Sports news

Successes celebrated at rowing awards night

St Mary’s College and St Virgil’s College rowers capped off a stellar season with their annual rowing awards, which took place at the New Town Bay Rowing Centre on Saturday 17 June. 

The evening was a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the success and achievements of all rowers and coxes involved with the club this year and included the presentation of the 2023 rowing awards.

The College is thrilled to congratulate Sarah Thomas (Year 9), who was named the joint recipient of the prestigious Saints Rowing Excellence Award (Weisse Family Trophy), which is presented to rowers from the Saints Rowing Club who have achieved a high degree of excellence in the sport.

The Head of the River Day Cup is awarded to the crews who secured first place in a Division One final at the Head of the River Regatta. 

This year, the award was presented to the following students at SMC:

• U14: Imogen Stewart (Single Scull)
• U15: Sarah Thomas and Abbie Smith (Double Scull), Sarah Thomas (Single Scull)
• U16: Madison Mackey (Single Scull), Grace Munday, Sana Ghiasvand, Amelia Dickman, Sarah Gillow (Cox), Bridie McInerney (Quad Scull)
• Opens: Claire Oliver, Holly Teale (Double Scull)

Well done to all rowers who received coaches and team spirit awards in each age group. We are very proud of our athletes – you are all great ambassadors of the sport.

A big thank you must go to Director of Rowing, Oliver Wilson-Haffenden, and all dedicated coaches, volunteers, and rowing families for contributing to an outstanding season.

All Schools Cross Country - Senior School results

Well done to the following Senior School athletes who represented the College at the All Schools Cross Country on Tuesday 20 June at Symmons Plains. 

We had three students who earned a podium spot in their respective age groups. Congratulations to Alet Le Grange, 2nd (U16), Jessica Smith, 2nd (U17) and Isabelle Hoggett, 2nd (U18). 

Junior School report 

Cross country 

What an effort! Yesterday (Tuesday 27 June) was our third and final cross country carnival for the year – the 2023 All Schools Primary Cross Country Championships. 

The team left St Mary’s College in darkness to travel to Symmons Plains to compete against the rest of the state, and they did so well. This is a true cross country course but that didn’t deter anyone, onwards and upwards for these athletes! Results from the day can be found here. 

Well done to all athletes who competed at one, two or all the carnivals.

Junior sport

Our aim is to provide the opportunity for all students to be able to participate in their registered sport. In non JSSATIS sport rosters sometimes it is necessary to combine with another school enabling students from both schools to participate. 

This term we have entered three combined St Mary’s College/Mt Carmel College teams. You would think combining two schools into one team could create issues and result in an ununified team. Thankfully, that has not been the case with these teams, and all have combined and performed beautifully. What a fun way to learn new skills and make new friends at the same time!

Fiona Rhodes 

Sports Coordinator – Junior School

Team profiles

SMC/MCC water polo 

Coach: Mark Croswell

Words from Fi Rhodes:

With more than half the team having never played water polo before, our combined water polo team have had a great season in division A. It came down to the last match of the roster to decide the finals fixture. Unfortunately, our team came up against a very strong side and fell just short of the four. What an effort to get that far! Congratulations to Mark for coaching so well and bringing the team together and to all players for a fantastic season.

Team pictured: SMC players, Stella Hicks, Estelle Leary, Eliza McCullough, Mia Styles, Issaquah Clayton and Annabel Hutchinson.

SMC/MCC Half Field Hockey 

Coach: Sarah Thomas 

In her words: 

I have loved seeing everyone's smiles each Saturday morning and watching them have fun while running around. Girls from both schools get along really well and work together as an amazing and enthusiastic team. We have won, lost and drew games but this hasn't put a dent in their enthusiasm and enjoyment. We are almost at the end of the season with two more games to go and I would like to see all of them playing again in the next few years, as they are an amazing bunch.

Team pictured: SMC players, Sarah Thomas (Coach), Sofie Klasen, Harper Bowerman and Sylvie Gundry. 

SMC/MCC Open Field Hockey 

Coach: Hamish McLaren

Words from Fi Rhodes: 

Battling those cold mornings at Cornelian Bay, our Open Field hockey team have fought hard all season and finally that hard work paid off! In the last few weeks of the roster they had their first win of the season. It just goes to show that consistent work and effort will get the result. Well done, team!

Team pictured: SMC players, Sophie Medhurst, Charlotte McLaren, Annabel Hutchinson, Annabelle Pritchard, Hamish McLaren (Coach), Emma Clark, Gabby McKenna and Jemima Innis (Absent: Ava Buhse and Stella Thristan). 

Joshua and Heidi Weir (SMC Half Field) 

In our first round of team profiles, we profiled our St Mary’s College Half Field team, and I mentioned that the coach and daughter were absent for the photo. Well, here they are. The dynamic duo!

How lucky we are that Heidi wanted to give hockey a try and Joshua put his hand up to coach the team. Joshua has gone above and beyond in his coaching role, providing gentle education of the game and guidance to the girls as well as keeping their love of the sport alive, often against fierce competition and under trying conditions – regularly playing a player or two short. We could not let Joshua and Heidi go uncelebrated – thank you!

Judging by Heidi's smile, I think it's safe to say she loved having her Dad coach her team!