23 minute read
Sport at St Cuthbert’s
St Cuth’s create hockey ‘keenos’
St Cuthbert’s hockey has a stellar reputation for a reason, two reasons in fact: Tori Vao and Victoria Methven, our hockey specialist sports coaches and code managers.
Together, Tori and Victoria (Vic) grow hockey ‘keenos’, a St Cuth’s nickname which has been with them since they started in 2017. ‘Keenos’ describes the hockey fever St Cuth’s players get from the first time they pick up a stick.
Vic oversees the Junior teams which are organised within year groups across Years 4 – 8 and is also assistant coach for the 1st XI with Mitch Hayde. Tori oversees the Senior teams from Years 9 – 13. The three top teams in the Senior programme are at an incredible standard. For example, recently the 3rd XI beat another very reputable school’s 1st XI team. Many of our 1st XI students have gone forward to be identified in the Under 18 NZ Squad, Emma Irwin, Kaea Elliott and Rose Parkinson (Auckland), Bella Browne and Chloe Browne (North Harbour) and Brodie Cochrane (Northland). This is a remarkable achievement as St Cuthbert’s has more U18 NZ players identified than any other region in the country!!
Speaking with Victoria and Tori, it’s easy to tell they have great fun working so closely with each other. The friendly banter is non-stop which is not surprising seeing they have played representative hockey together since the age of 12 and still play each other in rival club hockey teams!
Q. How is it working not only with girls on their St Cuthbert’s hockey, but also liaising with their club teams?
Vic: St Cuth’s has a good relationship and reputation with the Auckland clubs and a lot of school coaches, also coach clubs, so the benefit is that everyone is aware of our girls’ schedules.
Tori: We are close to our players so this means we can keep an eye on them to make sure that the pressure they may be under doesn’t get too much. We work with the girls to help them manage themselves and not burn out. Rather than organise their schedules for them, we like to encourage the girls to take some ownership and liaise with their coaches themselves.
Vic: What’s important to us is that we have the girls’ wellbeing at the center, we invest time with the students from the first day which allows us to have trust between us and the players so that when they are tired, the girls know they can come to us and talk about anything. The girls know that our main goal is them, and we know that these girls can be the best ANYTHING they want to be, so we’re always going to support them – their wellbeing is the absolute priority and we feel so lucky to work with them.
Q. After building such strong relationships is it hard to say goodbye after Year 13?
Tori: To be honest we’re still in touch with so many girls even after they’ve left, and they know that our door is always open. Just this year, previous Under 18 NZ squad member, Tiana Currie, came up from Hamilton to play at the St Cuth’s hosted ANZAC festival game and she came into the office saying, “I miss school hockey with you guys.”
Vic: I love the July school holidays when we take teams down to play three schools in Christchurch, as we have recent St Cuthbert’s leavers come and watch our current girls play. And they don’t just come from Canterbury Uni they drive up from Otago too. They really want to keep supporting the St Cuth’s girls, it’s such a great relationship and lovely to see that they just want to share in the success of the current players.
Q. You joined within several weeks of each other in 2017, what’s been your focus since you’ve both been onboard?
Vic: Over time we’ve ensured the results from the top teams haven’t dropped while at the same time, we have been trying to mould the girls from the Junior and seeding teams to make sure everyone has a deep love of hockey and is not just focused on going for the win.
Tori: When we came in, we noticed that quite a few players dropped the code after Year 8 and 9, and then again at the end of their Senior years. Our focus has been to keep encouraging girls to love the sport they play and to continue playing sport even once they leave St Cuth’s. We’re now so proud when we see many girls leave Year 13 still playing for their universities and local clubs, and we feel proud to have changed the focus from a “win at all costs mentality” to more of a genuine love of hockey.
Q. What’s your most memorable moment since you joined in 2017?
Vic: Winning Federation Cup in 2019 is definitely up there, but, for me it has to be the experience our kids get at AIMS games in Years 7 and 8. We have so many codes going down to Tauranga and for most students it’s their first ever tournament away from home and they are fizzing with excitement – I just love seeing that.
Tori: That’s true, some of our strongest 1st XI players who have gone onto win top tournaments still watch the playbacks of when they attended their Year 7 and 8 AIMS hockey games, time and time again – so gorgeous! We even have one of our current Black Sticks still watching their Federation Cup final which really highlights what school hockey means to them.
Q. What does success look like for you?
Vic: The students succeeding is the coolest thing for us, whether it’s a girl picking up a stick for the first time and watching her doing her first hit. These students look up with so much excitement in their eyes as for them, it’s world class. Or at the other end of the scale, watching the 1st XI girls and they’ve just beaten a top ranked team. There’s different phases of success for our girls as they grow up in the sport and you don’t get to have that in many jobs.
Tori: Quite often within the hockey community we have club coaches coming to us full of praise for a St Cuth’s girl. We feel so proud of our girls when we can see how well they are doing being reflected through someone else’s eyes. Whatever team they are in, whatever club they might play for, overall, you can always see an excellent ‘St Cuth’s attitude’. But there’s nothing lovelier than when, despite all their successes, St Cuth’s graduates choose to come back to coach here like Jules (Julia King) and Katie (Doar) did. They’re two of the best hockey players in NZ wanting to spend time with the up-and-coming St Cuth’s hockey players.
Meet St Cuthbert’s hockey’s secret weapon: teacher, Shelley Ireton
Q: When did you start supporting hockey at St Cuthbert’s?
I started coaching the Year 7 and 8 A hockey team when I first arrived at St Cuthbert’s at the beginning of 1990. The coach of the 1st XI hockey team at the time was Simon Norton, who, unbeknown to me, had been following the success of my Year 7 and 8 A team for several years. Simon approached me and asked if I would help with the 1st XI hockey in 2000, and I continued coaching the Year 7 and 8 team. All up I have had a total of 31 years involved with St Cuthbert’s hockey!
Q: Why hockey and not another code?
I was always very active in all sports growing up in Whakatane. I was a Bay of Plenty champion in swimming, tennis and badminton. I was the only girl growing up in a neighbourhood of boys, so they always needed that extra person, me, to make up the numbers for a game of cricket, rugby, basketball, bullrush, softball etc. It wasn’t until Intermediate that hockey was introduced to me. I gave it a go and fell in love with the freedom to run around quite a large field. Being part of a team was a draw card as well, as I got to train and play with my friends. I played representative hockey for Bay of Plenty and Waikato women, and I also coached the Waikato Collier U13 team.
While trialling for the Auckland women’s team I tore my cruciate ligament, which really shattered my dream of potentially becoming a Black Stick. So, I continued my love of hockey by coaching representative Auckland Collier U13 and U15 teams alongside my St Cuthbert’s hockey commitments.
Q: Are you in touch with past players?
I really enjoy seeing all the girls I’ve managed over the years. As Old Girls they come and watch our games. There are always lots of hugs and great memories to chat about. I’m very proud of all the girls and when they say I’m like a ‘mother’ to them it is incredibly touching and heart-warming.
Q: Were you fixated on the hockey Olympics watching your girls with heart-soaring pride?
I was, especially as I taught Liz Thompson in Year 7. Liz, Julia King and Stacey Michelson were in the winning ‘dream team’ in 2008 when St Cuthbert’s won their first ever New Zealand title. Liz also won the New Zealand title in 2012, and Katie Doar was in the winning team of 2017 and 2019.
Q: And your pride moments, if different?
It would have to be winning the NZ Secondary Schools hockey title four times in 2008, 2012, 2017 and 2019. To be part of a New Zealand title winning team after all the hard work I’ve put in on the hockey field, in the dugout and many hours behind the scenes, really is amazing.
Celebrating our Premier Teams
We want to take this opportunity to recognise our outstanding premier sports students and their commitment to their code.
The girls have had to process many disappointments over the past two years, with cancelled sports events due to COVID-19, including Tournament Week.
Sport teaches us resilience, leadership, accountability, respect, and patience, and we have seen all these qualities and more in our students.
To the following Girls, you may not have had your national tournaments, but you are all winners in our eyes!
The 1st XI Hockey Team were set to compete at the Federation Cup.
Isabel Allen, Bella Browne, Chloe Browne, Kate Carter, Brodie Cochrane, Kaea Elliott, Charlotte Goldsmith, Olivia Greenwood, Emma Irwin, Kate Irwin, Jaime Lewis, Rose Parkinson, Jemma Robinson, Zara Stewart, Emma Thompson, Caitlin Wong, and Brooke Farmer.
We have won this tournament in 2008, 2012, 2017 (Napier) and 2019.
The 2nd XI Hockey Team were to compete at the Chris Arthur Cup in Taupo.
Lily Allen, Olivia Barron, Mia Birnie, Charlotte Greenwood, Jade Holmes, Grace McCarthy, Jemma Nesdale, Mia Parker, Katelin Toes, Sofia Toes, Ella Palmer, Georgia Foley, Milly Adams, Georgie Huxford and Chloe Lindon.
The girls came third in this tournament in 2019.
The Premier Netball Team were to compete at the Upper North Island Secondary Schools (UNISS).
Tiaare Ahovelo, Rebecca Fala, Rylee Schuster, Mala Krzanic-Sullivan, Leula Cowley, Ruby Shaw, Ayja Shaw, Caroline Reopoamo, Maioha Holmes, Lisi Siaosi, Rosa Cox and Ava Dilly.
The team are in A grade for UNISS and we were taking a very young development team to the tournament this year, which we were very excited about.
1st XI Football Team were to play at the NZ Secondary Schools Girls Football Premier National Tournament.
Amelia McInnes, Anna Marshall, Apaula Peteru, Cate Denny, Charlotte Marvin, Ella Alfaro Campbell, Ellie Evans, Isobel Jenner, Katherine Fanelli, Lexi Butler, Luci Hollister, Maggie Meyers, Olivia Gillingham, Pippa Dixon, Rosa Hollister and Ruby Luxton.
With 14 of these 16 players currently in Years 10 – 12 we have a very promising squad for 2022!
Keep training with your heads held high Girls.
Justine Mahon — Principal, St Cuthbert’s
Spotlight on Junior School Sport
Our Junior School girls made the most of the Winter Sport season, taking part in an amazing range of sports from football to gymnastics. Girls, we loved seeing the fun you had and the way you supported one another.
Flippaball
This year we had a record number of teams entered for flippaball, with seven teams in the Water Wolves League, run out of St Cuthbert’s pool on Sunday afternoons.
We had four teams in the Year 3 and 4 grade who showed great improvement throughout the season. There were also three teams in the Year 5 and 6 grade, a big step up as this involves more work on treading water and learning the skills of waterpolo.
The teams all gained some great skill instruction and game knowledge prior to each session, followed by a 30-minute game. Our teams gained some fabulous results in a variety of the grades. We look forward to seeing all our players progress through further age groups in the flippa ball programme in the future.
Football
Skills are developing fast among our young footballers and this season we had two College teams playing in local competitions. The regular Wednesday morning sessions before school each term attract 25 – 30 students who are each provided a ball which is key to learning and practicing new skills.
Our school Director of Football, Haley Gleeson, oversees each session and has great help from our volunteer Senior players who get to pass on their own tricks plus learn coaching tips from Haley.
A highlight one morning in Term 3 was a visit from the NZ Football Ferns just before they left for the Olympics. Meeting the Ferns has now inspired some to aim for the stars themselves.
Gymnastics
Our Junior School gymnasts have been training every Monday lunch right throughout Terms 1 to 3 with fantastic coaches from TriStar Gym and Junior School teachers Laura Hadfield and Birgitta Hartinger.
16 students from Years 3 – 6 were then selected to participate in the Remuera zone gymnastics competition. The girls came away with some fantastic results with the top three teams and top eight individuals from each age group qualifying for the Auckland Primary schools Champion of champions competition later in the year. We had nine gymnasts qualify.
Year 3:
Rosie Gibbs, Estella Jiang, Lucy Fenwick, Cassie Cashen. Team: 2nd Individual: Rosie Gibbs (4th), Estella Jiang (7th)
Year 4:
Lucy Gill, Hannah Sun, Annie Zang, Vianna Cheung Individual: Lucy Gill 4th
Year 5:
Alicia Li, Nalani Tuhoe, Cleo Lindsay, Iris Dun. Team: 3rd Individual: Alicia Li 3rd
Year 6:
Charlotte Bruford, Sophie Qu, Angelica Zhao, Leila Roosen.
Hockey
We have had a fantastic Junior Hockey season this year with our seven teams across Years 4 – 6. The enthusiasm after last year’s disruptive season has been great to see with a great turnout of students at trainings on Wednesday afternoons. Our students showed enthusiasm, rain or shine, and they really improved throughout the season.
We were very fortunate to have 17 student coaches across our Year 4– 6 hockey teams (from the 1st and 2nd XI hockey teams). Our Year 6 teams were The Unbelievable Sticks, King and Hotshots, the Year 5 teams, the Slicksticks and Astros, and our Year 4 team was the Thompson team.
Netball
This year St Cuthbert’s had six junior netball teams across Years 3 – 6, playing in the Auckland Netball competition at St John’s on Thursday nights.
All our Junior teams trained and played weekly in Terms 2 and 3. Our Tigers, Leopards, Firecrackers, Sparklers, Diamonds and Emeralds were all coached by Senior School students, creating strong bonds within our College Netball community.
We also ran several netball holiday programmes, where we were able to introduce the sport to some of our youngest Year 1 and 2 students in the Junior school.
Spotlight on Senior School Sport
Our Senior School girls continue to show amazing teamwork, perseverance, and leadership skills across a range of sports. Despite lockdown interruptions, the girls had a fantastic season, with impressive results across the codes.
Equestrian
Our Equestrian team won the North Island Secondary Schools Horse Trials Event in Taupo. The four-rider team of Holly Richardson, Jessica Sutherland, Ariella Grant and Petra Grant, competed in the three disciplines of dressage, show jumping and cross country. They incurred the fewest number of penalty points which earned them the title from 40 other school teams.
We also had success winning regional competitions where our students sometimes vie with adult riders. Jessica Sutherland competed at the NZ Eventing championship and scored strongly in dressage, cross country and show jumping, to place 1st overall in her division. Jessica was awarded the Sir Mark Todd Challenge Cup and the Secondary Schools Trophy for the highest placed secondary school student. Her composite team also placed 2nd overall.
Holly Richardson won 1st place and Isabelle Hawkins placed 3rd at the Grand Prix Super Series Final earlier in the year.
Our girls are very lucky to have NZ Olympic legend Blyth Tait coach a master class in the art of show-jumping each year. Our expert coach, Jacque Williams also holds a training session every term for our 30 school riders, amazing preparation for the competitions during the year.
Football
Premier Grade coaches Mark Thompson and assistant Nicole Mettam primed the team well for the season and started perfectly with a win over Diocesan in the annual Parent Shield match. This team suffered more than most, with a variety of injuries which was then reflected in a run of losses. It did however give the opportunity for Year 9 and 10 players to help out and experience top grade football. The team was led by captain Charlotte Marvin who we farewell this year along with fellow Year 13 player Lexi Butler. These two students have given outstanding service to the code of football over many years.
Our 2nd X1 team competed in the Senior B Grade and had plenty of fun winning five of their 10 matches. With the usual mix of experience plus some new to the game, our relief teacher Mitchell Carter got the best from the team who finished with two wins in the play-offs and are enthusiastic for next season. Special mention to players Bella Sandler Wright, Brooke Munro and Emma Ford who helped wrangle the girls for trainings and matches.
Player numbers among the Year 9 and 10s were enough to field two teams this year. Both teams had a demanding season, usually playing teams with more experience, although their spirit and resilience were admirable. This was clearly demonstrated by Fiona He, Hannah Murray, Joesalina Mafi, Olivia Gillingham and Sasha Lockington, who made their debuts for the Premier Grade team.
Our Year 7 and 8 team also played a fantastic season in the 9-a-side league after school on Wednesdays.
Hockey
The Year 7 and 8 hockey students have been a pleasure to work with for the 2021 season. The improvement across all four teams in this age group has been fantastic. The Robertson team won the Central Zone Hockey Competition and came 3rd at the Inter-Zone competition. This has, without a doubt, been a very successful year across the Year 7 and 8 teams and we have been lucky to see their progress since the start of the season!
Our U15 teams completed their season and had a wonderful time, both competitively and playing off for 5th and 6th in their respective grades. The U15 Black team finished their season on a high, drawing for 5th= against a team who, at the beginning of the season had beat them quite substantially, showing their improvement throughout the season.
Our 4th XI for 2021 comprised girls from Years 10 – 13. The girls played Friday afternoons and were a great example of playing sport for fun, with friends. The team (although somewhat social) surprised themselves and made the C-Grade championship playoffs.
Our 3rd XI was extremely lucky to be coached by ex-Argentinian international hockey player Rocio Gonzalez-Canda. The team was an exciting glance at the up-and-coming talent within our programme. The girls had a successful season playing in the B Grade Champs, and finished on a high beating Dio in their final game 4–1.
The 2nd XI again had a successful season, competing in the Auckland A grade against mostly all 1st XI teams. The 2nd XI improved hugely throughout the season and ended up making the 1st vs 2nd playoff vs Howick College, due to be played the week we went into lockdown. The team had been working hard and was looking very promising.
The 1st XI was really hitting its strides going into lockdown, having already won the Auckland championship earlier in the season it was also unbeaten in the Supercity competition going into the supercity final vs Westlake. With six of our players being named in the NZU18 squad, the girls were super excited about the opportunity to defend their national title at the Federation Cup in Napier.
We were extremely lucky to be able to send our 1st and 2nd XI teams to Christchurch in the July school holidays. The trip proved to be exactly what both teams needed with Christchurch schools Rangi Ruru and St Margaret’s both providing some fierce competition for our 1st and 2nd XI teams. The girls stayed in the boarding house at Rangi Ruru, and were treated to a fabulous dinner and quiz night with all six teams. To honour the close relationship our hockey programme has with Rangi Ruru, their 1st XI donated a trophy to be played for by both schools called Te Iti Kahurangi – ‘The pursuit of excellence’. The teams ended up winning one game each and so the decider came down to a shootout, with St Cuthbert’s coming out on top.
Lacrosse
2021 was a successful season for our Senior Lacrosse Team with St Cuthbert’s finishing 3rd in their division.
With the growth shown in this year’s lacrosse community we are excited about the 2022 season. Thanks to Coach Lachlan Lee, parent Manager Michelle Aleksich and Trevor Nichol for his weekly support.
Netball
The week before lockdown, our Year 8A and 7A teams competed in the annual Central Zones netball tournament. Our 8A team played its hardest, but unfortunately had an extremely tough draw with both eventual finalists (Remuera and Pasadena) in their initial pool. Our 7A team had a very successful day, winning its first six games to make it through to the final against a determined and physical Kowhai team. The girls couldn’t come away with the win in the final, but their 2nd place finish meant they qualified for the Interzones tournament. A great achievement!
Our AIMS netball team had been working very hard to prepare for the AIMS games, turning up to early morning trainings and meetings for several weeks before lockdown. Unfortunately, the tournament was cancelled, but the team was lucky enough to attend the Howick-Pakuranga Year 7 and 8 tournament just before lockdown. This was the first opportunity the girls had to take the court together as a team, and they had a great day with a few wins, a few losses, and a lot of fun!
AKSS Ski Champs
We had a fantastic team of students represent the school at the AKSS Ski Champs this year, with the results below.
• Junior Girls Dual Race Genevieve
Lyne 3rd
• Senior Girls Dual Race Chloe Browne 4th, Bella Browne 5th, Hana Ehsankya 7th, Amelie Stow 9th
• Girls Ski Race Overall Champs
St Cuthbert’s team: Chloe Browne, Bella
Browne and Hana Ehsankya • Girls Team 2nd Overall for the day across the Ski Race and the Slopestyle. • St Cuthbert’s Ski Team: Angelina
Brotherston, Bella Browne, Chloe
Browne, Molly Charlesworth, Hana
Ehsankya, Bella Firman, Libby Jackson,
Genevieve Lyne, Ella McCutcheon,
Amelie Stow and Harriet Swasbrook.
Swimming
Congrats to the team of 10 girls who represented St Cuthbert’s at the 2021 NZ Secondary Schools Swimming Championship. The event ran across six sessions and saw the best secondary school swimmers go head-tohead for the title of national champion, and the top school gong. Our girls entered into seven relay events and 18 individual events across all strokes. Thanks to Liz Howard, Co-Director of Sport for managing the team, with the support of parent Niki Paterson. Highlights included:
• 9th of 23 girls schools
• 2nd 50m Breaststroke: Elisha Lam (14 years) • 3rd 100m Breaststroke: Elisha Lam (14 years) • 3rd 200m Butterfly: Islay Boyes (14 years)
Waterpolo
Our Year 7 and 8 waterpolo programme was fortunate enough to get through a term and half worth of competition, with a raft of great successes.
We had four teams entered into the Auckland Eastern League on Friday evenings during Terms 2 and 3. Our Year 7 and 8 Blue team gained great success by going through the league undefeated. The team also won the New Zealand Winter Festival Tournament, the Central Zones, and travelled to Tauranga for the Bayfest Water Polo Tournament coming 2nd. A fantastic effort!
Our Year 7 and 8 Green, White and Black teams all had very successful league results, gaining some great results in the Eastern League and the New Zealand Winter Festival Tournament. The teams grew in ability, skill and knowledge and it was great to see the teams continually improve throughout the season.
A huge thank you to our great team of coaches and parent managers for all their hard work and effort.
Our New Codes
Fencing
In Term 2 we had a fantastic start to the revitalization of fencing at St Cuthbert’s with so many students wanting to give it a go, that the gym was full to bursting!
The girls have been training in epee, where you need to outwit and outmanoeuvre your opponent. The entire body is target, and unlike foil or sabre, the first person to hit, scores the point.
It has been a pleasure to see our girls develop as athletes and witness their support and encouragement for each other. The girls have had a tremendous first season, and our four-person team entered and won the local Secondary Schools Team Epee competition in August. Here is what one of our students Jessie Yan had to say, “As our team also became closer and more comfortable during the competition, we fenced better and better, reinforcing my belief that building connections and living in the moment while you’re there is incredibly important. Fencing is an amazing sport, and I encourage anybody that is interested to just give it a go.”
Volleyball
This year we commenced lunchtime volleyball sessions for our students, who were keen to give it a go. We had a fantastic number of players involved throughout Terms 1 and 2 which resulted in separating the group into social and competitive sessions.
Our competitive players were preparing for an interschool competition later in the year, while our social group continued training and games on Fridays at lunchtime. It is great to see our students participating in one of our new sporting codes under the guidance of our fabulous teachers Ms McKibbon and Mr Taeho.
