Boys Rise to the Challenge in Wānaka

By Andrew Willmott | Posted: Sunday February 22, 2026

On Friday, 11 boys represented the school at the Challenge Wānaka Schools' Triathlon in Wānaka.

Conditions were windy and mild—while the breeze led to a shortened swim, the cooler temperatures made for more comfortable cycling and running conditions. It was fantastic to see such a large number of boys competing, both in teams and as individuals. Teams are a great way to experience the sport with mates, while the individual event provides a real physical and mental challenge. Our travel to and from the event included squally showers mixed with sunshine, which produced some spectacular rainbows along the way—though only a few boys managed to find the pot of gold!

Results:

U14 Boys
Fletcher Webster – 2nd overall (1st Otago Secondary Schools)
Ethan Kaina – 3rd overall (2nd Otago Secondary Schools)
Alex Jakeway – 15th (8th Otago Secondary Schools) in his first-ever triathlon

U16 Boys
Robert Lloyd – 7th (2nd Otago Secondary Schools)
Fergus Lloyd – 9th (4th Otago Secondary Schools)
Robert and Fergus added a bit of brotherly rivalry to the mix, but in a fun family twist, their cousin finished between them, with Robert just edging him over the line.

U19 Boys
Henry Hodgson – 7th (4th Otago Secondary Schools), despite a mechanical issue that forced him to run the final kilometre of the bike leg back to transition while racing at the front of the field
Mason Kingan – 8th (5th Otago Secondary Schools), backing up from the Coast to Coast last weekend
James Henderson – 11th (7th Otago Secondary Schools) in his first major triathlon

The U16 team of Declan Roulston, Hunter Knox, and Bede Perkins finished 3rd overall (1st Otago Secondary Schools), with Hunter switching from runner last year to cyclist this year.

A big thank you to Shane Kaina for marshalling, Beatrice Lloyd for the photos, and the many parents who supported the boys throughout the day. It was also great to see Rus Pope (Head of School Property) there supporting the boys before competing in Saturday’s Challenge Wānaka event.

Next up: the South Island Triathlon and Duathlon Championships in Oamaru this weekend.