School News

The following students have been awarded Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarships at Waikato University:

• Kane Jacobson – Rugby
• Daniel Krippner - Indoor Rock Climbing
• Gage Hall – Graphic Design

The Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme educates future leaders at the University of Waikato within the values of New Zealand’s greatest adventurer, Sir Edmund Hillary.  We are all inspired by the view that “Together, we believe the impossible is a summit to be conquered”.

Sir Edmund Hillary Scholars must excel in academia, leadership and sports or creative and performing arts.  Various professional development opportunities and fees support are provided for Scholars.

 <Stop press> Shaun Kirkham,  a second year Waikato University student, HBHS Old Boy and returning  Hillary Scholar, has been named in the NZ  U23 Rowing squad to compete at the U23 World Champs in Lithuania this July.

The Waikato Smokefreerockquest is being held on Sunday 17 July at Founders' Theatre.  The calibre of competition is always very high, and HBHS often features heavily in the prize lists.   If you're at a loose end on Sunday - get on down to Founders' for a rocking good time.

The play off will begin at noon, with the top eight bands being called back for the final at 8pm.  The Good Fun and The Jury and the Saints will be the guest bands to perform while the judging is done.  Tickets are $20 from Ticketek or at the door and are valid for both the afternoon and the evening. 

The event will include the Smokefreerockquest Circus, an expo-style addition to the main stage with workshops, hands-on displays and giveaways.

How does the competition work?

The Smokefreerockquest is made up of many parts in order to find a National Champion. In 2011 the following are the stages you will have to go through to be Number 1:

 Stage 1

Enter - easy really, enter online, you have to be in to win! Make sure you do this before the 17^th May. Then...

Rhys Brunton (Year 10) recently won the 'most improved' Susan Hassall Team Tournament Award, as part of the New Zealand Secondary Schools' Junior Champion Softball team.  He is devoted to the sport of softball, and is excited to see the code go from strength to strength at Hamilton Boys' High School.

How long have you been playing softball?

 I started in Year 6 at Southwell.  I'm pretty sure that my mum played when she was younger, and it's always seemed to me to be really fun and enjoyable.

For those of us who don't know, what are the main differences between softball and baseball?

Our Junior (Years 9 and 10) Softball Team returned on Friday 4th Dec from the North Island Secondary Schools Softball Championships in Palmerston North, held from Monday 30th Nov - Thurs 3rd December as NISS Junior Softball Champions.

In pool play they defeated Napier BHS 6-1, Wellington College 7-1, Hutt Valley High School 16-0 and Wanganui High School 7-2. They won their semi-final against Massey High School 7-2 in the tiebreaker, as it was tied 1-1 after regulation time. They defeated Napier BHS 3-1 in the final.

The 2 stand-out players were Jackson Baird-Gillett (pitcher) and Levi Elliott (batter and Captain of the side).

The team was coached by Cowley Harris, assisted by Eugene Gilbert and managed by June Tauranga, all parents from HBHS.

Seven HBHS boys competed at the State New Zealand Short Course Swimming Nationals in Wellington over the past four days.  They have returned home with a spectacular haul of medals, National Age Group Titles and one broken National Record.  The details of competitors from HBHS and medal winners are as follows:

Carter Edgecombe

Carter has won a total of five gold medals, one silver and broke a NZ Record in the 14yrs 400m Freestyle setting a new NZ Record in the time of 3.59.92.

Gold
1500 Freestyle
400 Freestyle (NZ Record)
200 Freestyle
 

HBHS entered six competitors in the New Zealand Lions Club Young Speechmaker Contest District Heat that took place at Don Rowland Centre Rowing Complex, Lake Karapiro, on Sunday 27th May.

Speechmaking is a skill distinct from debating.  Speechmaking focuses on presentation, delivery and the ability to improve material on the spot.  Each of these skills requires quick wits, an urbane sense of humour and a clear understanding of the different ways in which a speaker can craft a relationship with his audience through verbal and non-verbal cues.

Four out of the six who progressed to the regional final were from HBHS: Iain Miller, Sam Moxham, Deep Joshi and Blake Wong.

The regional final is on Sunday 17th June.