AIMS Games: Team excellence rewarded

Kamo Intermediate School was awarded the Teammates Cup at the 2015 AIMS Games for presentation, punctuality, competition and respect. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A parade fit for a king or queen provided a warm welcome home for Kamo Intermediate School's successful AIMS Games competitors yesterday, a decorous gesture to them being awarded the premiere NZCT Teammates Cup.

As Dave Dobbyn's Loyal echoed across the school grounds, the 63-strong contingent of Kamo students basked in the glory of their success with their peers - a day in the schoolyard acting principal Rob Soar said his students were likely to remember for some time.

"They did very well, that was a real honour," Soar said.

Neleh Godfrey (right), Whangarei Intermediate goal defence, jostles for possession with Randwick's Tegan Amani. Photo / Jamie Troughton

"The highlight of their achievement was the Teammates Cup; from 261 schools, Kamo Intermediate was picked out to be the winner, which was fantastic."

Winning the Teammates Cup, Kamo displayed the best overall excellence throughout the tournament for achievement, presentation, punctuality, respect, attitude, skill and fair-play over the 19 sports contested by the 261 schools and 8005 students at the Games.

Notable results for Kamo included Luke Clements' fourth in the Year 7 boys' cross-country, while squash player Ella Holwell was 13th of 32.

The girls' hockey team finished fifth of 24 teams, with Makayla Templeton selected in the tournament team, while the boys' hockey team finished sixth of 18 teams, with Zak Cameron named in the boys' tournament team.

Other standout performances from around Northland included a first placing for Kerikeri High School's Helena Sanderson in the Year 7 girls' individual yachting event, third by Purua School's Anna Moselen and Maris Delagneau in the girls' squash teams event and second in the Hip Hop performance category by Manaia View School.

Aiming high, several Northland schools took part in this year's edition of the AIMS Games.

Students from Ahipara School, Kaitaia Abundant Life School, Kaitaia Intermediate, Maungatapere School, Otamatea High School, Parua Bay School, Pompallier Catholic College, Purua School, Ruawai College, Tangiteroria School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro, Tikipunga High School, Whangarei Intermediate, Whangaroa College, Huanui College, Kamo Intermediate, Kerikeri High School, Manaia View School and Oturu School all made the journey south to Tauranga and were presented with top-class tournament facilities, competition and revelry.