their performances to beat some classy line-ups. The team also produced the top two individuals in the competition and three individual grade champions as well.
OUTSTANDING JUNIOR SPORTSPERSON
Shania Harrison-Lee – Shooting
Shania Harrison-Lee has had a busy year competing overseas at the Oceania Championships, where she gained gold and bronze medals – as well as picking up two new Oceania records – to complete a total haul of four new records for the year. With a trophy haul totalling 24 for the 12-month period she was a part of 11 different New Zealand teams, and is currently ranked number two in the country for smallbore rifle shooting. The top individual in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, Harrison-Lee is now training for the opening of the Commonwealth Games 2022 selection over the coming months.
Hayley Tallentire – Netball
2019 was a breakout year on the netball court for Hayley Tallentire. She was one of 20 players identified across New Zealand at the South Island Secondary Schools’ competition as a talented player. An integral part of the Ashburton College Senior A side inside the shooting circle, Hayley was pivotal in the side’s success in the local Premier A netball competition and placing fourth at the South Island Secondary Schools’ tournament which also acted as a qualifier for the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ tournament where the side performed with distinction. As well as her playing efforts, Hayley is an active coach and official on the sidelines in the younger grades.
Maadi Lowry – Cycling
Maadi Lowry is set for a huge future on the bike following on from a successful 2019. The star was in golden form at the New Zealand Age Group Track Nationals, claiming a gold medal in the Under 17 Girls’ Points Race, a silver medal in the team pursuit and a bronze medal in the Madison. Add to that a four silver medal haul at the Canterbury Track Cycling Championships and two gold medals at the Aoraki Secondary Schools’ Road Cycling Championships and she’s a name for the future – perhaps a future name to wear the silver fern.
Taylah Burrowes – Karate
It’s been a standout 12 months for Taylah Burrowes, who is producing good results her specialist sport of karate. Currently, she holds the Australian and New Zealand National Secondary Schools’ titles for Kumite Cadets (under 16) and is New Zealand Open Champion. Despite an extremely busy schedule, Taylah still managed to place in every competition that she competed in during the 12 month period. Truly remarkable stuff.
Kyle Cabangun – Karate
Hard work and dedication on the mat have led Kyle Cabangun to achieve impressive results in karate over the past 12 months.
A well-respected competitor who has always shown respect to his fellow competitors, Kyle’s crowning glory was his success at the Australian Open in Sydney where he placed first in the Junior Male, less than 55kg Kumite event.
Add to that his multiple placings in various national tournaments and his success in provincial tournaments and he’s destined for great things.
OUTSTANDING SENIOR SPORTSPERSON
Brittany Fowler – Equestrian
It’s been an exciting 12 months for rising
equestrian star, Brittany Fowler.
Getting the opportunity to wear the Silver Fern in the Interschool Eventing Team and then winning first place in the Eventing Australia International Challenge she’s pushed her name into the spotlight of the equestrian sport.
A member of this year’s Eventing New Zealand Talent squad – a team of just seven riders from across New Zealand, Brittany has produced consistently excellent results across all national and regional events throughout the 12 month period.
© The Ashburton Guardian - June 2020
AshColl will not be participating in regional hockey tournaments during winter tournament week due to senior exams. Photo supplied.Secondary schools around the country are ploughing ahead with regional hockey tournaments later this year, however Ashburton College have pulled the pin.
Hockey New Zealand announced last week that it was hosting regional-based tournaments in lieu of abandoned national events.
However Ashburton College principal Ross Preece confirmed it would not be sending a team as it would clash with school exams.
Two South Island championship events are planned for winter tournament week (August 31-September 4) to be held in Dunedin and Nelson.
“We are really excited that while tournaments will not look like they have traditionally in 2020 for our secondary school students, they have the opportunity to represent their schools in a way that ensures players’ safety and well-being is paramount,” a Hockey New Zealand spokesperson said.
The announcement had a mixed response from Hockey New Zealand followers on its Facebook page.
Some queried the timing of the tournaments ahead of exams and others questioned why national tournaments could not go ahead amid a likely move to Alert Level 1.
Preece said the school had already decided that this year school exams were more important.
“Our senior students missed seven weeks of instruction/teaching and had varying levels of work completion during lockdown,” he said.
“Students in Years 11 and 12 have time on their side to catch up but the Year 13s do not.”
School exams were originally scheduled for the fifth week of term 3.
However, several faculties requested exams be pushed back to ensure all the material was covered, Preece said.
A decision was made to move exam week by a fortnight following discussions between the school’s senior leadership team.
“All the major codes had already cancelled their national and South Island tournaments including netball, basketball, soccer and rugby,” Preece said.
“It is regrettable, but we feel that this extra time is vital especially for our Year 13s.”
Mount Hutt College have not had a hockey team for the past two years, however sports co-ordinator Latoya Keepa did not rule out teams in other codes participating in regional Aoraki tournaments later in the year.
By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 8 June 2020