Get2Go team competes in Great Barrier finals
Katie Milne, Oscar Stone and Pippa Bowker-Napp fresh from their adventures in the Get2Go national finals. Photo: Neil Wilson.
In October The GB Weekly reported that Golden Bay High School's Get2Go team earned the right to compete in the national finals of the competition. The SPARC-sanctioned outdoor team challenge is intended to help year nine and ten students to develop physical and mental skills including communication, problem-solving, planning, endurance, leadership and teamwork.
The exhausted team returned from Great Barrier Island last Saturday after finishing finished tenth in the national final.
Competing against the cream of the nation's talent, the students impressed their teacher and supporters.
"I'm really proud of them," said Stuart Grace, HOD Physical Education at the high school. "At one stage they were running third or fourth in the competition. The whole thing was a series of gruelling challenges that made them work together, solve problems and endure a fair amount of hardship. They had a very positive approach and they can be pleased with what they've achieved."
Student Katie Milne said that the whole week was "real cool". "Lydia and I were in a sailing boat in one of the challenges when a pod of orca came through," she said. "We were about a metre away from one of them. That was amazing."
Katie said that the challenge had taught her that she could do more than she thought. "When we were orienteering, we had to run with really heavy packs on. I didn't think I'd be able to do it but I did. "
"The Get2Go challenge is probably one of the most fun things I've ever done," said Oscar Stone. "Mr Grace is already talking about what we have to do to get in the final again next year. I'd love to do it again."
Pippa Bowker-Napp said that the team's placing was of little concern to her because the event was "so much fun."
"We could have finished first or last. We were just there to do the best we could. There were some things we hadn't thought of in our training. We'll know more about what to expect next year."
Neil Wilson
