New Zealand Secondary Schools Swimming Championships

Last week, 20 swimmers represented the School at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Swimming Championships held in Hamilton. The team performed well and overall finished as the third best boys’ school in New Zealand.

The medal tally was four individual and one relay gold, two individual and three relay silvers and one individual bronze medal. Many swimmers exceeded their personal best times in their events, with some improving their times by significant margins.

Form 6 student J. J. Kennard was outstanding, winning three gold medals and a silver in individual events.

There was a depth of swimming talent and team spirit evident across the championships. This was most tangible in the relay events where the senior team of Form 5 students H. P. Klouwens, D. S. Li, Form 6 student J. J. Kennard and 2022 Captain L. W. Hair won silver in the 4 x 50m medley. These four students then teamed up with Form 4 student K. D. Cossill, Form 6 students T. A. Hunter and O. B. Sargison and Form 7 student J. N. Drake to win silver in the 8 x 50m freestyle.

Klouwens and Kennard then went on to win silver in the 2 x 50m free, while Hair, Kennard, Klouwens and Li combined well again, this time to win gold in the marquee event of the 4 x 50m freestyle relay.

A number of students crossed stage on Thursday 4 August to receive their individual and team relay medals and the School’s congratulations. A special thanks to Masters in Charge Tiffany de Jager, Josh Potaka and David Wadams for their continued support.