The top of the south’s first teenage quick rip festival at Tāhunanui, Nelson on Wednesday was a “great success” according to organisers, despite the withdrawal of several teams due to the pandemic.

Two girls teams from Queen Charlotte College had to pull out on Monday morning because of Covid-19.

Fourteen male and six female teams, which came from as far away as Buller, participated in the event.

The festival was the brainchild of the Tasman Rugby Youth Advisory Group formed last year.

There was only going to be one Motueka winner in the junior girls’ final, with both teams from the Tasman college.

Group member Krugar Griffith, 17, said it was great young people were given the chance to have their say.

“We manifested it, and now it’s a real thing.”

George Vance, community capability manager for Tasman Rugby said the teens had discussed the difficulties they face in participating in sport and what they could do to reengage youth.

“They came up with the concept, they’ve driven the ideas, and we are just now trying to deliver that. That’s the biggest highlight for me.”

Getting a chance to try out the Tasman Mako timing lights was a favourite activity of the teens.

Connected to an iPad, the peg lights are stuck into the ground 10 metres apart for 40 metres.

The $8000 lights were set up by the team’s trainers and calculated runners’ dashes to the millisecond, said Neo Milligan-Richard, the Tasman Rugby Union participation and digital media manager.

Aside from the matches themselves, lunch was provided free, music was broadcast loud, and the sun shone as kids ran barefoot.

Playing shoeless leads to fewer injuries, said Milligan-Richard.

“It also makes it easier for kids who don’t have boots.”

Vance said that while there was a competitive element, driving “enjoyment, participation and inclusion” was the key focus of the day.

“The winning part at the end, that’s just a little bonus.”

Results:

Junior Girls Winners: Motueka High Yellow

Junior Boys Winners: Nelson College Oxford

Senior Girls Winners: Nayland College

Senior Boys Winners: Nelson College Stallions

Article added: Friday 08 April 2022