The South Island School Champs incorporating the Canterbury School Champs was held recently on a sunny weekend in Christchurch with teams travelling from the far south as Invercargill right up to Nelson in the North.

The first day involved a fun sprint course which took competitors though a primary school, park surrounds and some forested and wild areas where a few competitors got caught up in blackberry bushes. It was a fairly long sprint course with some longer route choices in the park areas.

On Sunday the competitors were able to park right into the middle of Bottle Lake Forest Park, which was a great opportunity for the runners to explore some different areas of the reserve. An exciting course led competitors up and over open grassy hills laden with tracks, into the thick forest, over to the dunes and more blackberry bushes catching a few people out who didn’t make the right attack point onto those controls.

Thanks to all those participating and volunteering on the day. It a fun festival atmosphere on both days with a tricky maze for all to enjoy, a sausage sizzle, cake stall and prizes to give away. 

Lisa Chubb & Christina Freeman, PAPO Schools