Auckland Boys Grammar challenge title holders Wellington College

Auckland Boys Grammar put the challenge to defending champions Wellington College on the first day of the 2014 New Zealand Secondary School Championships in Wellington.

After missing out last year by just two points to Wellington College, who have dominated the event for the past three years, Auckland Grammar started the week with a massive 171 point lead over their rivals from Wellington.

Napier Girls High School, last year’s champions, have made a promising start to heir title tilt, leading the girls’ competition on 210 points, which is 73 points ahead of second placed Pukekohe High School.

Hannah Bates (Christchurch GHS) leads the individual medal tally in the girls’ events after the first two sessions with four gold medals in the 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly and the 100m and 200m freestyle.

In the boys’ events it was Xavier Hill (Palmerston North BHS) who leads the way with three gold medals in the 50m and 200m butterfly and the 200m breaststroke.

Hill, 13, also broke meet records for his efforts in the 50m and 200m butterfly.

Daniel Gaualofa (Kerikeri HS) was the leading Para- Swimmer as he took gold in the 200m and 400m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m backstroke.

There were four other meet records broken in the first session by Jarred Curtis (Auckland Grammar) in the boys 16-18 year old 50m butterfly, Danielle Spreadborough (Bethlehem College)  in the girls 13 year old 100m freestyle and Satori Dobbie (Middleton Grange) in the 15 years 50m butterfly.

In the skins events Bates continued her dominance to take out the girls 50m backstroke and Dobbie finished off a solid day in the pool with a win in the boy’s 50m butterfly.

There are two further sessions tomorrow with the final session taking place on Monday morning at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre.

NZ Sec Schools