On Wednesday, 30 ākonga along with Glenys Hanley, Sarah Cairns, Fiona Wilkinson, Amanda Smith, Robyn Lietze and Kerri Nakajima left mid morning to make the journey to Lawrence for the annual Southern Area Schools' Tournament.

All the schools,  (The Catlins Area School, Twizel Area School, Lawrence Area School, Waiau Area School, Roxburgh Area School and Maniototo Area School), attended the opening ceremony where we were welcomed with a Mihi whakatau, singing and speeches, and then we all presented our opening ceremony skit items. The first round of activities then got underway a little later than expected with girls basketball, rugby, mixed football, computer based games and frisbee golf. These were followed by 4pm rounds of Ki O Rahi, badminton and indoor bowls. The weather lived up to the expected forecast and delivered several showers of hail, rain and bone chilling winds but this did not stop TCAS. Top achievers for Day 1 went to Blake Affleck who placed 1st in frisbee golf and Alex Napier and Blake Affleck who placed 1st in indoor bowls with Harry Walker and Liam Barret coming 2nd overall. At 6.30pm the students were introduced to their hosts who kindly opened their doors and billeted all TCAS students for the two nights. 

Day 2 the weather was bitterly cold due to fresh snow however the showers held off enough to get sports completed. Sports played were netball, golf, frisbee golf, chess, boys basketball, gold panning, darts, volleyball and table tennis. TCAS top achiever for Day 2 went to Clark Napier with top honors and placing 1st in gold panning.  Special mention has to go to Yui Nakajima and Mia Cable who placed 2nd overall in table tennis. Notable mention to the netball team and boys basketball who played with fierceness and passion and placed in 3rd position. It was then a quick trip back to their hosts for dinner, shower and change of clothes before gathering back at the school for the social. The social was a feast of dancing, mosh pits and loud music and is always a highlight that brings all students together.

Today, Day 3 saw some pretty tired students and adults with the final sports played being petanque, quiz, ripper rugby and dodgeball. TCAS top achievers for Day 3 went to the dodgeball team made up of Boston Jemmett, Kotaro Nagatsuka, Braydee Osborne, Blake Affleck, Tafaitoa Tyrell, Corey Gilbert, Elyssa Stapleforth-Hill, and Jethro Melville who place top of the table! Also mention to Alex Napier and Kaiyo Nakajima with top honors and placing 1st in petanque. All schools gathered again in the Simpson Park Gym for the closing ceremony and the much anticipated Nationals Team announcement. We are proud to congratulate Margret Tyrell, Braydee Osborne, Kotaro Nagatsuka, Corey Gilbert, Jethro Melville, Amelia Morrison, and Tafaitoa Tyrell who have been selected for the Nationals which will be held in Rangiora during the first week of the Term 2 holidays.

Congratulations to our Fair Play recipients Margret Tyrell and Jethro Melville.

We are proud of all our students who showed great sportsmanship, determination and passion. We would like to thank Lawrence Area School for hosting and billeting our players, the teachers, staff and parent help, and of course the other Area Schools for their great competition.

We are excited to announce that Area Schools' Tournament will be held on home turf next year in the Catlins. Roll on 2024, we cannot wait!