Ōtūmoetai College Rowers Make Waves Nationally and Internationally
ŌTC rowers are set to make a major splash on both the international and provincial stages later this year, headlined by national selection and regional representative honours.
Arthur Crimmins to wear silver fern in China
Ōtūmoetai College rower Arthur Crimmins has earned a coveted spot on the New Zealand U19 Beach Sprint Development Team, selected by Rowing New Zealand to compete at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. The prestigious international regatta will take place from 18–21 October 2026 along the shores of the Yellow Sea in Qingdao, China.
Beach sprint rowing is a high-octane format that blends raw speed, agility, and surf navigation. Unlike traditional flat-water rowing, competitors start on foot with a 50-metre sprint across the sand, dive into their boat, navigate a 250-metre slalom course through surf buoys, and turn back toward shore. They then leap out onto the beach and charge to a buzzer on the finish line.
Arthur secured his spot following a dominant performance at domestic trials and the NZ Beach Sprint Championships at Orewa Beach, where he showcased exceptional power and water navigation skills. The squad, coached by Olympic gold medallist Joseph Sullivan, will undergo intensive preparation over the coming months before heading to the Yellow Sea to face the world’s best junior talent.
With Beach Sprint Rowing officially added to the Olympic program for the Los Angeles 2028 Games, Arthur’s selection to the U19 national team signals a promising future not only for his international debut in China, but as part of the next generation of Kiwi rowers targeting the Olympic stage.
Six ŌTC rowers earn Bay of Plenty U20 selection
Adding to ŌTC success, rowers Evelyn Hawke, Paige van Dijk, Jayden Pinkerton, Oliver Dixon-Saunders, Arthur Crimmins and coxswain Olivia Shefferd have achieved selection for the Bay of Plenty U20 Interprovincial Team.
These rowers will represent the region at the Interprovincial Rowing Regatta at the end of September, competing against the top regional crews from across New Zealand. Having built a strong foundation through school and club rowing at Ōtūmoetai College and Bay of Plenty Coast Rowing Club, their selection reinforces the strength and depth of the Bay of Plenty’s rowing pipeline.
Best of luck to them!
Rugby U16 Boys
On behalf of the Under 16 Tane rugby team, Arden Carter wants to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone that made our day happen.
🏆 ŌTC Premier Teams | Week 2 Results & Week 3 Fixtures 🟢⚫
Term 3 is well and truly underway, and our Premier Teams are building momentum as we head into another huge week and weekend of winter sport! 💪🔥
🏉 Barbarians Rugby | Results & Fixtures 🏉
A huge weekend of rugby saw some outstanding performances across the Barbarians programme!
👏 Results:
🖤 U16 – 22-14 ✅ vs Papamoa College
🖤 1st XV – 34-20 ✅ vs Trident High School
🖤 U14 – 24-38 vs RBHS
🖤 Junior Girls – 5-90 vs Te Puke High School
Congratulations to our U16s and 1st XV on two quality wins. To our U14s and Junior Girls, keep working hard and trusting the process—every challenge is an opportunity to grow. 💪
This week we go again with another big few days of rugby:
🏉 U16 take on TBC U16 Black on Friday at Tauranga Domain 3.
🏉 1st XV host Ōpōtiki College 1st XV at Ōtūmoetai College on Saturday.
🏉 Our U14s have already kicked off the week with a tough outing against TBC U14 East.
Let’s get behind all of our teams as they proudly represent the Barbarians.
One Club. One Culture. ALL IN. 🐏🖤
School Cross Country
Our School cross country is coming up on Tuesday 11 August. Entries close Friday 7 August. All students have been sent an email with an entry form from Mr Loudon. Please get involved!
🥏 Ready to Run, Throw, and Dive? Ultimate Frisbee for Year 9 & 10!
Looking for a fast-paced, high-energy sport on Term 3 and Term 4? Whether you’re a seasoned player or have never thrown a disc in your life, Ultimate Frisbee is the place to be! It’s non-contact, beginner-friendly, and all about awesome teamwork.
• Training Starts: Wednesday, 12th August (after school on the school field) for 10 weeks
• Competition: Term 4 – BOPSS Junior Champs
• Who Can Join: Open to all Year 9 and Year 10 students
Grab your friends and come along to see what it’s all about.
👉 Got what it takes? Complete the Expression of Interest form today to secure your spot!
https://forms.gle/3p6EJJzHmb5QS8366
Got a question – chat to Mr McMahon, English Dept.
🏔️ SNOWSPORTS ARE BACK! ⛷️🏂
Think you’ve got what it takes to conquer the slope? Registration for the Bay of Plenty Secondary School Ski & Snowboard Champs is open!
🗓️ Date: Friday 21st August 2026
📍 Where: Whakapapa, Mt Ruapehu
💲 Cost: Entry $60 + additional cost for lift pass
🏆 Categories: Freestyle | Giant Slalom
👉 REGISTER HERE
Registrations close midday Thursday 13th August 2026
🚵 NZSS Mountain Bike Championships 2026 🚵
We’re now taking registrations for the 2026 New Zealand Secondary Schools Mountain Bike Championships.
📍 Locations
• Summerhill MTB Park, Tauranga
• Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua
📅 4th–9th October 2026
🏁 Events:
• XCC (Cross Country Short Course)
• XCO (Cross Country)
• XCR (Cross Country Relay)
• EDR (Enduro)
• DHI (Downhill)
Whether you’re chasing a national title, looking to test yourself against the country’s best riders, or simply wanting to experience an unforgettable week of racing, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
👉 To register https://forms.gle/YD6yASg17YKud4V38
🏆 2025 ŌTC Sports Awards Trophy Return 🏆
It’s that time of year! As we begin preparing for our 2026 ŌTC Sports Awards, we kindly ask all 2025 trophy recipients to return their perpetual trophies.
📍 Please drop your trophy off at the ŌTC Sports Office
📅 Return by Friday 22nd August
Returning trophies by this date gives us enough time to clean, engrave and prepare them for this year’s deserving recipients.
Thank you for helping us continue this proud ŌTC sporting tradition and celebrate the achievements of our student-athletes.
If you’re unsure whether you have a trophy to return, or have any questions, please get in touch with the Sports Office.
The 🏋️♂️ S&C is back for Term 3!
The timetable remains the same as we continue building towards Winter Tournament Week.
Every session counts. Let’s get to work. 💪
Bureta Physio
BOOK NOW FOR 2026 TERM 3 – with our Bureta Physiotherapy.
NO CHARGE WITH ACC – Available for students and staff
Head to Bureta Physiotherapy website, select ŌTC and pick your time.
STRONGER TODAY. PERFORM BETTER TOMORROW. 💪🏽🟢
At Ōtūmoetai College Sport, we believe physical development is not an “extra” — it is an essential part of helping young athletes thrive.
New research reviewing 17 randomised controlled trials across team sports found that structured strength training can:
✅ Reduce injury risk by 30–70%
✅ Improve sprint speed, jump height and power
✅ Enhance movement quality and resilience
✅ Support long-term athletic development and wellbeing
Most importantly, the evidence shows these benefits are especially valuable for youth athletes involved in sports such as football, netball, volleyball, rugby and basketball.
Our ŌTC Strength & Conditioning Programme is designed to do exactly that:
🏋🏽 Build stronger, more resilient athletes
⚡ Improve movement efficiency and athletic performance
🧠 Develop confidence, discipline and physical literacy
🛡 Help reduce preventable injuries and time away from sport
High performance is built over time — not just during a season.
That is why we strongly encourage all ŌTC student-athletes to commit to year-round physical development alongside their sport-specific training. Consistency matters. Quality movement matters. Long-term development matters.
Whether students are aiming for representative honours, premier sport, or simply wanting to enjoy sport for longer and perform at their best, structured S&C training provides the foundation.
- Stronger athletes.
- Healthier athletes.
- Better prepared athletes.
For more information regarding our Strength & Conditioning programme please use the following link – Strength & Conditioning at ŌTC
To read the research paper in full please use the following link – Strength Training : Injury & Performance
Backing Our Teams: Thank You to Our Valued Sports Sponsors
As we head into the winter sports season, we would like to take a moment to sincerely thank the businesses and sponsors who continue to support sport here at Ōtūmoetai College. Their generosity makes a real difference to the opportunities we can provide for our students.
We are incredibly grateful to Barfoot & Thompson for their support of football and volleyball; Ray White – Greg Bopf for basketball; Ray White – Mark Francis and Pak’nSave Cameron Road for rugby; Marshalls Innovation for their support of rugby and hockey; Seeka and Watts & Hughes Construction for football; and Tauranga ITM for hockey.
These partnerships play a vital role in helping our teams thrive, and we greatly appreciate the commitment these businesses show to our students and wider school community.
Strength and Conditioning
Term 3 S&C timetable is the same as Term 2. Show up, put in the work, and keep building. Stronger every session.
Wrestling at ŌTC
Kids Back to Sport: Your go-to resource for child sports injuries
The website link below unlocks a comprehensive support for parents, health professionals, and teachers & coaches, empowering a safe return to play for injured children.
SPORT Noticeboard and Digi Screen
All your current Sport information is on the Action Centre Sports Noticeboard and Digi Screen. Location is opposite the netball court.
Ōtūmoetai College Alumni
We are looking to start an alumni of any previous students of Ōtūmoetai College – if you would like to be included, please click on the link below.
