18 Issue 53 – June 2015 – QUEEN MARGARET CALLING
Going for Gold in the Water
Years of training have paid off for Matisse Uluilelata, who has
earned Gold at the Aquapick Surf Life Saving Nationals.
The Year 12 student placed first in the Under 19 Board Rescue
at the competition held in Gisborne. The Gold is Matisse’s
first National sports award; an accolade she deserves after
going up against 50 other teams with team mate Katie Trott.
In Board Rescue, a swimmer swims out to a line of buoys out at
sea and puts their hand up, so a board paddler can then paddle out
to them. Matisse did not expect to do so well considering Katie and
herself were two of the youngest competitors.
“The age group is Under 19. Katie and I are both 16 so we were
stoked winning gold,” Matisse says.
“It was surprising at first but it was good to know that the training
was worth it,” Matisse says.
She started learning Surf Life Saving when she was seven-years-
old but only started competing seriously when she was 14. Matisse
currently represents Paekakariki Surf Club.
A keen swimmer fond of catching a few waves, she enjoys the
team element of Surf Life Saving.
“For board rescue it’s a fun event because it is a team event by
having a swimmer and a board paddler.
Matisse keeps busy balancing schoolwork with training for Surf
Life Saving three times a week and swim training four times a week.
“When I am not swimming or doing surf training I have hockey
Equestrian Sport Thrives at QMC
They might be small in number but the Queen Margaret College Equestrian team is a dedicated
group of riders.
O livia Stewart, Rosa Ellingham, Eleanor Milner and
Hayley Apanowicz, the current 2015 team, are never
too far from their horses. Their dedication for the
sport is not going unnoticed with recent performances at the
Nga Tawa Diocesan Interschool Equestrian Competition and
the St Matthew’s Interschool Equestrian event.
At the St Matthew’s event, Eleanor Milner was in the top
ten in all three classes of the Junior Rider, receiving a third
place in Gamblers Stake, fourth place in Derby and tenth in
two Phase, out of 60 riders.
The girls are very passionate about Equestrian Sport,
training at Onslow Pony Club almost every day and competing
together when possible.
“You have to keep your horse and yourself fit,” Rosa says.
They are all proud owners of a horse, which they liken to looking
after a child.
“You have to feed it, clean it, everything – it is a big job,” Eleanor
comments.
Most of the girls started riding when they were young before
they started entering Equestrian competitions, which include
categories such as Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Showing and
Show Hunting.
Equestrian competitions are held in rural areas, where the sport
is much more popular, so the girls get the opportunity to travel
frequently.
Apart from the travel benefits, Olivia says Equestrian
competitions are also very social events and a good way to meet
people with a similar interest in horses. But she cautions newcomers
to the sport to think carefully before investing in their own horse.
“Owning and riding a horse is a big responsibility,” Olivia
comments.
The girls do agree however that the best part of the sport is
getting to spend a lot of quality time with your horse.
“It is an unusual bond but a special one,” Olivia says.
training or go for a
run, usually I train
once or twice a day.”
A t t e n d i n g
Queen Margaret
College from 2010
as a Year 7 student,
Matisse has emerged
as a promising
sportswoman at the
College. Playing in
the Senior Hockey
team, she has
also been highly
successful in the
School Athletics and
Swimming Sports.
She also recently
took came second place at the College Swimming Sports in the
Senior Section and broke a College record in the Senior Butterfly of
31.80 seconds with the last record set in 2001.
Matisse Uluilelata