Girls’ High best in the water

Palmerston North Girls’ High School are the national secondary schools canoe polo champions.

Girls’ High beat Taradale High School 4-2 in the final at Makino Pool in Feilding on Sunday, having come back from 2-0 down at halftime.

The Girls’ High senior A team featured Kelsey Wilde (captain), Georgia Wheeler, Caitlin Izatt, Lucy Sanson, Kate Blincoe, Petra Green and Rebecca Shepherd.

Horowhenua College finished fifth in the senior girls and Feilding High School were last of the eight teams.

Palmerston North Boys’ High School were unable to defend their senior boys’ open title and finished second, with Hastings’ St John’s College winning the crown for the first time.

St Peter’s College were sixth and Feilding were seventh.

The senior title completed a successful weekend for St John’s, as they won the junior boys’ competition as well, beating fellow Hawke’s Bay school Karamu High School in second place.

St Peter’s were third, Feilding fifth and Boys’ High sixth.

Napier Girls’ High School won the junior girls’ title, with Horowhenua second. Feilding were fifth and last. Karamu won the boys’ open division two and Feilding High School were second.

Boys’ High finished sixth and Awatapu College last.

Middleton Grange School from Christchurch won the girls’ division two final, while Wairarapa College were second.

Freyberg High School were third and Girls’ High rounded out the top four.

PHOTO: MURRAY WILSON/FAIRFAX NZ Georgia Wheeler, of Palmerston North Girls’ High School, winds up for a shot at goal against Hastings Girls’ High School in their match at the national secondary schools championships at Makino Pool at the weekend.