Area schools show competitive side
Top of the south area schools biked, baked and painted their way to triumph during a week of competitions.
Hosted by Tapawera Area School this year, nearly 60 kilometres south west of Nelson, they took home the overall trophy.
The week-long tournament saw schools competing in a wide variety of activities, including golf, bowls, football, cooking, art and shooting. All activities were chosen by the host school, with the exception of the mainstream sports.
Each of the seven schools competing supplied 10 boys and 10 girls to represent their school, with the students from out of town housed with families in the area.
Tapawera Area School part time teacher Susan Fenemor said it was a real community event, relying on families for accommodation and volunteers with a ‘‘passion in their sport’’ to run many of the events.
She said despite a ‘‘water bomb’’, lashing down on the multi-sport activity on Monday, the rest of the week’s activities were under hot, sunny conditions.
Team members had to swim, run and bike in the multi-sport activity. The run went up Shedwood Bush to the top of the track so ‘‘that would’ve been as muddy as heck, and slippery’’ in the downpour, Fenemor said.
Since the 1960s, area schools from top of the south have taken part in a week long tournament.
It started out as a competition for five area schools but in recent years it has expanded to seven including South Westland, Karamea, Reefton, Murchison, Tapawera, Rai Valley and Collingwood.
The top of the south tournament leads on to a national event held in Whangarei this year, whittled down to mainstream sports.
After four days and 24 events, Tapawera Area School won 12 of the events, with Collingwood Area School the next best with five wins.
Fenemor said she thought being the home venue was a big advantage.
Karamea is hosting next year so they ‘‘might chuck in river rafting’’, or Collingwood may do sailing on the estuary when they host.