16 September 1997 Kiwisport Challenge days

Over 12,000 children from primary and intermediate schools throughout the Canterbury and Westland regions are participating in the month-long ‘Kiwisport Challenge’ programme. The Kiwisport Programme was launched in 1988, and the first Kiwisport Challenge was held in 1993.

The Programme is endorsed nationwide by some of New Zealand's best known Sports Personalities, including John Walker, Martin Crowe, Glen Denham, and Andrew Mehrtens.

Over 20 schools have hosted challenge days so far and the events are proving to be a huge success. The children who have taken part in the programmes have enjoyed the variety of sports on offer – for example, orienteering has been one of the most popular sports. The supervisors at each of the schools have been delighted with the extent to which all children have been able to get involved with the activities.

The programme of activities has been organised by Sport Canterbury and Event Management students at Lincoln University. Over eighty students from the Event Management class are involved in all aspects of the events from the planning and management (including staffing, evaluation, and promotion) to coaching and supervising on the day.

Kiwisport is the internationally acclaimed Hillary Commission Programme that is designed to give all children regardless of age, gender, or physical ability the opportunity to participate in a variety of modified sports. Kiwisport focuses on fun, fair play, and equality in participation while fostering future sporting interests.

Many of the schools that are taking part in the month long programme are competing in the Kiwisport Challenge. The Challenge seeks to encourage parents, friends, and community members to get involved by supporting the kids or helping out with coaching.

The challenge has already seen a huge response from local communities with several of the schools involved drawing over a hundred parents and community members along to their days.

The winners of the Challenge will be determined by the number of supporters who attend during the day in relation to the school roll numbers – so any size school has the chance to win. This year, in addition to the $1200 worth of sporting equipment that must be won, the winning school will receive a hand-carved trophy donated by Rebel Sports.

Lincoln Primary

• On Thursday, September 18 Lincoln Primary hosts its Kiwisport day. The school is very enthusiastic about this year's Kiwisport challenge and have taken part in ten previous challenge days.
• Among the coaching staff on the day will be Canterbury Crusader and NPC representative Scott Robertson. Robertson, a student in the Bachelor of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management programme at Lincoln University, is a member of the Events Management class involved in the organisation of the Challenge.
• Around 200 school pupils will be taking part in athletics, touch, tennis, volleyball, softball, and cricket.
• Lincoln Primary school is located on North Belt, Lincoln. The events will be running 11am-12:30pm and 1:15pm-2:45pm. Scott Robertson will be coaching Touch between 1pm and 2:30pm. The two Lincoln Students supervising the day are Judith Fussell and Mark Smale.

South New Brighton 

• South New Brighton is one of the largest schools participating in the Challenge with around 550 children taking part. There is a strong community feeling centred around the school and outdoor activities are particularly popular. The children, ranging in age from 5-13, will take part in a variety of sports.
• On Wednesday 17th September, the senior school (ages 8-13) will take part in netball, touch, cricket, orienteering and volleyball between 9:00am and 12:30pm. The juniors (5-7 years) take part in netball, touch, and cricket between 1:10pm and 2:55pm. Site supervisors are Breeze Slattery, Sean Coster, and Kate Henderson. 

In the event of bad weather South New Brighton will run on September 22 (same times) and Lincoln will run on September 25. Postponement notices will be broadcast on Newstalk ZB.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand