Winter Sport (and a bit of lockdown

Winter Sport in 2021 has been the opposite of the year that preceded it. Last year’s lockdown fell in April, meaning preseason ceased to exist and teams were thrust straight into the season. This year, preparation time was ample, only for a snap lockdown to cut the season short and take away the much anticipated Winter Tournament Week.

Despite the disappointment of tournaments and travel plans being cancelled, QMC sport teams delivered terrific results across plenty of codes in 2021. But more than just winning games, there was a clear appreciation for being able to play and compete alongside (and in front of) friends.

The crowning achievement in the QMC Winter Sport programme was the Senior A basketball team clinching the Sharp Cup – Wellington’s premier basketball league. They did so in a close final thanks to some three-point shooting against Sacred Heart, a team that had beaten them twice during the regular season. Turning in their best performance of the season in the final was a credit to an amazing team and their fantastic coaches.

The future of football is in a good place for QMC. A relatively young 1st XI side bagged a number of victories in Wellington’s top football division. The Junior 1st XI went undefeated as they romped to victory in the Storm Cup. With these players gaining experience and feeding into the Senior 1st XI in the coming year, the future looks bright. Well done to Sam Woolley, who coached this team whilst also captaining the senior side.

Netball continues to be the most played sport at QMC, with more than a dozen registered teams in various grades. The Senior A side remained competitive in a tough competition and looked on track to play off for fifth before the season was cut short. Several QMC players were named in Wellington and Hutt Valley Representative sides, including Tia Pavihi, Meadow O’Dwyer, Lucy Singer and Chelsea Summers.

The hockey 1st XI made the top four of the Premier 1 Hockey Championship, ultimately going down by one goal against St Oran’s in a battle for third. Maia Kirikiri, Rachel Duston and Annabelle Aliprantis were each

named in Wellington’s Under-18 Representative side – a testament to the great seasons they had.

Newer sports, including lacrosse and e-sports, continue to draw high levels of student involvement. The QMC e-sport team made the final of their grade, while the Senior A badminton side were good enough to make it through to regional finals. From rhythmic gymnastics and rugby to aerobics and athletics, there are countless ways to get involved in sport at QMC and we encourage everyone to start thinking about what codes they might like to participate in next year.

A big thanks to all the coaches that have made everything possible. Your dedication fuels the fire in our students, and we truly appreciate how much you bring and the way you are able to elevate our girls. Finally, to all the families and supporters, we thank you for supporting your daughters in their sporting endeavours. We know there have been long periods of zero fans on the sidelines, but we hope to have you back and louder than ever in 2022.