Angus Jemmett. Photo suppliedAshburton College first XI is in a good position after day one of its match against Christchurch Boys’ High School colts.

The colts were all out for 119 in the 39th over, with AshColl off spinner Angus Jemmett the pick of the bowling attack with an excellent spell resulting in 3/9.

Ben Middleton chimed in with two wickets from his six overs.

In reply AshColl batted through to 57 overs, declaring with the score at 180 and a lead of 61 runs – and important first innings points.

The key partnership was between No 3 batsman Isaac Bazley and No 6 batsman Will Copland, who put on 76 runs together in the middle order.

Bazley finished on 75 and Copland 23.

The college boys declared with the aim of having a few overs bowling at the colts by the end of the day and that paid dividends when Harry McMillan removed one of the openers.

The colts were 10/1 at the end of play with day two set to resume next Saturday in Christchurch.

Meanwhile, the AshColl Year 9-10 side travelled to Dudley Park to play Rangiora High School Colts Green.

Rangiora batted first and were all out for 94, the best bowling from Will Jemmett, who took five wickets for nine runs off four overs.

AshColl was then bowled out before reaching the target.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 19 March 2018

Taonga Mbambo has continued his hot form for 2018 with another big record. Photo suppliedOutstanding Ashburton College long distance runner Taonga Mbambo set a new record for the under 19 men’s 3000m at the Aoraki Secondary Schools’ Sports this week.

Mbambo hustled around the track in 9.03.65, finishing a full minute and 17 seconds ahead of the second placegetter. It was one of three records set at Aorangi Park in Timaru during the day, which featured athletes from secondary schools from Ashburton to Waimate.

Mbambo’s record for the under 16 boys’ 3000m, set last year, was one to fall but he made up for it with the stellar run in his new age-group. He was also second in the 1500m.

AshColl athletes chalked up 18 firsts and Mt Hutt College seven throughout the day, with the best athletes qualifying for the South Island Secondary Schools, Championships on March 23-25.

In the under 14 girls AshColl’s Ella Pearson won the 800m and 1500m and came second in the 400m, while Lusunga Mbambo won the 200m and the high jump.

Mia Pearson won the under 15 girls’ 80m hurdles and the high jump, while in the under 16 grade Sophie Adams won the shot put by more than a metre. She was also second in the discus and third in the javelin.

Emily Armstrong was the star of the sprinters, winning the under 19 girls’ 100m, 200m and 400m and helping AshColl take second in the 4x100m relay. Emma Stagg won the long jump and triple jump.

For the boys, Fononga Lisale won the under 14 javelin while Kyle Cabangun won the under 15 100m. Ben Jackson took out the under 16 high jump while Ben Donald won the javelin.

In the under 19 grade, Keegan Gentle won the 100m from team-mate Elyh McKibbon.

Anthony van Asperen won the 200m and 400m for athletes with a disability, while Delta Taeauga won the shot put and discus.

For Mt Hutt College, Briana Gaze-Inia won the under 14 triple jump, while Courtney Elliott won the under 15 3000m and Monique Johnson the triple jump. Faith Scott won the under 16 high jump with a leap of 140m.

Jack McKenzie took out the under 14 1500m and 3000m titles, while Charlie Brown won the under 15 triple jump.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 17 March 2018

Lana Donaldson at full stretch on the Yarra River last weekend where she competed brilliantly at the Moomba Waterfest. Photo SuppliedAshburton-based waterskiers have been in action on Melbourne’s Yarra River as part of the four-day Moomba Waterfest.

Skiers from all over the world are invited to ski at the event, having first submitted their credentials.

Lana Donaldson and her younger brothers Hugh and George were part of the action, with Lana making the semi-finals of the open women’s slalom.

Skiers use the Yarra, which is closed to boating traffic, competing in slalom, tricks and jumps. A special feature of the event are night jumps, which take place with a background of fireworks.

The event is considered one of the biggest in world waterskiing, not only for competitors but for spectators who line the banks of the Yarra.

With temperatures varying from 20 to 35°C, challenging river currents and occasional breezes, and a programme running from early morning until dark, it is a testing event.

In the women’s open slalom, Donaldson led from second off the dock till the 12th skier in series two, with a season’s personal best of 2.5 bouys on the 12m line at 55km/h.

She was stoked with the run and score, which put a lot of pressure on the following skiers. Unfortunately she couldn’t pull out a repeat performance in the semi-final to advance to the final.

Hugh and George Donaldson competed in the Junior Moomba, having only just finished the Oz-Kiwi tournament in the North Island days before and having to adjust to a different boat speed on the Yarra because of their age.

Hugh came away with a bronze medal in the jump, and a silver in the night jump; capping off a good run of competition form.

The season is far from over though, with a three-event tournament at Lake Hood later this month and nationals at Piarere in April.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 17 March 2018