Over the hill again for young Collingwood footballers
Rosie Riley and her “very competitive” Collingwood players at the annual Hira School Football Tournament at Saxton Field. <em>Photo: Lisa Trusler Photography.</em>
Football or athletics was the choice facing Collingwood Area School students late last month. Stay in Golden Bay for an inter-school track and field meeting or head to Stoke and take on other Year 5 and 6 students in the annual Hira School Football Tournament.
There were 57 teams from 18 schools competing with only newcomers Murchison Area School having travelled further.
“I think they found it a little bit daunting when they first arrived but they quickly settled in,” says Collingwood Area School teacher Rosie Riley. They had the option of playing in the competitive division or social.
“This year we have been really pushing football hard and we have lots of competitive kids. So it was a no brainer putting all of our players in to the competitive grade,” declares Rosie, who reckons football proved a more popular option than athletics that day.
It was the young footballers’ second trip over Tākaka Hill this year, with Rosie saying it was a great opportunity to mix with other kids and see how other schools operated.
"That is the great thing about football, we can have boys and girls together in the same teams,” says Rosie.
Each side played at least four games over 12 minutes with no half-time.
The Hira School tournament has been going for 25 years and for the fourth year in a row, Richmond Primary School took out the competitive section. Richmond United beating Saint Paul’s Blue 3-0 in the final. But for many it was all about having a fun day out.