O'Shea Shield 2018 - 'Youth - Faith - Joy'

Published on 18th Jun, 2018

2018 O’Shea Shield a success in more ways than one

 

Despite damp weather, spirits were far from dampened at St Catherine’s College, Kilbirnie, over the weekend of May 12‒13. The 72nd O’Shea Shield competition was hosted by St Catherine’s for the first time. The mammoth task of welcoming and looking after a total of 17 schools – some 300 students and accompanying teachers, parents and supporters – involved every member of the College community.

The weekend theme was ‘Youth – Faith – Joy’, drawn from the preparatory document for the Synod, called by Pope Francis to be held in October this year that looks in to young people, their faith and vocational discernment. Over the weekend, youth, faith and joy was apparent in abundance, as students from all the colleges met each other, socialised together and had fun ‒ in spite of competing for the coveted Shield.

Winners of the various sections came from a range of different colleges, with the major award – the O’Shea Shield itself – being shared by Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) and St Catherine’s College. The fact that winning the O’Shea Shield was a shared result, and that the Bishop Viard Memorial Trophy for Runners-up was shared by three schools: St Patrick’s College, Wellington: St John’s College, Hastings; and Sacred Heart College, New Plymouth, is real evidence, this year, of just how close the competition was. St Catherine’s has a very proud history of success in this competition. Success in the O’Shea Shield carries the same importance as winning any sporting event. Last year, the College placed third overall in the competition, having won the Shield for the previous four consecutive years. In the past 20 years there has rarely been a year when St Catherine’s has not been amongst the top three schools in the competition. This success is driven by a small but dedicated group of teachers and old girls who put in many hours with the 17 students in the O’Shea team, to ensure the girls showcase their extraordinary talents and represent St Catherine’s to the highest level.

“The major award – the O’Shea Shield – was shared by Sacred Heart College Lower Hutt, and St Catherine’s College. The Bishop Viard Memorial Trophy for Runners-up was shared by St Patrick’s College, Wellington; St John’s College, Hastings, and Sacred Heart Girls’ College, New Plymouth.”

This year, this task was magnified by the responsibility of hosting the competition. Every event needed staff and students to run everything smoothly, and 25 expert adjudicators were called in to judge the competitors and provide feedback to help them to further develop their skills. Hosting the competition required every staff member and student to come on board, so that the weekend was a great success.

Nan Walden, the Head of Technology at St Catherine’s College, mobilised a talented army of students, staff and PTA members for provide high quality food for everyone, and the logistics of this job rated an article of its own in the NZ Education Gazette recently, as Nan was able to use this real-life catering experience for her students to be assessed and gain NCEA credits into the bargain.

Winning the Shield once again is definitely ‘the cherry on the top’ of a wonderful weekend, full of spirit and joy – a definite success in more ways than one.

Next year St Peter’s College, Palmerston North, host the O’Shea Shield.

The eight events:
– Debate (Tautohetohe)
– Junior Prepared Speech – Year 9 and 10 students (Whaikōrero Teina)
– Te Reo Scripture Reading (Pānui Karaipiture i Te Reo Māori)
– Scripture Reading (Panui Karaipiture i Te Reo Pakeha)
– Oratory (Whaikōrero Tuakana)
– Religious Drama (Toi Whakaari Whakapono)
– Impromptu Speaking (Kōrero Tene)
– Religious Questions – based on the [Youth] pre-Synod document (Ngā Patai Whakapono)

 

Competition Results

 

Winner of the St Catherine’s Cup for Best Negative Debating Team
Jade Alborn, Megan Ritchie, Theodore Gabites
Garin College, Nelson

Winner of the St Mary’s Cup for Best Affirmative Debating Team
Barnaby Elder, Ralph Zambrano, Joseph Sison
St Patrick’s College, Wellington

Te Kaipānui i te Kupu Cup for Scripture Reading in Te Reo Maori, Section A, donated by Bishop Charles Drennan DD
Wharewaiata Rolls
St John’s College, Hastings

Te Kaipānui i te Kupu Cup for Scripture Reading in Te Reo Maori, Section B, donated by Cardianl John Dew DD
Moana Paringatai-Hare
St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College

Winner of the George Family Cup for Junior Prepared Speech Section A
Brereton McKee
St Catherine’s College

Winner of the Vaughan Family Cup for Junior Prepared Speech Section B
Zach Newton
St Patrick’s College, Wellington

Winner of the Cardinal McKeefry Cup for Oratory Section A
Tuiamaleali’ifano Fiso
Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt

Winner of the Bishop Cullinane Cup for Oratory Section B
Marcus Tumaai
St Patrick’s College, Wellington

Winner of The Catherine McAuley Cup for Scripture Reading Section A
Laura Hewson
Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt

The winner of the St Peter Chanel Cup for Scripture Reading Section B
Dylan Bennett
St Bernard’s College, Lower Hutt

Winner of the Bishop Owen Snedden Memorial Cup for Drama
Bri Mitchell, Josephine Paxie, Anna Rogers, Shana Corkill, Zoe Simpson
St Mary’s College, Wellington

Winner of The Society of Mary Cup for Drama
Theo Gordon, Martin McPhee, Viki Moananu, Tamati Moriarty, Aaron de Rose
St Patrick’s College, Wellington and William Adams, Max Clifton, Sebastian White,
Te Atatu Patelesio, Manase Taulanga St Patrick’s College, Silverstream

Winner of the Sacred Heart Lower Hutt Jubilee Cup for Impromptu Speaking Section A
Caleb Mathews
Hato Pāora College, Feilding

Winner of The Silverstream Cup for Impromptu Speaking Section B
Brendan English
St Patrick’s College, Silverstream

Winner of the Hibernian Cup for Religious Questions Section A
Janina Go, Maia Cunningham, Amber Woolcock
Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt

Winner of The Mercy Cup for Religious Questions Section B
Min Xin Lee, Anna Bejoy, Kayley Hamlyn
St Mary’s College, Wellington

The Jubilee Plaque awarded to the hosting school for 2019
St Peter’s College, Palmerston North

The Bishop Viard Memorial Trophy for Runner-up
Sacred Heart College, New Plymouth and St John’s College, Hastings and St Patrick’s College, Wellington

The O’Shea Shield for 2018
Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt and St Catherine’s College, Wellington

Have a question? We can help. Get in touch with the Diocese.