Students do well in sports week

During the first week of September students from Stratford High School participated in New Zealand Secondary Schools Tournament Week.

Many sporting tournaments are held nationally to host sports over the week and students travelled to several towns to compete.

Sports co-ordinator Philippa Smith says students should be proud of their efforts.

She thanked all the families and community for supporting, fundraising, coaching, managing and giving up time from work and families to travel with the teams.

The boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will be participating in the NZSS National Premiership Tournament in Palmerston North in October where the boys’ team will defend the national title they won last year.

Philippa says the boys’ success is largely due to the efforts of their coach, Willie Banks.

“He has dedicated a great deal of his time to the boys over the past few years.”

The basketball teams have been busy fundraising in readiness for the trip. Philippa says they have received some funding from New Zealand Community Trust towards it and are very thankful for this support.

“Both teams are strong and have a good chance of making it all the way to the finals which is our goal.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” Philippa says.

■ The students participated in the following sports with their placings: Lower North Island Netball Tournament, Palmerston North: Senior Team: 20th Place

Western Horizons Netball Tournament, Palmerston North for Junior Teams: 4A — 2nd Place.

3A- 3rd Place. North Island Mixed Hockey Tournament, Whanganui:

7thPlace.

NZSS Swimming Championships, Wellington: One Personal Best, two Top 10 Placings.

NZSS Golf Croquet Championships, Ka¯ piti Coast:

34th and 36th Place

TSNZ Target Shooting, postal competition: 6th Place

NZSS North Island Basketball Qualifying Tournament: Girls Team- 3rd Place. Boys Team 1st Place

Lower North Island Secondary School Netball team. Left to right: Chrisy Sinclair (Coach), Loegan Peita, Maddison Dravitzki, Hannah Patterson, Lani Pitcher, Courtney Tippett, Ruth Heine, Indyka Armstrong, Rebekah Hinchliffe, Nicole Pitcher, Ellie Kowalewski

Mixed Hockey team in Whanganui — back left to right — Shaun Nager (Coach), Ryan Hiestand, Kobie Hey, Finn Booker, Isaac Farley-Hancock, Leon Howells, Julia Howatson, Troy Howells, Tom Bennett, Curtis Boyde (Coach). Middle- Ashley Collings-Hughes, Nicola van der Westhuizen, Emma Baldock, Charlotte Mitchell, Meg Baldock, Janika Hey Lying down in front — Josh Smart and Demi Ward