An enthusiastic group of youths are bringing the By the Gate movement to Ashburton College. PHOTO SUPPLIEDA group of Ashburton College students are on a mission to bring positive change to their school – by the power of prayer.

Around 10 Emerge Youth members from Ashburton’s New Life Church have been meeting outside their school gate every Wednesday for the past year and spending half an hour praying before the bell rings.

The group pray for their church, their school and whatever else is on their heart that day, Ashburton College’s Rosie Smith said.

Yesterday, it was focus in the classroom and peace among their peers.

The movement, By the Gate, occurs at schools right across the country.

Smith said students can take a photo of their prayer group, share it on social media with the hashtag #bythegate, and connect with other participants.

More than 1500 posts have been shared on Instagram so far.

By Katie Todd © The Ashburton Guardian - 21 June 2018

Taonga Mbambo on his way to sixth place at the national secondary schools’ cross country championships. Photo suppliedAshburton’s Taonga Mbambo has been selected into the New Zealand secondary schools’ cross country team to travel to the Australian Championships.

Mbambo – a Year 13 student at Ashburton College – was selected after finishing sixth at the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Cross Country in Taupo at the weekend.

He ran a time of 19.50 minutes which was good enough to earn him selection to the team which will travel to Australia’s Sunshine Coast in August for the Australian Open and Schools Cross Country Championships.

Coached by Timaru’s Craig Motley, Mbambo’s weekly trips to Timaru have paid off and are reflected in his results.

Mbambo’s form in Taupo followed on from success at the Aoraki Secondary Schools’ Cross Country where he came first.

At the championships in Taupo he was a part of the Canterbury team which finished on the podium, winning a silver medal.

Earlier this year, at Ashburton College’s athletics finals day, Mbambo broke a record that had previously stood for 37 years. He broke the under-19 boys’ 3000m record. His new record time of 9.24.8 minutes, around six seconds faster than the previous record set by Bruce Gabites.

His win at the Aorakis in the same event was also a new Aoraki record time.

With his spot in the New Zealand team now secure, Mbambo was taking time off this week before getting back into full training next week in preparation for the Australian Championships.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 20 June 2018

Ashburton College’s Tegan McIntyre looks to keep control of the ball during her side’s hockey game against Burnside High School yesterday. Photo Erin TaskerAshburton College just edged ahead of Christchurch’s Burnside High School to claim overall honours in an annual sporting fixture between the two schools in Ashburton yesterday.

The home side took seven wins to Burnside’s five to claim victory, but not all sports were able to be played.

Recent rain leading to sodden grounds meant that rugby and football were called off due to the ground conditions.

Inside at the EA Networks Centre stadium, it was Ashburton College’s day, taking out the day’s sole basketball game and three of the four netball clashes.

Ashburton College’s junior boys’ basketballers had a massive win, 113-43, while the senior A netballers were also in top form, winning 45-18.

It was much closer in the other netball matches though, with the Ashburton College senior B team winning 32-21 and their Year 9A side winning 25-18.

The game between the two schools’ Year 10A sides went the way of the visitors 26-21.

At the Ashburton hockey turf it was Burnside who really dominated, with their girls’ first XI winning 8-0 and their boys’ first XI winning 7-0.

Burnside’s A team also won their chess match against Ashburton College’s A team 13-3, but Ashburton College’s B chess team made sure the visitors didn’t have it all their own way, winning their match.

Ashburton College also won the golf at the Ashburton Golf Club, and the air pistol shooting at the Ashburton Pistol Club, 931-924.

The squash was also won by Ashburton College, 4-2.

Ashburton College sports co-ordinator Deb Kell said the teams represented their schools with pride and passion.

She said the sporting fixtures were always fiercely contested. Ashburton College won this year, but Burnside came out on top last year 12-6.

Next year the annual sports fixture will be held at Burnside High School.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 20 June 2018