Dozens of Ashburton College pupils got their strut on this week during a dance showcase at the school.

The college hosted performances on Thursday and again yesterday which exhibited a year’s worth of classes, run-throughs and shakedowns for about 50 senior students.

The groups incorporated hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, Maori and musical theatre forms as part of the showcase, with as many as 35 dancing at one time.

The Year 11, 12 and 13 performances were part of the seniors’ NCEA assessments, where part of the assessment criteria requires students to perform in front of an audience.

AshColl dance and drama teacher Julia Bell said the Year 11-13 performances were part of the seniors’ NCEA assessments, where part of the criteria was for the pupils to perform in front of an audience.

Shaun Fuluasou in action on the stage.The showcase was adapted to two lunchtime performances to work in with Covid restrictions.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 31 October 2020

Devon Flannery Ashburton College. Photo Doug BovettAshburton College came up short in their second round ARA Championship One Day clash against North West in Ashburton on Saturday.

The home team was put in first after North West won the toss.

AshColl began somewhat promisingly at the top with opener Devon Flannery (above) getting a start with 25.

However the visitors made inroads at the top before ripping through the middle order as AshColl lost five wickets for 20 runs once Flannery had been removed.

The home team were eventually bundled out for 91 in the 30th over, with Quinn Smith registering devastating figures of 4-9 from his six overs.

In reply, Will Jemmett had North West teetering at 11/2, before the Christchurch club side consolidated their innings.

An unbeaten 30 from Kobe Stackhouse powered the visitors home in rapid-fire time inside 16 overs as North West won by five wickets.

AshColl is away to St Andrew’s College on Saturday.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 29 October 2020

The Ashburton Squash Club’s Darnell Lima in action. Photo supplied.A healthy scattering of Mid Canterbury squash competitors have found themselves at the right end of the Midlands standings.

The current Midlands Circuit picture has four members of the Ashburton Squash Club in the top 10 and seven locals in the top 20 following this season’s tournaments.

Squash Midlands covers the central South Island area from Rakaia down to Oamaru, with 16 affiliated clubs.

Ashburton College’s Isaac Bazley, who is a junior at the Ashburton Squash Club, sits in fourth spot on 820 points, behind Flynn Brookland, Lily Rae and Oamaru’s Connor Bolitho.

Ashburton club trio Agustin Maunier, Matt Speedy and Brooke Cornish-Madden also find themselves in the top 10.

Local master Maunier most recently won the men’s open events at Rakaia and Hoon Hay, and claims a 71 per cent success ratio across 35 matches this season.

He sits in sixth spot with 700 points.

Senior star Matt Speedy is in eighth spot on 690 points, followed by AshColl junior Brooke Cornish-Madden.

Further back in the top 20 is Brenda Hall (15th), Rodrigo Resende of the Hinds club in 19th, followed by Ashburton’s Darnell Lima.

“Great to see our club members dominating the Midlands Squash circuit,” it said in an Ashburton Squash Club Facebook post this week.

The club championships resumed last night, with a vibrant Halloween-themed finals night set to take place at its Harrison Street facility this evening.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 29 October 2020