It has been a high-octane term for the Westlake Girls’ Premier Water Polo team, balancing a demanding Auckland League schedule with a rigorous four-day North Island Secondary Schools (NISS) tournament. After finishing 8th in Division 1 locally, the team faced the region’s elite in a gruelling NISS campaign. A major highlight was our stellar first half against Carmel, where we trailed by only one goal at the break, followed by a dominant victory over St Kentigern’s on day 2. While the final 12th-place finish, following a hard-fought second match against St Kents and two tough losses to the lightning-fast swimmers of Aquinas, wasn’t the result we hunted for, the grit shown by this unique squad proved they can go toe-to-toe with great teams.

The team’s spirit has been anchored by the composure of goalkeeper Natasha Busch and the tireless leadership of captain Tannah Strombeck, who both played pivotal roles in keeping the standards and energy high through the toughest matches. This group features a remarkable range of experience, from a talented core of Year 9s to our sole Year 13. The rapid development of our younger players alongside our seniors has created a formidable foundation as we head into our final week of preparation. The lessons learned at North Islands have only added fuel to the fire, and the girls are determined to fine-tune their strategy and climb the national rankings to finish their season on a high.

Ngā mihi,

Bridget Layburn

The sailing programme at Westlake Girls High School continues to set the benchmark in Girls’ schools, with its teams racing crew securing the Girls title at the Auckland Secondary Schools Championship for an extraordinary fifth consecutive year.

Led by Jess Handley, the team delivered a polished and disciplined performance across the regatta. Bella Jenkins and Charlotte Handley took the helm of the school’s 420 boats, supported by a skilled and cohesive crew group of Danielle Robertson, Emily Turner, Gretel Satterthwaite, Julia Nguyen, and Kiera Dimock. Together, they demonstrated the depth of talent within the squad and the strength of their preparation.

Throughout the competition, Westlake Girls combined sharp boat handling with clear communication and smart tactical decisions. In a tightly contested fleet, their ability to remain composed under pressure and consistently execute clean races proved decisive. Avoiding costly mistakes and capitalising on key moments, they maintained control of the regatta to secure yet another title.

This latest success is a testament not only to the current team but also to the programme’s sustained culture of excellence. Jess Handley and Gretel Satterthwaite were both part of the 2022 team that began this remarkable winning streak under the helm of Danielle Wooldridge, highlighting valuable continuity and experience within the squad. Behind the scenes, manager Paula Satterthwaite has played a pivotal role in building and nurturing the programme and was recently recognised for her outstanding contribution to Girls sailing in the region.

The team is now in final preparation for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Teams Racing Championship, set to take place in Whangārei from 14–18 April, where they will look to carry their winning form onto the national stage.

Congratulations to the Westlake Girls Sailing Team for retaining the New Zealand Secondary Schools Girls Keelboat Championship title for the third consecutive year.

A superb performance from the Westlake Girls #1 crew of Bella Jenkins, Jess Handley, Gretel Satterthwaite, Emily Turner and Danielle Robertson who sailed strongly in the Gold Fleet to be the top Girls school in the larger sailboats on 17 March.

WGHS #2 crew skippered by Charlotte Handley, with crew Julia Nguyen, Zara Latimer, Isla Kee and Oliver James, finished their regatta with a stunning win in their final Silver Fleet race to finish 2nd overall in the class. 

Following a dominant season in the Harbour and Auckland Leagues, our Premier Volleyball Team headed to Palmerston North for the NZ Secondary School Championships. The team hit the ground running, going undefeated in the opening pool play to secure a spot in the Top 16. The momentum continued with two thrilling five-set victories, propelling them into the Quarter Finals. In a high-stakes “North Shore battle” against the eventual champions, Rangitoto College, our players fought hard but narrowly missed out on the win. They bounced back brilliantly, defeating Nayland College to secure 7th place overall out of 98 teams. This marks our first Top 8 finish since 2019—a massive achievement! Congratulations to the team on an incredible season, and a huge thank you to coaches Kayla Allison-Carnie and George Koria for their expert guidance and support.

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Stella Beale, Eryn Geck, and Stella Halligan travelled to Wellington (26–29 March) to compete in the North Island MTB Championships.

At Rivenrock MTB Park, Stella Beale and Eryn Geck raced the Downhill on a steep, technical course in challenging dry and dusty conditions. Eryn won the U14 Girls, while Stella placed 4th in the U20 Girls.

The team then competed in the Enduro at Wainuiomata, featuring four timed stages:

• Eryn Geck – 3rd (U14 Girls)
• Stella Halligan – 5th (U15 Girls)
• Stella Beale – 6th (U20 Girls)

All riders showed great resilience and adaptability across changing conditions, representing WGHS with pride against strong competition

Westlake Girls High School had a fantastic few days at Pegasus Cup 2026, with the team competing in strong classes of up to 50 riders.

A special mention to Mikayla Gow, who led the way with an outstanding performance:

• 2nd overall – Best Off the Track Thoroughbred
• 3rd overall – 90cm 2 Phase
• 5th (Day 1) & 9th (Final) – 90cm Equitation

Neve Anderson also impressed across multiple events:

• 6th overall – 80cm 2 Phase
• 5th overall – Accumulator (80–90cm)
• 5th overall – Young Horse Award

In her first Pegasus Cup, Hazel Wilson-Watts delivered a strong performance:

• 14th overall – 80cm 2 Phase
• 9th overall – Accumulator (80–90cm)

Rhea Bourhill placed 18th overall in the Accumulator (80–90cm).

As a team, Westlake Girls High School finished 16th overall out of 51 schools — a fantastic effort in a highly competitive field.

A huge thank you to Eleanor Armstrong, who was an incredible support as a groom throughout the event. Her work behind the scenes made a big difference to the team.

The Westlake Girls High School Rowing squad competed last week at the 2026 New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships, held on the pristine waters of Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel. The entire squad upheld the school’s values, competing with fierce determination while consistently demonstrating pride and integrity both on and off the water.

The Westlake crews achieved two significant podium placements: The Girls Under 18 Pair final was a gripping race, with Charlotte Mawston and Zara Bosch outsprinting a strong Epsom Girls crew in the final 500 metres to secure the silver medal. This performance marks them as two of the top schoolgirl rowers in the country. Not to be outdone, the Girls Under 17 Pair crew of Annabel Webber and Zara Bosch also rose to the occasion, executing a flawless first 500m and showing outstanding grit and composure to win the bronze medal.

Beyond the medal count, the depth of the Westlake squad shone through in the overall participation in finals, with 86% of the Westlake Girls Rowing squad racing in finals at the regatta. This achievement represents a significant leap forward for the programme, up from 65% of the squad last year. This level of consistency across the board is a testament to the dedication of every rower, top level coaching, and the strong culture of training and performance established within the squad.

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Following their exceptional performances, several Westlake athletes have been invited to trial for New Zealand age group teams:

• Charlotte Mawston has been named as one of only 14 female triallists for the New Zealand Under 19 Rowing Team. 
• Zara Bosch and Lyla Carrancho have both been selected as triallists for the North Island Under 18 Rowing Team.

These selection trials are scheduled to take place during the upcoming school holidays, and the entire Westlake community wishes these athletes the very best as they pursue these outstanding representative opportunities.

A final thank you to the staff and parents who helped make this season a success. We could not do this without your commitment and generosity, it is greatly appreciated.

For any students keen to get involved in rowing, the Westlake Learn to Row programme will begin in Term 2. Keep an eye out for notices next term, or get in touch with Mr Stanley ([email protected])

Medals

Girls 200m Junior Race

1 Maddie Anderson

Girls 300m  Junior Race

1 Maddie Anderson 42.67s

Girls Long Jump Junior

1 Maddie Anderson

Above Maddie Anderson-storming to victory in the Girls Junior 200m Final

Sadie Bishop and April Peita 100m Heats ( Sadie lane 5 and April in lane 2)

Maddie was the best  performing Athlete of the Auckland Champs winning an amazing 4 medals including Gold in the Long Jump, 200m, 300m and Bronze medallist.

Girls 4×400 Meter Relay Open

3 Westlake Girls’ High School ‘A’

Left to right, Maddie Anderson, Sadie Bishop Alice Whyte and Elizabeth Plaistowe

Left to right, Maddie Anderson, Sadie Bishop Alice Whyte and Elizabeth Plaistowe

Maddie Anderson and Sadie Bishop in action in the 400m Relay

Sadie Bishop in action in the 400m relay

Girls 4×100 Meter Relay Intermediate

April Peita, Sadie Bishop, McKenzie Te Awa and Elizabeth Plaistowe with their silver medals. The race was so close with our team missing out with their 50.24 to 50.09 to Saint Kentigern’s College.

Girls High Jump Intermediate

3 Miya Riseborough 

Girls Triple Jump Intermediate

3 Miya Riseborough 

Girls Long Jump Intermediate

3 April Peita

Top Ten Placings

Girls 100- & 200m Intermediate race

4 Sadie Bishop

Girls 400m Intermediate race

7 Elizabeth Plaistowe

Girls 100m Senior Race

8 Erina Wheater 

Girls 1500m Run Senior

7 Emma Davies 

Girls 4×100 Meter Relay Senior

6 Westlake Girls’ High School ‘A’

Girls 4×100 Meter Relay Junior

9 Westlake Girls’ High School ‘A’

Girls High Jump Intermediate

5 McKenzie Te Awa 

6 April Peita

Girls Triple Jump Intermediate

8 Madeline Leece

What a season it has been for our Cricket team, who have stormed their way to the 1A Grade title and secured promotion to the Premier Grade for 2027.

In a truly dominant campaign, the girls went a perfect 7 from 7, winning every match in convincing fashion. Week after week, they brought energy, confidence, and a real sense of togetherness that made them a tough side to beat.

The team was brilliantly coached by Sunny Patel, whose guidance helped shape both the team’s performance and culture throughout the season. Out on the field, captains India Munro and Sia Patel led from the front, setting high standards and driving the group forward in every game.

There were strong contributions across the board, but a special mention must go to Amber Fawkner, who had a standout season with the bat. Amber piled on an incredible 399 runs in 7 matches, including three half-centuries and a century, consistently giving the team the perfect platform to succeed.

This has been a season built on hard work, team-first mentality, and a genuine love for the game. The promotion to Premier Grade is a huge achievement and an exciting next step