Marching off with titles
A recent trip to Hamilton has proved successful for two young marching teams from Hokonui.
The Southland town’s under-13 and under-18 teams marched away with national titles on the back of quality efforts at the Claudelands Globox Arena, where they lined up against 42 other teams from around the country last month for the New Zealand Marching Championships.
Hokonui’s 12-strong under-18 team is the first marching team in Southland history to walk away with back-to-back titles.
The team won the technical phase, placed second in the display phase, and was named the overall New Zealand champion team for the second year in a row, a feat no other Southland team has managed before.
Months of dedication and hard work preceded the triumph, and coaches Renee Morgan and Tracy McDonald were full of praise for the girls involved.
“Becoming New Zealand champions again was hard,” Morgan said.
“It was a real emotional journey, and we became quite hard on ourselves, but in the end all of these emotions were worth it. The support we received from our families was great.”
Their efforts were backed up by Hokonui’s impressive under-13s, who returned home as the top New Zealand team and top South Island team for their age group thanks to strong performances with back-to-back New Zealand champion display placings.
The under-13 marchers were also crowned the New Zealand champion technical team and New Zealand champion display team as well as overall winners.
Coach Levana Bartlett said the girls were well drilled and determined.
“My under-13 girls marched their hearts out and left it all out on the field and came away as champions. I am truly lucky to call myself their coach.”
Hokonui’s double victory solidifies their position as marching powerhouses, not only in Southland but also nationally.
Other Southland teams competing in Hamilton included the Southern Stars, a newly formed senior marching team who made their debut at the national championships, and the under-13 Blue Jays, who marched their way to fifth and sixth placings in the plate section. Their under-18 counterparts scored a third and fourth in their plate section.