Ashburton Courier: August 06, 2020

NEWS
20 Ashburton Courier, August 6, 2020
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Primary runners blast around course
Mid Canterbury’s top crosscountry
primary school runners
took to the field during the
annual cross country event at
the Ashburton A&P
Showgrounds.
Up to 200 pupils were
involved last week, running in
overcast conditions on awet
grass course and supported by
family, friends and their school
peers.
Mid Canterbury Primary
Schools Sports Association
sports co­ordinator Natalie
Shaw said the race line­up was
made up of the winners from
school heats. Mid Canterbury
has around 22 primary/
intermediate level schools in
its district.
Pupils in Year 5and 6ran a
shorter 2km race and Year 7
and 8pupils ran a3km race.
Mrs Shaw said some of the
pupils completed the race in
times under 15 minutes.
‘‘It’s very competitive, this is
the best of the best.’’
Both age groups had to
navigate around acrosscountry
course set up at in the
showgrounds across flat, with
hills, obstacles to jump and
twists and turns. Each lap of the
course was one kilometre.
Mrs Shaw said the top three
from each age group qualified
to compete at primary
championship event at
Halswell, in Christchurch on
August 12, although
placegetters from Ashburton
Intermediate School would
enter the intermediate
championship, in Canterbury.
Mrs Shaw was thankful for
the support of school
communities as well as the
Ashburton Harriers running
club, especially members Joe
Ford and John Speedy who
spent many hours prior to the
event setting up the track and
then marshalling during the
races.
Results:
Year 5­(girls): Lyn­Mari
Steenkamp, ACS; Annalise
King, MPS; Addie Griffiths,
Longbeach; (boys) Noah
Holland, Tinwald; Campbell
Copland, Rakaia; Conor
McGrath, MPS.
Year 6­(girls) Sophie Lampe,
Hinds; Jasmine Chalke, MPS;
Sylvie Tranco, MTSS; (boys)
Amwolf Artz, St Josephs, Josh
Gilbert, Allenton; Elliot
Markillie, MPS.
Year 7­(girls): Blaze France,
MTSS; Layla Ward, AIS; Lucy
Pearce, AIS; (boys) Ollie
Jackways, Dorie; Kalym
Chalmers, AIS; Harry Trott,
AIS.
Year 8­(girls): Mikayla
Marshall MHC; Maddy
Marshall, AIS; Ruby Williams,
AIS; (boys) Harrison Doak, AIS;
Archie McKerrow, MHC; Noah
Monson, MHC.
Runners from Year 5to8competed in the annual primary school
sports association cross­country event.
Combined girls’ XV has eyes on final’s prize
It’s been astop­start season for
theMid Canterburycombined
girlsXVbut youwouldn’t know
it from their performances on
field.
The side, which is a
combination of Ashburton
College and Mount Hutt
College players, beat Timaru
Girls37­30atCeltic lastweek
in the second round of the
secondary school contest.They
lost by just one point 41­42 the
week earliertoStKevin’s/
Waitaki Girls.
Co­captainGrace Bleach, a
Year 13 student withplans to
become avet, said their
competition had been reduced
to just one round because of
covid but the girls remained
committed.
Training had begun early in
the year, butwas then
interrupted bylockdown and
gathering restrictions. The
combined side will meet
Craighead nextintheirschool
competition.
Grace said the girlswere
grateful to their sponsorsand
supporters, including Emma
Summerfield from Plains
Power.
Emmasaid women’s rugby
was increasinglypopularand
she had enjoyedbeingpartof
the rugbycommunity and
helping sponsor theteam.
MidCanterbury Rugby is
runningaseries of Sunday
sessionsfor under 11 and13
girls wanting to playthe game.
Nicole Purdom will be running
skillsessionsonSeptember6,
13 and 20 for those interested.
Co­captains Grace Bleach (left) and Roi Makutu (right) with their
main sponsor and supporter Emma Summerfield.
Celtic B
earns big
promotion
Celticwill havetwo teams in
Mid Canterbury Netball’s top
competition,following
promotionand relegation
gamesonTuesdaynight.
CelticBwas top of the
premier 2grade andwent on to
beatMtSomers43­27; Celtic
now takes Mt Somers’place in
the premier 1competition and
Mt Somers dropstopremier2.
United Bwastop of premier3
and beat College B35­18 to earn
promotion to premier2.College
Bmoves down to premier3.
Unbeateninthe firstfull
round, Hampsteadstarts as
favourite for the premier 1title.
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