Teens and kids tough it out
Youngsters put to the test in tough challenge
Close to 3000 tamariki and rangatahi from across the region tackled the annual Mitre 10 Mega Whanganui Tough Teen and Tough Kid challenge at Cooks Gardens on Thursday, November 30, and Friday, December 1.
Around 980 Year 9–10 students from Whanganui secondary schools registered for the Tough Teen event held on Thursday afternoon, which featured a range of obstacles including the Plumber Dan giant inflatable ducks, the Pak’nSave trolley run and the familiar fire hoses wielded by the Whanganui Fire Brigade.
Thursday also saw a record number of participants take part in the “Quiet Hour”, a chance to try out the course in a more relaxed environment. Close to 100 children and young people enjoyed exploring the 18 obstacles with support people in tow. This year’s event brought the option for people using wheelchairs to move around an adapted course.
“Both days were a total success with an amazing atmosphere brought about by our excited tamariki and rangatahi,” said organiser Quinn Hemingway.
“We couldn’t have done it without all our fantastic sponsors and volunteers who cheered on our participants as they made their way around the course.
“Seeing so many smiling faces and hearing the laughter as people came down off the Mitre 10 Mega waterslide into the finish line was priceless!”
Whanganui High School was the winner of the Tough Teen School prize, lifting the trophy from 2022 winner Cullinane College.
Invited winners from Rangitīkei and Ruapehu Tough Kid events held earlier this year were wellrepresented in the top placings at the Mitre 10 Mega Whanganui Tough Kid event.
In the Year 5/6 Girls race, Ella Transom from St Joseph’s School in Taihape took out the double, winning on the back of a top placing in her age group at the Rangitīkei Tough Kid event in August.
St John’s Hill School and St George’s School were the winners of the Toughest Junior and Senior School titles respectively.
Sport Whanganui appreciates all the local businesses and volunteers who sponsored or helped to build obstacles, or gave up their time to help at the events.
■ 2023 Mitre 10 MEGA Whanganui Tough Teen results:
Year 9 Girls: Tilly Darke – Whanganui Collegiate School, Gabriella Valentine – Whanganui Girls’ College, Annabelle Brown – Whanganui High School. Year 9 Boys; David Sinclair – Whanganui Collegiate School, ColWin Pirddle – Cullinane College, Sam Hadfield – Cullinane College. Year 10 Boys: Blake Candish – Whanganui Collegiate School, Lucas Howard – Whanganui High School,
Cameron Spencer – Whanganui Collegiate School.
Year 10 Girls: Hannah Byam – Whanganui Collegiate School, Grace Fannin – Whanganui Girls’ College, Amy Davidson – Whanganui High School.
Toughest School: Whanganui High School.
2023 Mitre 10 MEGA Whanganui Tough Kid results:
Year 3-4 Girls: Selai Cross, Kaitoke School, Lilly Wright, Papanui Junction School, Aubrie Sollit, Fordell School. Year 3-4 Boys: Mason Payne, Faith City School, Leo Biggs, Faith City School, Harry O’Neill, South Makirikiri School.
Year 5-6 Girls: Ella Transom, St Joseph’s School Taihape, Indi Taylor, Ohakune Primary School, Gwen Crabb, Brunswick School.
Year 5-6 Boys: James MacPherson, St John’s Hill School, Carson Hooper, Bulls School, Judah Roy, St John’s Hill School.
Year 7-8 Girls; Abigail Glasgow, Fordell School, Amelia Boden-Cave, St George’s School, Kassidy Compton, Westmere School. Year 7-8 Boys: Neko McDougal, Hunterville School, Ashton Baxter, St George’s School, Max Candish, St George’s School.
Toughest Junior School: St John’s Hill School.
Toughest Senior School: St George’s School.