Nor'West News: June 30, 2022

Thursday June 30 2022 5
Sports stars shine at St Margaret’s
WITH THE resumption
of international sports, St
Margaret’s College has a strong
contingent of students wearing
the silver fern when they head
overseas to compete in their
respective sports.
Director of sport Helen
Belcher said while SMC girls
have regularly represented New
Zealand in rowing and tennis,
there has been growing interest
in basketball and kayaking, and
orienteering and fencing have
been introduced as new codes at
the school.
“International competition is
hugely important for the girls
– it exposes them to a higher
level of play and develops their
skills. It gives our athletes
the opportunity to combine
overseas travel and play the
sport they love while having a
strong support system around
them. For those of our girls
looking at applying for overseas
universities, it will enhance
their applications.”
Belcher said that competing
internationally helps the girls
to develop confidence, gives
athletes the opportunity to
experience other cultures and
perspectives, and to develop
independence and adaptability.
“These athletes are particularly
humble about their achievements
and grateful for the opportunities
that are available to them
this year.”
The girls heading or already
offshore are:
• Ivy Brown is in the under-17
national basketball team vying
for honours in the under-16
women’s FIBA Asia Cup in
Jordan. Finishing in the top
four will earn them a spot in the
under-17 women’s FIBA World
Cup, which is held next month in
Hungary.
• Katherine Babington is in the
NZ Junior World Orienteering
Championship team of six young
women and six young men competing
at the upcoming Junior
World Orienteering Champs in
Portugal.
• Grace Farrell and Jemma
Burrowes are part of the under-19
New Zealand women’s
eight competing at the 2022
World Rowing under-19 championships
in Varese, Italy, from
July 27 to 31.
• Lucia Gale made the under-15
tennis team that will
compete in Queensland at the
Australian teams event.
• Milo Neil has been on guard
in Sydney at the Oceania and
Australian cadet (under-17)
fencing championship. She’s
also has been selected for
the New Zealand team in
the Commonwealth fencing
championship (under-17/cadet
grade) to be held in London,
August 9-20.
• Brie Cox has won selection
for the New Zealand under-18
sprint kayaking team and will
compete in the Asia Pacific Cup
in Japan, September 29-October
2. She is also in the Canoe Racing
New Zealand talent ID training
squad.
• Sisters Katherine and Anna
(Left to right): Ivy
Brown, Katherine
Babington, Anna
Babington, Brie
Cox, Lucia Gale
(kneeling), Milo
Neil, Grace Farrell,
Jemma Burrowes.
Babington are in the New
Zealand schools orienteering
team travelling to the Australian
schools championships in
September. Both girls are also
competing at the European
youth orienteering champs in
Budapest in early July although
not representing New Zealand.
• Ruby Young is shortly heading
to Australia and Fiji to compete
in under-18 International
Tennis Federation tournaments,
although isn’t part of a New
Zealand team as players enter
themselves.
heart in Labour MP Greg O’Connor’s
he says “we have an absolute obligation
every corner of New Zealand”.
to launch this year’s