Author Archives: Amanda Booth

The annual School Cross Country took place on Friday at the Domain in warm and dry conditions. The course was firm and fast and saw some excellent competition.

In the Senior race (the first race of the day), Form 5 students E. B. Mora and I. D. Stewart and Form 7 students S. C. Randerson and Y. C. Chow ran in tight fashion in the first of three laps around the Auckland Domain. As the race progressed, Mora increased the pace, stretched his lead to be first to cross the finish line in 16:18. His pace of 3 minutes, 24 seconds per kilometer secured him the second-fastest time in the history of the event, and he will have 2 further chances to improve on this in Form 6 and 7.

I. D. Stewart finished 10 seconds behind Mora and Form 6 student M. E. Wilkins completed the podium. In fourth position and the first of the Form 7 students, Chow finished in a time of 16:49.

Later in the morning, the Form 4 race took place over two laps of a 3km course, with R. C. Davies and K. J. Chow setting the early pace. The two ran together through the first lap, but Davies broke away early on the second lap to secure the win in 11 minutes and 24 seconds. Chow finished 30 seconds behind to earn second and L. A. Fulcher finished over a minute behind Davies.

The Form 3 race was in the afternoon. D. R. R. Lam took control of the 3km race from the outset. As the pace intensified, the front group stretched into single file. By the end of the first lap, Lam had established a comfortable lead, which he maintained to cross the finish line in 11 minutes, 58 seconds. M. E. Stewart and J. D. A. Reid fought well to finishing around 30 seconds behind Lam to take second and third place, respectively.

On Wednesday 19 March, the five individual winners of the 2025 Cross Country Races crossed stage to receive the School’s congratulations

• Form 3: D. R. R. Lam
• Form 4: R. C. Davies
• Form 6: M. E. Wilkins
• Form 7: Y. C. Chow
• Form 5 and the Senior champion: E. B. Mora

Over the weekend of Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March, the Yachting team competed in the Predict Wind Secondary School Keelboat Championships. Two teams represented the School and were hoping to retain their trophy for the third consecutive year.  

The Gold crew, despite winning two races in the round robin, faced a challenging day with gear failure and a collision, which meant they fell a point shy of qualifying for the Gold fleet. However, they bounced back and went on to win the Silver Fleet, securing two wins from two races in the final competition.

The Blue crew, a young team in their first competition in a keelboat, finished fourth in the pool and qualified for the Gold Fleet where they finished sixth.

Congratulations to the team and to Master in Charge Ms Sweeney for her continued guidance and support.

The annual Swimming Sports were held on campus on Wednesday 5 March. With an exceptionally high standard of racing this year, no less than nine new records were set across the day. These included:

• Form 3 J. S. Suh in the Junior 50m and 100m Breaststroke in times of 34.19 and 1.15.41
• Form 4 student R. Zhou in the Junior 50m Butterfly and 200m Medley in times of 28.80 and 2.26.47
• Form 4 student T. M. Lushkott in the Intermediate 100m Backstroke and 200m Freestyle in times of 1.04.76 and 2.08.22
• Form 5 student C. Yin in the Intermediate 50m and 100m Breaststroke in times of 31.29 and 1.08.56
• Form 7 student O. W. Bower in the Senior 100m Backstroke in a time of 1.02.54.

One of the highlights of the day was the Senior 50m Freestyle. 76 competitors raced across nine heats with only 0.26 seconds separating the top three: Form 7 students K. D. Cossill first in a time of 25.65, L. C. Williams in second and C. G. Howlett in third.

Other highlights included the Junior 50m Breaststroke and Intermediate 100m Backstroke, both of which saw the top two competitors push each other to both beat the previous event record. In the Junior 50m Breaststroke, J. S. Suh and Zhang touched first and second, with Suh claiming the title and new record in a time of 34.19, which was nearly a full second faster than the previous record set just last year.

In the Intermediate Backstroke, it was T. M. Lushkott and Form 4 student T. Y. Chin as the top two, with Lushkott finishing first in a time of 1.04.76, over half a second faster than the 2023 record of 1.05.47.

The final event of the day was the 200m Individual Medley, an ultimate test of overall swimming ability and aerobic fitness. The medley racing in the seeded heats of each age group was fast paced and impressive as expected, with L. C. Williams, C. Yin, and R. Zhou the Senior, Intermediate, and Junior winners respectively.

Interestingly, the unseeded senior heats produced some fierce competition. After eight laps of racing across four different strokes, Form 7 students C. T. V. Fearon, S. W. Hawkins, and R. M. Kelso-Heap were only separated by a second all finishing around 4.08 in a sprint finish. But their heat was taken out by C. G. Howlett in 3.08, who saw off stern challenges from Form 7 students T. R. Bonetti, M. G. Heather, and J. M. Hiddleston.

Age group champions were decided by swimmers accumulating points for podium places across the nine events. Although the competition in individual races within each age group was exceptionally tight, each age group champion was clear by the end of the day’s racing.

The Junior Champion was Form 3 student J. Zhang. Zhang competed in seven races and never finished off the podium, finishing first in four events – the 50 and 100m Backstroke and the 50m and 100m Freestyle.

The Intermediate Champion was T. M. Lushkott. Lushkott competed in all nine intermediate events, finishing on the podium in eight of them. He finished second three times and his two race wins in the 100m backstroke and the 200m freestyle were both in record times.

The Senior Champion was L. C. Williams. Williams raced in eight of the nine senior events, finishing on the podium in seven of them. He won the 50m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle, and 200m Medley, demonstrating his all-round ability as a swimmer across the full range of disciplines and distances.

J. Zhang, T. M. Lushkott and L. C. Williams all crossed stage on Tuesday 11 March to receive their medals and the School’s congratulations.

A special thanks to Mr Richardson for his organisation of the championships, and to the staff and Prefects who assisted to make the annual meet a success.

Social Media

We have taken time over the last four weeks to remind students of their online responsibilities, and how these relate directly to the Harmful Digital Communications Act.

While we acknowledge that social media does have some benefits we have reminded our young men that their behaviour on all social media platforms must be respectful and appropriate at all times. In particular, we have and will continue to remind young men not to:

• Display images or send messages that may offend or harass another person
• Create, send, save or share material that may bring them, our School or a member of our community, into disrepute

Should a student identify himself as a member of Auckland Grammar School in any online environment he will be considered under the authority of the School and subject to School Rules. We encourage you to continue talking to your son about how to interact positively in any social media forum.

Should you have any concerns please contact Associate Headmaster – Operations Mr McNaughton via email, your son’s Dean or one of our Student Services team.

Smart Devices

Auckland Grammar School does not permit mobile phones or smart devices to be used or visible on our campus between 8am-3:30pm. We do acknowledge that some students wear smart watches. The School currently permits these to be worn for the functionality of telling the time, however, accessing digital content remains prohibited during School hours. Within the context of internal and external examinations, smart watches are not permitted to be in an examination venue.

If your son does bring a smart device (other than a watch) to School, it should be kept in his bag at all times and be switched off. We recommend such items are not brought to School as we cannot be responsible for their whereabouts or loss. Furthermore, personal electronic equipment may not be used on School trips.

If a student is found using a mobile phone or smart device it may be confiscated by a teacher and delivered to the Deputy Headmaster Pastoral – Junior School Mr Askew, who will store the device securely for seven days.

Your son may see Mr Askew after School any time after the seventh day to retrieve the phone or device. Please support us by not requesting the device to be returned any sooner.

Mountain Road

Please consider Gates 1-4 closed for vehicular access at the start and end of the School day.

We do ask that parents do not drive vehicles into any of the School gates on Mountain Road at the start or end of the School day. This is not practical and vehicular traffic at peak times of the School day poses a significant risk for our 2,750 young men who are entering or exiting the School grounds on foot.

Please be aware that for health and safety reasons Barnett Crescent has electronic bollards nearest to Clive Road. These remain up during the School day.

If you are dropping your son off or picking him up, please do this in one of the streets around the School, rather than in front of the School or by trying to enter Gates 1-4. We appreciate your co-operation in this regard.

Daily Notices

The notices read to the School each day in assembly are available to all young men and parents on our website and on GrammarNet. You are able to access these online and discuss some of the activities available to your son.

School Cross Country

This year’s School Cross Country will be held as scheduled at the Auckland Domain on Friday 14 March.

Lost Property

Parents are reminded that all student uniform and personal property should be named. This allows lost property to be immediately returned to students who have misplaced items.

Students are encouraged to report directly to the Student Office at the end of each School day to check for uniform or equipment that they have lost.

Uniform

There has been much positive feedback about how well presented our students are and we too commend them for meeting or exceeding basic standards of dress and appearance this year.

Sports uniform
As young men join various sporting codes to represent Auckland Grammar School, there is a set uniform that young men must purchase.

While representing the School it is expected that young men wear their sports uniform correctly and abide by School Rules.

Students not dressed in correct sports uniform will not be permitted to play for the School at any stage. It is also expected that associated registration fees be paid on time, prior to playing. If fees are not paid or an arrangement is not made with the Master in Charge of the sport, unfortunately, young men will not be permitted to play.

All items of sports uniform can be purchased from the School Shop. You will find that many of the uniform items can be worn across a number of codes, hopefully saving parents in the long run. We would encourage you to see School Shop manager Mrs Galuvao to purchase your son’s winter sports uniform before the start of Term 2.

Students who are selected in Premier teams should consider purchasing a blazer and full formal uniform for inter-school fixtures before the end of term.

School Rules

As part of best practice, we continually review and refine our systems and procedures.

Our rules are important in creating a safe physical and emotional environment for students and staff. The general safety of our young men and the provision of a structured, challenging environment suited to the development of boys and young men is of paramount importance to us. Please find a link to the School Rules here.

Should you have any questions regarding the School Rules, please contact Executive Assistant Ms Watson via email.

Student Driven Vehicles

Form 6 or 7 students who have completed the School’s permission process to bring a vehicle to School, do have permission to drive a car to School. Under no circumstances are students permitted to bring a vehicle to School until they have completed the permission process. Students at other form levels do not have permission to drive a vehicle to School.

Students may not park in the School grounds.

Please note that permission to drive to School is granted at the School’s discretion and this permission may be revoked for instances of inappropriate or illegal driving.

We remind parents and our young men that this permission does not extend to carrying passengers, unless both the School and parents have approved it in writing. This permission process includes School-related extracurricular activities.

Please contact Deputy Headmaster Pastoral – Senior School Mr Lobb via email for further information about student driven vehicles.

Winter Sports Codes

Registration for winter sports will continue to take place in the weeks ahead. Many young men will begin trialling for Premier teams from Week 9 and all other teams from Week 10 so that they are ready for strong competition very early in Term 2.

We do encourage all students to get involved with at least one winter activity and your son’s involvement will be logged in our Student Management System and will be noted on in his mid-year report. If your son is not involved in the wider life of the School please discuss this with him and us, as it is part of Grammar life.

As with summer codes, young men who are absent from School on a Friday will be deemed ineligible by the School to play sport on a weekend. This applies to mid-week inter-school fixtures as well, where a young man is absent the day prior to or day of an interschool fixture. School attendance and academic studies are a clear priority.

A reminder also that where young men are involved in activities that return late at night, that without exception, they are expected to be at School the next school day. This includes international tours and regional or national tournaments.

2026 School Year

As advance warning for the 2026 School year, please be advised the academic year will start on Tuesday 20 January for all year levels. All key term dates for 2026 can be found on the School Schedule.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Within this Bulletin you will read of considerable academic successes in 2024 Cambridge, NCEA and Scholarship examinations. We are proud of the way students achieved at the highest level nationally and internationally in 2024 and commend those who recently earned a place on the University Entrance Scholars Board.

Already this year, many other young men have earned the right to cross stage to be formally recognised by their peers and staff. Celebrating success at the highest level in any area of School life is an important part of our meritocratic environment. That is, one where our students are measured regularly on their attitudes, their behaviours, their actions and their achievements. 

We also want to acknowledge those who haven’t yet earned an invitation to cross the stage, but as we conclude Week 7 of term, they are regularly applying themselves, with positivity, to their studies and involving themselves in extracurricular activities. The majority of young men meet the criteria for such acknowledgement; that is, those who consistently exhibit above the line attitudes and behaviours including taking personal responsibility and/or accepting accountability for meeting our expectations.

Typically, these young men will show incremental progress in their approach to their formal schooling, whether that be through teaching programmes, extracurricular activities, growing independence, or socialisation. They can and do achieve, no matter what stream they are in or what qualification pathway they follow.

Perhaps the most recent data driven example reflects the benefit of regular application, and the building of anti-fragility through being accountable for their learning, within a high standards environment. That example is the 2024 University Entrance results, (which is the only aspect of NCEA that can be compared like for like across the country). In a cohort of 450 Form 7 students last year, 86.1% earned University Entrance across NCEA and Cambridge pathways. This figure is much higher than overall national averages and far exceeds national averages for male students (42.5%) and all students (48.2%).

I raise this with you as we enter a busy time of the term so that you too have the opportunity to reinforce with your sons that their daily attendance, engagement and commitment to School standards will pay off. It will not always mean they can be the best, but through doing their best they can experience success and provide more options for themselves as they conclude their secondary schooling.   

Your sons should now have started their study programmes for the Term 1 examinations, which start on Thursday 3 April. The next four weeks are an important time for all students to be putting regular discretionary effort into their studies. They will have to make the sacrifices to do so, and should know they will not be alone in doing so, as the majority of their peers will also be quietly making such sacrifices with their personal time, so they too, can achieve.

In recent assemblies, we have discussed how building a consistent performance, through accepting personal responsibility for our actions, choice of words and our time management, also builds integrity and credibility.  It also grows greater opportunities to experience success. We have reminded your sons that champions do extra and the saying:

“There are no crowds lining the extra mile – on the extra mile, you are on your own, just us and the road, and us and the challenge we have set ourselves. It is the work we do behind closed doors that makes the difference.

We wish your sons every success as they prepare to turn their Term 1 goals into reality.

Per Angusta Ad Augusta

Tim O’Connor
Headmaster

The 2024 academic results are very pleasing, with students in senior year groups performing extremely well in all external assessments.

Cambridge Assessment International Education

In 2024, A Level performances were very strong. The percentage of A* and A grades were 37.1%, with the overall pass rate sitting at 99.6%. The AS results were also good, with the A-C pass rate exceeding 67% and the overall pass rate at 94.3%. This represents exceptionally strong performance in one of the world’s most academically demanding secondary school qualifications.

Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards

Auckland Grammar School students have done exceptionally well in the 2024 Cambridge examinations, gaining a total of 24 awards at the highest level in specific Cambridge subjects. Their achievements were recognised at the recent Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards and include:

• Nine High Achievement Awards (these are Top in New Zealand /the World but in subjects with limited entries)
• Eight Top in New Zealand
• Five Top in the World Awards

The School congratulates the following students for their exceptional performance:

Award	Level	Subject	Student’s Name	Examination Series
High Achievement	AS Level	Accounting	Ruben Partigliani	June 2024
High Achievement	AS Level	Business Studies	Adam Ali	June 2024
High Achievement	AS Level	Economics	Xavier Melrose	June 2024
High Achievement	AS Level	Geography	Ricky Zhang	June 2024
High Achievement	AS Level	History	Daniel Zheng	June 2024
High Achievement	AS Level	English Literature	Kris Lu	June 2024
High Achievement	A Level	French	Stanley Zhang	June 2024
High Achievement	AS Level	French	Naveen Ter Wal	November 2024
High Achievement	A Level	Digital Media and Design	Ryan Lu	November 2024
Top in New Zealand	AS Level	Biology	Edward Li	June 2024
Top in New Zealand	AS Level	Chemistry	Luca Toner (pictured above)	November 2024
Top in New Zealand	AS Level	Accounting	Markis Tew	November 2024
Top in New Zealand	AS Level	Biology	Taejeong Kim	November 2024
Top in New Zealand	AS Level	History	Solomon Randerson	November 2024
Top in New Zealand	AS Level	Spanish	Pol Xarau Horrach	November 2024
Top in New Zealand	A Level	History	Daniel Zheng	November 2024
Top in New Zealand	A Level	English Literature	Alistair Ha	November 2024
Top in the World	AS Level	Mathematics	Harry Fan	June 2024
Top in the World	AS Level	Design and Technology	Shaarav Srikewal	November 2024
Top in the World	AS Level	Digital Media and Design	Aoxuan Yu	November 2024
Top in the World	AS Level	English Literature	Harry Fan	November 2024
Top in the World	AS Level	Sport and Physical Education	Finn Goodson	November 2024
Top in New Zealand	AS Level	Best Across 4 AS Level Subjects	Taejeong Kim	November 2024

NCEA

The School’s NCEA cohort also performed very well again in 2024. At Level 2, 71% of students gained their certificates, and 26 students saw their certificates endorsed with Merit. At Level 3, 78% of students Achieved the qualification, and 16 had their certificates endorsed with Merit.

In 2024, 61% of Level 3 students achieved University Entrance.

University Entrance

Our students study predominantly rigorous, academic subjects and standards which lead to comparatively high University Entrance rates for the Form 7 cohort. Cambridge students achieved a University Entrance E pass rate of 99.3% in 2024, and the NCEA Form 7 cohort achieved 60%. Combined, the Form 7 students in 2024 achieved a UE pass rate of 86.1%.

In 2024, the national pass rate for all students was 48.2% and the figure for all students in our Equity Index Band (EIB) was 72.2%. The 2024 national average for boys in schools in our EIB achieving University Entrance was 63.1%. Across all schools in New Zealand, the University Entrance rate for boys sat at 42.5%.

NZQA Scholarship

In 2024, 95 students gained 218 individual subject Scholarships, including 29 at Outstanding level. This represents Grammar students’ best ever performance in NZQA Scholarship assessments.

Tianlang Gong was awarded Scholarships in Agriculture and Horticulture, Calculus and Geography, and Outstanding Scholarships in Chemistry, English, Physics and Statistics. He is one of 12 students nationally to be awarded am NZQA Premier Award. To be named a Premier Scholar, students need to have gained at least four New Zealand subject Scholarships, including three or more at Outstanding level.

Seven Grammar students received Outstanding Scholarship Awards for their excellent results: Elson Chen, Benny Larsen, Aaryan Maganlal, Chris Pan, Luca Toner, Arsh Verma, and Stanley Zhang.

NZQA Scholarships were again gained in an impressive range of subjects, including:

• Accounting
• Agriculture and Horticulture
• Biology
• Calculus
• Chemistry
• Chinese
• Classics
• Design
• Earth and Space Science
• Economics
• English
• French
• Geography
• Health and Physical Education
• History
• Japanese
• Latin
• Media Studies
• Music
• Physics
• Religious Studies
• Spanish
• Statistics

The 1st XI Cricket and the Premier Tennis and Water Polo teams competed in the traditional three-day exchange against Christchurch Boys’ High School from Sunday 23 – Tuesday 25 February. Below is a full report:

Cricket

The 1st XI Cricket team started their exchange with Christchurch Boys’ High School in Christchurch on Sunday 23 February. Winning the toss, the team chose to bat first, setting a first innings total of 220, with Form 7 students L. G. Marshall and H. A. Mcleod getting 64 and 110 respectively.

In the second day of the traditional fixture against Christchurch Boys’ High School, the day started with the hosts open their 1st innings with the bat. The 1st XI Cricket team’s opening pace attack set the tone early with Form 7 student S. F. Openshaw and Form 6 student B. S. Lucas bowling excellent spells to take early wickets. The introduction of spin then continued to restrict the runs while taking the remaining wickets, dismissing the hosts for 151, including Form 7 students A. R. Hathi 4 for 41 and H. D. F. Waite 3 for 51.

In the 2nd innings, Form 7 student L. D. Fong and Captain M. W. Alpe’s partnership was defining in the 1st XI’s 205 for 5 by the end of the day’s play, with Alpe 110 and Fong 70.

On the final morning of the traditional three-day fixture against Christchurch Boys’ High School, the 1st XI returned to the crease in their 2nd innings and declared with a lead of 303. With five hours of play remaining, the team’s pace attack worked hard, taking two wickets in the first session.

The introduction of spin through the middle session created chances as Christchurch Boys’ High School’s middle order began to increase the run rate.

The combination of pace from B. S. Lucas and spin from H. D. F. Waite combined well to secure 10 wickets (Lucas with 4 for 40 and Waite with 6 for 75) to help secure an outright victory for the 1st XI Cricket team.

Captain M. W. Alpe crossed stage on Wednesday 26 February to receive the Cricket Challenge Trophy (pictured above) and the School’s congratulations on behalf of the team.

Tennis

The Premier Tennis team opened their exchange against Christchurch Boys’ High School yesterday by playing two rounds of doubles and the reverse singles. Two of the three doubles pairs won their sets, with the team winning five of the six reverse singles matches.

At the conclusion of Day 1, the Premier Tennis team led 8-4 with the seeded singles and the final round of doubles matches on Day 2.

Day two began with the seeded singles on another warm and muggy day in Christchurch. Winning five of their six singles matches, and winning one of their final doubles matches, the overall result was a convincing 14-7 for the Premier team.

Water Polo

The Premier Water Polo team opened the exchange with a hard-fought win over St Bede’s College. St Bede’s led at half time, however the Premier team responded well, with fitness an aiding factor latter in the game, to secure a 14-9 win.

The team then played Westlake Boys’ High School, with this game doubling as an Auckland Premier Competition fixture. The team played attacking Water Polo, to lead from start to finish, winning 11-9.

Day two of the exchange saw the Premier Water Polo team play a further three games. The team is building consistency in its preparedness to soak up pressure in the first half of games and then use their fitness in the second half to build a strong counter attack.

The Premier team opened their day by beating Christchurch Boys’ High School 14-9, and they followed this up with an 18-2 win in their second fixture. The third and final game of the exchange was against St Bede’s College which they won 14-8, meaning they were the only team who finished the quad tournament unbeaten.

The list of students who earned Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards during the 2024 external examination series has been released, and Auckland Grammar School students have done exceptionally well, with 24 awards in total (nine High Achievement Awards, eight Top in New Zealand, five Top in the World Awards and one Top in New Zealand Award for Best Across Four AS Level Subjects).

Congratulations to the following Form 7 students who achieved the below awards while as Form 6 students:

• N. I. Ter Wal – High Achievement in AS Level French
• M.Y. A. Tew – Top in New Zealand in AS Level Accounting
• T. Kim – Top in New Zealand in AS Level Biology and Best Across Four AS Level Subjects
• S. C. Randerson – Top in New Zealand in AS Level History (pictured above)
• P. Xarau Horrach – Top in New Zealand in AS Level Spanish
• H. J. Fan – Top in the World in AS Level English Literature and Mathematics
• S. Srikewal – Top in the World in AS Design and Technology
• A. Yu – Top in the World in AS Level Digital Media and Design

We also congratulate our recent leavers on their awards:

• Ruben Partigliani – High Achievement in AS Level Accounting
• Adam Ali – High Achievement in AS Level Business Studies
• Xavier Melrose – High Achievement in AS Level Economics
• Ricky Zhang – High Achievement in AS Level Geography
• Daniel Zheng – High Achievement in AS Level History and Top in New Zealand in A Level History
• Kris Lu – High Achievement in AS Level English Literature
• Stanley Zhang – High Achievement in AS Level French
• Ryan Lu – High Achievement in A Level Digital Media and Design
• Edward Li – Top in New Zealand AS Level Biology
• Luca Toner – Top in New Zealand in AS Level Chemistry
• Alistair Ha – Top in New Zealand in A Level English Literature
• Finn Goodson – Top in the World in AS Sport and Physical Education

These young men were recognised and acknowledged at the 2024 Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards ceremony at the University of Auckland in February.

The Auckland Aquathon Championships were contested on Tuesday 18 February in hot conditions. The course favoured swimmers over runners, and the day saw Auckland Grammar School represented well with a number of stand-out performances.

In the Junior Race, Form 3 student L. G. P. Ulmer finished tenth out of 24 competitors in his first multisport event, recording the fourth fastest run in the process. In the Intermediate Grade, Form 5 student F. E. M. Crump was strong in both the run and swim legs to finish second and win Silver. Form 6 student G. G. Pollard also made the top 10. At the Senior level, Form 7 student K. J. Moyle raced well for Bronze, while Form 6 student X. R. Clark finished eighth on the back of a strong run leg.

In the teams races, each of the three teams won their event. Form 3 students J. Zhang and D. R. Lam won the Junior Grade by 18 seconds.  Form 4 students T. M. Lushkott and R. C. Davies (pictured above) won the Intermediate Race by over a minute while Form 7 students C. P. Wagener and S. C. Randerson dominated the Senior Race, with a winning margin of over two minutes. Wagener was very strong in the swim leg, previously his weakest discipline, which bodes well for the major races ahead.

J. Zhang, T. M. Lushkott, S. C. Randerson and C. P. Wagener all crossed stage on Monday 24 February to receive the School’s congratulations as Auckland Champions.

The 1st XI Cricket team, captained by Form 7 student M. W. Alpe, competed in their first traditional exchange of the 2025 academic year, hosting New Plymouth Boys’ High School from Sunday 9 – Tuesday 11 February. This traditional three-day fixture is an important match on the School’s sporting calendar.

After a full day’s play on Sunday, the second day of play resumed on Monday morning with New Plymouth Boys’ High School resuming their first innings at the crease, at 14 for 2.

Form 7 student H. D. F. Waite led the team’s response with 6 for 25 (and earned his fifth honours board performance in the process), to dismiss New Plymouth Boys’ High School for 59 all out.

The lead was then increased behind a fine batting innings of 95 by Form 7 student L. G. Marshall, before declaring and dismissing New Plymouth for 88 to secure an outright win by 300 runs.

The final day of play for the exchange was a competitive 20/20 fixture, given the 1st XI Cricket team’s sound win in two of the scheduled three days; the team winning in the final few balls.

Captain M. W. Alpe crossed stage on Wednesday 12 February to receive the trophy on behalf of the team and the School’s congratulations.