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Whangarei takes Youthtown Get2Go trophy 2011

Friday 9 December 2011, 3:39PM

By The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand

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Get2Go group
Get2Go group Credit: The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand
Get2Go Whangarei group
Get2Go Whangarei group Credit: The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand

Whangarei beat 11 other teams at the 2011 Youthtown Get2Go Final taking place this week at The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand (OPC) Great Barrier Island. After a delayed start due to turbulent Hauraki Gulf sea conditions the teams arrived at the Great Barrier Island centre on Monday 5 December.

Close of play on Wednesday saw Takapuna Grammar School with the fastest time followed by Whangarei Girls'/Boys' High Schools and Waimea College. However, once points from all the challenges throughout the week had been combined the team that came out on top was the combined Whangarei Girls'/Boys' High Schools team. Congratulations to this most deserving team for all their hard work throughout the week!

The student's team work, communication and problem solving skills were put to the test across the week with lots of strategic planning and critical thinking required. Students competed in a wide variety of tasks including problem solving challenges; sailing and rafting competitions; and a 2 night expedition involving nearly 50 checkpoints on both land and sea using a range of transport methods. Each evening during the expedition students camped under canvas, the first night at Okiwi School and the second night at "one of the most amazing campsites you could imagine," says Darren Ashmore, OPC's Events Manager "high up on the Kotuku Peninsula, between Port Fitzroy and Karaka Bay. They have stunning views over the surrounding harbours, bays and islands and even Little Barrier off in the distance."

Ashmore has been keeping all the supporters at home updated throughout the week via OPC's facebook page. The page has been flooded with support for the teams and Darren comments "thanks for all of the awesome support guys. It's great to see such passionate support of these amazing young athletes. These kids are pushing themselves to new levels this week in all of the challenges. It's great to see them think they are totally exhausted, yet from somewhere deep inside they find another gear and keep going strong."