Queenstown turned on a stunner for the final day of action at the Calder Stewart National Schools Triathlon Championships, with the athletes moving to Lake Hayes for the running of the Open Water Swim and Aquathlon National Championships.
One of the highlights of the day and indeed the entire festival came late in the piece with the run of Hamish Miller (Bethlehem College) as he outlasted a fast finishing Janus Staufenberg (Mt Aspring College) that had the crowd cheering right through to the line. The effort of Miller and Staufenberg highlighted what it means to win while representing your school, in particular for those in their final year and Miller emptied the tank in racing to victory.
The day had dawned a little ominously with low cloud and cool temperatures in the wake of the weather front that had moved through overnight, but by late morning that had given way to beautiful sunshine and temperatures approaching the low twenties as beanies and gloves made way for sunglasses and ice creams.
The open water swim did test the athletes however, with a water temperature of a cool 15.4 degrees, it was very much wetsuits and a sharp intake of breath upon entering the water.
Once again there was some brilliant racing, with the highlights including a blanket finish for the U16 boys with Danyon Hardie (Hamilton Boys High) just edging a thrilling race that saw the first four athletes all over the line inside a five second spread.
Amongst the most impressive efforts in the open water swim was that of Rebecca Cheyne, (Pukekohe High School). With a beautiful swim stroke, Cheyne proved a class above the competition to win by 8 seconds, making the swim look effortless as she cut through the top of Lake Hayes with ease.
It was then time for the aquathlon (swim/run) championships, with many athletes backing up after the swim and enjoying the by now perfect conditions with the sun streaming down and the support of schoolmates, coaches and parents ringing around the Lake Hayes venue.
As mentioned Hamish Miller took out the feature U19 men’s race in close fashion but Ari Graham (St Andrews) was too strong in the women’s, running into the lead early on the final leg and easing away by 15 seconds from a fast-finishing Jacey Cropp (Rangitoto College) and early leader Bayley-Rose Van de Coolwijk (St Mary’s Wellington).
Other winners on the final day included a double up for Dylan McCullough (St Kentigern), taking out the U16 aquathlon title to go with his triathlon win yesterday and a strong performance from Hannah Knighton (Waikato Dio) who overcame a constant cold and cough to win the U16 Girls aquathlon title.
Hosted by the Southland Triathlon and Multisport Club, Event Director Sally Hayes reflected on a superb two days, with over 800 entries from all round the country, from as far north as Whangarei and East as Gisborne and of course from many schools in the South.
“The support these past two days has been tremendous, we want to say a huge thanks to all of the schools who have invested the time and resource in these athletes to have them here for the Calder Stewart Nationals. We love it here in the South, we are biased of course but where in the world could you race that is better than this in terms of the scenery and hospitality?
“We can’t put on this sort of event without the support of many, to all of our commercial and trust fund partners we thank you for what you have helped put on for all the schools, in particular Calder Stewart. But also to our volunteers, our marshalls and officials, those on the water and on the course ensuring a safe race, thank you for your part in a great couple of days.”
Results: Open Water Swim (Calder Stewart National Schools Triathlon Championships)
U12 Boys
1. Tom Freeman (Darfield High School) 7:15
2. Daniel Johnston (Huntley School) 7:28
3. Luke Hair (Saint Kentigern Boys' School) 7:46
U12 Girls
1. Sophie Spencer (Saint Kentigern College) 6:08
2. Rebecca Hurley (Cobham Intermediate School) 6:32
3. Martina White (Verdon College) 6:35
U13 Boys
1. Will Bason (Saint Kentigern College) 5:36
2. Carlos Hardie (Southwell School) 5:53
3. Jack Findlay (Mt Aspiring College) 6:02
U13 Girls
1. Courtney Elliott (Mount Hutt College) 5:56
2. Bree Middleton (Mount Hutt College) 6:00
3. Prudence Fowler (Mount Albert Grammar School) 6:16
U14 Boys
1. Thomas Bishop (Taupo Nui-a-tia College) 11:58
2. Damien Doyle (Otaki College) 12:00
3. Andrew Matthews (Sacred Heart College) 13:10
U14 Girls
1. Sarah Miller (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls) 12:39
2. Chloe Tattersfield (St Cuthbert's College) 12:54
3. Olivia Andrew (St Hilda's Collegiate) 13:16
U16 Boys
1. Danyon Hardie (Hamilton Boys' High School) 9:54
2. Quinton Hurley (St Andrews Secondary School) 9:56
3. Ryan Church (Saint Kentigern College) 9:57
U16 Girls
1. Rebecca Cheyne (Pukekohe High School) 10:36
2. Hannah Knighton (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls) 10:54
3. Tahlia Pook (Taupo Nui-a-tia College) 11:00
U19 Boys
1. Angus Syme (St Andrews Secondary School) 14:45
2. Hamish Miller (Bethlehem College) 14:46
3. David Martin (Palmerston North Boys' High School) 14:48
U19 Girls
1. Claudia Ashby (Sacred Heart Girls College Hamilton) 31:13
2. Jacey Cropp (Rangitoto College) 31:15
3. Bayley-Rose Van de Coolwijk (St Mary's College (Wellington)) 31:53
Results: Aquathlon (Calder Stewart National Schools Triathlon Championships)
U12 Boys
1. Sam Idiens (Medbury School) 6:23
2. Matthew Ney (Gisborne Intermediate School) 7:00
3. Charles Lord (Medbury School) 7:09
U12 Girls
1. Sophie Spencer (Saint Kentigern College) 6:28
2. Sophie Howell (Hilltop School) 6:50
3. Emma Faherty (James Hargest College Junior Campus) 6:58
U13 Boys
1. William Taylor (Christchurch Boys' High School) 5:48
2. Leo Staufenberg (Mt Aspiring College) 6:06
3. Jack Findlay (Mt Aspiring College) 6:09
U13 Girls
1. Courtney Elliott (Mount Hutt College) 6:11
2. Sacha McLeod (Waikato Diocesan) 6:20
3. Georgia Hair (Diocesan School for Girls Auckland) 6:33
U14 Boys
1. Callum Hockey (Rangitoto College) 11:27
2. Caleb Ney (Gisborne Boys' High School) 11:33
3. William Leong (Palmerston North Boys' High School) 11:40
U14 Girls
1. Natalya Carter (Baradene College of the Sacred Heart) 11:41
2. Sarah Miller (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls) 11:45
3. Lucy Farrell (Waikato Diocesan School for Girls) 11:52
U16 Boys
1. Dylan McCullough (U16 1 Male 1 Saint Kentigern College) 14:38
2. Josiah Ney (U16 2 Male 2 Gisborne Boys' High School) 14:50
3. Saxon Morgan (U16 3 Male 3 St Andrews Secondary School) 14:53
U19 Boys
1. Hamish Miller (Bethlehem College) 14:29
2. Janus Staufenberg (Mt Aspiring College) 14:31
3. Bradley Cullen (Hamilton Boys' High School) 14:50
U19 Girls
1. Ari Graham (St Andrews Secondary School) 24:45
2. Jacey Cropp (Rangitoto College) 25:00
3. Bayley-Rose Van de Coolwijk (St Mary's College (Wellington)) 25:05
