Winter Tournament Week was a huge success for TGS, with students achieving national titles, team promotions, and historic results across a range of sports. Year 9 athlete George Dong delivered an outstanding performance, securing gold in the NZSS Table Tennis National U15 Individual Championship in Palmerston North. Sasha Zivkovic also impressed, earning silver in her consolation final.
The 1st XI Boys' hockey team enjoyed a standout campaign, reaching the Founders Cup final before narrowly losing in a shootout. Their second-place finish secured promotion to the National Rankin Cup competition for 2027, a first for TGS. The TGS cycling team recorded one national title, four national championship podium finishes, and seven podium placings overall. Iris Davis won the U16 Girls Individual Time Trial Championship, while Tommy Navarro-Willmer and Imogen Child both earned silver medals.
The Girls' 1st XI hockey team placed tenth out of 21 teams at the Jenny Hair Cup in Wellington. The week also marked a milestone for co-captain Pippa Lynch-Blosse, who played her hundredth game for the team. At the Upper North Island Secondary Schools Tournament, the Premier netball team finished sixth in B Grade, narrowly missing promotion to A Grade. The Premier Girls' basketball team finished fifth at the Zone 1 AA Premierships, securing qualification for the 2026 Secondary School Nationals Tournament, which will be held during the school holidays. The Premier Boys' basketball team also competed strongly.
A historic highlight came from the Girls' 1st XI football team, who defeated St Kentigern College 3-1 to secure third place at nationals in Taupō, the highest-ever national finish for a TGS girls' football team. Orla Chambers won the Golden Boot with nine goals, including a hat-trick in the third-place playoff. The Boys' 1st XI football team finished 16th in the country out of 32 teams at Nationals in Palmerston North. It was the first time TGS had qualified for nationals in more than 15 years, having previously competed in regional tournaments during Tournament Week.
Chorale success at Big Sing Finale
The TGS Chorale has achieved national success after being invited to perform at the prestigious 2026 Big Sing Finale in Christchurch. Following a strong performance at the regional competition, the mixed-voices choir travelled to Christchurch to compete alongside some of New Zealand's leading secondary school choirs.
Conducted by David Squire and accompanied by Year 12 student Elaine Zhang on piano, the choir delivered an outstanding performance and was awarded a silver award. The experience was particularly special for the Chorale, with many members attending the Finale for the first time.
Oscar Walsh makes 2026 Smokefree Rockquest national final
Year 12 student Oscar Walsh earned a place in the 2026 Smokefree Rockquest national final, becoming one of just seven solo and duo acts selected from across New Zealand. Held in Wellington, the event is always a massive highlight of the New Zealand music industry calendar.
Oscar's innovative approach to composition and production with his three-song submission, coupled with his performance at the finals, impressed the judges who are all leading names in the New Zealand pop/rock scene. Oscar looks forward to developing his songwriting and performance skills in the future and plans to explore long-term career opportunities in the music industry.
