Summer Tournament Week

It was another outstanding Summer Tournament Week for St Andrew’s, with the 13 teams and two squads representing the College in nine different sports, performing brilliantly at the highest level, claiming several national and South Island titles.

Highlights included an incredible performance by the highly skilled Senior A Girls’ futsal team, which won a national title, and Sophie Lampe (Y10) who delivered another outstanding performance to win the New Zealand U16 Girls’ triathlon. There was also huge excitement on the water at Maadi Cup, where St Andrew’s won gold medals in the U16 Boys’ coxed four, and the U16 Girls’ coxed eight, along with a gutsy silver medal in the prestigious Springbok Shield, won by the U18 Boys’ coxed four. (See pages 50 – 51 for a full wrap up from the Maadi Regatta).

Also at a national level, the Senior Mixed tennis team finished a highly creditable second, and the Senior A Girls’ volleyball team won bronze, with both these teams facing some of the top schools around the country.

South Island titles were won by the Senior Mixed touch team, the 3×3 Senior Girls’ basketball team, with silver medals won in mountain biking by Abigail Scot-Douglas and William Pringle (both Y11) at their South Island competition.

New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Triathlon Championships

Outstanding young athlete, Sophie Lampe (Y10) delivered another incredible performance to take the New Zealand U16 Girls’ triathlon title at the national event in Tauranga. This win is on the back of two other recent national and South Island U16 triathlon titles won by Sophie. Cohnor Walsh (Y11) also continued his excellent form to finish fifth in New Zealand in the U16 Boys’ event.

New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Futsal Championships

The well-drilled Senior A Girls’ team had a fantastic run all the way from the group stage to the final of the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Futsal Championships in Wellington, where they beat Napier 4–1 in a thriller in extra time, to become New Zealand champions. Amber de Wit (Y12) was named MVP of the tournament. This is the first time in St Andrew’s history that the girls’ team have won this national tournament, and completes the treble for the 2024 season, after the team won both the Canterbury Tournament and the Regional Championship. Also competing at these championships were the Senior Boys’ team, which finished 28th in New Zealand, and the Junior Boys’ team which finished 24th in New Zealand.

New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Tennis Championships

A young St Andrew’s Mixed tennis team comprising Marija Filipovic, Jack Wheeler, Alvin Na (all Y10), Lily McHarg, Ruby McPhail, and Ricky Kotepong (all Y12), did incredibly well to end the national championships in second place, after facing some top schools. They started the Christchurch-based tournament with convincing wins against Kristin School, 6–0 and Scots College, 5–1. This led to a tight match against Saint Kentigern College, which they took out 4–2 after breaking a deadlock by winning both mixed doubles matches. This saw St Andrew’s face Macleans College in the final, which was a huge task with all the opposition players ranked higher. Macleans won the tie 5–1 and St Andrew’s finished a highly creditable second in New Zealand

South Island Secondary Schools’ Touch Championships

The Senior Mixed touch team followed up the national title they won in December 2023, with a great performance at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Touch Championships in Christchurch, claiming the championship for the second consecutive year. The team played a solid semi-final, beating Rangiora High School 8–5. In the final, St Andrew’s made a strong start and never looked back, beating Lincoln High School 11–4.

New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Volleyball Championships

The Senior A and B Girls’ and Senior Boys’ teams went to Palmerston North with high hopes of doing well in their respective divisions. The Senior A Girls had a wonderful tournament, playing some of their best volleyball of the season. They fought hard and in the semi-finals were beaten in a tight match 2–3 against Rangitoto College. In the bronze medal match, the girls played great volleyball to beat Otumoetai College and secure third place in New Zealand. The Senior A Boys’ team also did well winning Division 3, which was a perfect way to end their season. The Senior B Girls’ team fought hard throughout the championship and came a creditable 47th in New Zealand.

South Island Secondary Schools’ Mountain Biking Championships

Two St Andrew’s mountain bikers put in some great performances at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Mountain Biking Championships in Queenstown. William Pringle (Y11) won silver in the Boys’ U17 Cross Country event and Abigail Scot-Douglas (Y11) also won silver in the Girls’ U16 Cross Country event.

South Island Secondary Schools’ Water Polo Championships

The Senior A Boys’ and Girls’ water polo teams competed in the South Island Secondary Schools’ Water Polo Championships in Christchurch, where the Boys’ team did well in pool play winning four out of five matches, before meeting King’s High School in the quarter-final, which they won 8–3. After going down 4–9 to St Bede’s College in the semi-final, St Andrew’s faced Marlborough Boys’ College in the playoff for third and fourth, losing in a nailbiter, 10–11. The girls had some mixed results but tried hard, finishing in eighth place.

Southern Regional Secondary Schools’ 3×3 Basketball Championships

The Senior A Girls’ team won the Basketball New Zealand Southern Regional 3×3 Championship after a three-day competition in Ashburton. In their nine pool games, the girls were only really challenged by Rangiora High School, who they beat 10–8 and Craighead Diocesan School who they beat 10–7. A comfortable 10–4 win over Christchurch Girls’ High School in the semi-final set them up for a final against Kaiapoi High School, which they also won by a good margin 12–6. The boys’ team finished 12th against some tough competition.