Canoe Polo

Two Hargest teams travelled up to Oamaru to compete in the South Island Secondary Schools tournament, from the 13th through to the 15th of August. Coached by Michael Clark, the teams fought it out in semi finals and achieved third in the senior girls (second in the South Island) and fourth in the senior open grade (third in the South Island). Medaling in both grades was well deserved and was a good end of an era for the girls team. The girls team consisting of Emily and Megan Donlevy, Jordan Evans, Isabel Flett and Lena Huia have played together for a number of years, of which four of the five members, Emily, Megan, Lena and Isabel, have been playing together for four years consecutively (with Lucia Robold (ex Hargest student). Jordan has seamlessly joined the team and has competed with the girls for the last two years. They played as part of the senior open team also, alongside Lochie Galt, Caleb Reid and Blake Young. Lena Huia also achieved being selected for the South Island Tournament team. This marks the end of an era for the girls, as the original four are in year 13 and going their separate ways next year. It is a bittersweet departure but we hope they can play together again at some point in the future.
Canoe polo is a kayaking discipline which is a game of 5 a side players fighting to score goals suspended approximately 2 metres above the water. Here players learn to paddle, roll a kayak 360° (while inside!), launch on the ball and most importantly have fun! Canoe polo is most commonly played in New Zealand in outdoor rectangular pitches, but in Invercargill is played indoors. There are always two referees on either side of the pitch and is played in two halves, each consisting of 10 minutes. The game integrates water polo and kayaking skills with the addition of being able to push each other in, in canoe polo. Many players join through friends or siblings but don’t let that deter you, they are always eager for new players and are very inviting! Come along and try this sport on Tuesdays at 7:30pm at Splash Palace!
By Megan Donlevy