Here’s hoping Nelson lives up to its sunny reputation in 2027.
The much-anticipated 2026 edition of the Bay Radiology New Zealand Schools Triathlon Championships sadly turned into a damp squib due to a large storm system sitting over large swathes of the North Island.
It forced the cancellation of Thursday’s showcase individual triathlons in Mt Maunganui and then when the weather necessitated the closure of event HQ at Mt Drury, all of Friday’s regional mixed team relay programme.
It was gut-wrenching for all involved given a record entry of 408 young Kiwis (up 29 percent year-on-year) across the individual events and mixed relay.
Mercifully for those who had travelled the length and breadth of New Zealand to compete in the schools showpiece, including a squad all the way from Southland and a cohort who had driven from Christchurch, some racing was possible.
Thursday morning saw a fun ocean swim relocated from the exposed main beach at the Mount to the more sheltered but still miserable Pilot Bay before the scheduled aquathlon went ahead.
Congratulations to the medallists in each grade of the Aquathlon:
U12 / U13
Male
🥇 Flynn Dobson (Lindisfarne College)
🥈 Rylan Kenyon (Halcombe School)
🥉 Zach Swain (Sacred Heart College)
Female
🥇 Honor McKenzie (Saint Kentigern College)
🥈 Lucy Cudby (Feilding High School)
🥉 Penelope Hodgson (Otago Girls High School)
U14
Male
🥇 Daniel More (Taupo Nui-a-Tia College)
🥈 Fletcher Cummings (Tauranga Boys College)
🥉 Ashton Harris (St Andrews College)
Female
🥇 Amelia McEwan (Mount Maunganui College)
🥈 Mila Moore (St Peters School Cambridge)
🥉 Maggie Harper (Woodford House)
U16
Male
🥇 James Trimboy (Christchurch Boys High School)
🥈 Benjamin Crawford (Shirley Boys High School)
🥉 Sam Trass (Nelson College)
Female
🥇 Tayla Cox (Christchurch Girls High School)
🥈 Maggie Croft (Diocesan School for Girls)
🥉 Iris Davis (Takapuna Grammar School)
U19
Male
🥇 Sam Ruthe (Tauranga Boys College)
🥈 Matthew Watkins (Ruawai College)
🥉 Gus Collins (Roncalli College)
Female
🥇 Indie Williams (Diocesan School for Girls)
🥈 Josie Murphy (St Peters School Cambridge)
🥉 Maddison Sturgeon (Te Paepae O Aotea)
You may have noted a certain Sam Ruthe winning the senior boys (U19) title, and yes, his run was key.
Roncalli College’s Gus Collins, who eventually claimed bronze, was the first out of wind-swept Pilot Bay in 9mins 41sec – a 56 second advantage over Ruthe following the 750m swim. But the Tauranga Boys College star rattled off the wind-buffeted 3.75km run in 13:40, a minute faster than eventual silver medallist Matthew Watkins. A worthy mention to Waitaki Boys’ High School’s Henry Ward who produced the second best run split of 14:03.
Tri NZ squad member Indie Williams (Diocesan School for Girls) took the senior girls title by more than a minute from Josie Murphy (St Peters School Cambridge).
Tri NZ Community Manager Anna Russell thanked participants and their caregivers for their patience and understanding over a frustrating two days.
“We know how disappointing this is, especially for those who have travelled and were looking forward to racing. Thank you all for your understanding and flexibility in what have been very challenging conditions,” Russell wrote in an official communique.
“A huge thank you to everyone for being so accommodating, and to all the athletes, you were absolutely epic today. Getting out there and giving it a go in tough conditions is what it’s all about, real character-building stuff.”
Russell said the 2027 NZ Schools Triathlon Championship were provisionally scheduled for March 18–19 at Rabbit Island, Nelson.
