Carmel College

Caitlin O'Reilly.

Caitlin O'Reilly, Principal Chris Allen and Greer Morley. Greer Morley.

Carmel Students recognised at the North Harbour Club AIMES Awards

Celebrating two remarkable Carmel sportswomen: Caitlin O'Reilly and Greer Morley

Former Carmel College student, Caitlin O’Reilly, was first recognised by the North Harbour Club with a Junior Excellence Award following her swim across the Cook Strait in 2017 – the youngest person at age 12 to ever complete the difficult 17.5km swim. Four years on she received a North Harbour Club AIMES Scholarship grant of $3,000 recognising the achievements she continues to make as an ultramarathon swimmer.

“I couldn’t imagine life without swimming” says Caitlin. “Ocean swimming is what pushes me to continue to train harder and to do better every day. I feel at home with the ocean and have created many friendships. The ocean swimming community is not about being the fastest; it is about sharing common goals no matter how big or small."

Caitlin is a LiveOcean Champion, aiming to use her profile and swimming adventures to help raise awareness for this local charity that funds New Zealand scientists and their research. This is used to protect and support our marine life and open water ecosystem here in New Zealand’s wider backyard where it is most needed.

Caitlin is off to Japan next month to do the next leg of the Global Channel swims - there are seven in total.

Current Carmel College student, Greer Morley, is a high achiever in both canoe sprint and surf ski racing. She has won many national and regional event titles and is a member of the Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club.

Greer says she was first introduced to kayaking at 12 years of age. “I instantly fell in love with the sport and really enjoyed the coaching sessions at the North Shore Canoe Club at Lake Pupuke.” Greer’s training regime consists of 4-5 hours per day, before and after school, and during weekends. She is out on the lake each day, training with Dame Lisa Carrington and Aimee Fisher.

Greer’s ultimate goal is to represent New Zealand at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. She received a North Harbour Club AIMES Scholarship grant of $3,000 which will assist her in achieving her goals and to travel to overseas events.