Students pool their talents
Nelson’s Year 7 and 8 students were awash with good results after last week’s intermediate inter-school swimming sports on Friday.
More than 150 students from seven local schools took part in the event, which was held at Nayland Park Pool complex.
While all swimmers gave it their best shot, Nelson College Prep students were among the best performers over the 60 events.
In addition to achieving 17 first places, three seconds and four thirds in individual races, four of their relay teams had wins in the Year 7 3 x 50m medley, Year 7 4 x 50m freestyle, Year 8 3 x 50m medley and Year 8 4 x 50m freestyle team.
The latter comprised of Andrew Cross, Luke Kilworth, Elliott Bagnall and Tasman York, who took out their event in a time of 2 minutes 25 seconds.
‘‘We do sometimes train here at lunchtimes,’’ Cross said.
‘‘But we didn’t really have much of a chance to practice because we have already got schoolwork on.’’
‘‘We just got there and went for it basically.’’
As a member of the Tasman Swimming Club, Cross was the only one of the quartet who currently engages in regular swim training throughout the year.
However, archery, rugby, cricket, football and basketball were some of the other sporting pursuits that were keeping the boys active.
Buoyed by his inter-school success, York said he was now looking to join his classmate at the club with which he shared his first name.
School secretary Pauline Schurmann said the overall success achieved by Nelson College Prep was ’’a great achievement for a small school.’’
Nelson Intermediate also enjoyed a successful day, with first places to Hannah Hobbs in the Y7 breaststroke and Emily Bryant in the Y8 freestyle final.
In the relays, the Y8 girls free style and medley team of Bryant, Skye Humphries, Kate Barton and Paige Sofield took first place, while the Y7 girls medley team claimed second.