Page 126 - NHS Beyond the Classroom

Ngaruawahia paddlers have heaped glory on
their school after beating the Australians at a waka
ama tournament in the Aussie’s own backyard.
In a rare overseas trip, Ngaruawahia High
School send three waka ama teams to the Sunshine
Coast to paddle in the Trans Tasman Gubbi Gubbi
Sprint Championships towards the end of
September.
It is the first time the school has sent paddlers
to tackle the Aussies on their home turf, and they
returned home with a nine-medal haul: three goald
with equal the amount of silver and bronze.
“We went over there to do a job and we did
that job!” Coach Waki Simon said.
Mr Simon struggled to find the words to
describe the achievement but was effusive in
praising his fellow coaches, the school and the
work ethic pf the paddlers, all under 19 years old.
“The only days they got off (from training)
were Friday and Sunday, and they came back on
Saturday to do school work - that’s how
committed they are.
“It goes right down to their diet to how they
conditioned themselves.”
Principal Robyn Roa told Mr Simon she’d
never seen kids study on a Saturday from the high
school before. The achievement was further
enhanced by the fact it was the first time the school
returned from a sporting trip with anything to show
for it.