Clean Sweep for Girls’ School at Soapbox Derby

The Girls’ School completely dominated the national finals of the Rotary Soapbox Derby! Soapbox racing pits young drivers against one another on a downhill track in cars powered solely by gravity. This means the pit crew, which is responsible for setting up the car and fine-tuning its performance, has just as much impact on the result as the driver, making it a true team competition!

Our racers took out all of the podium places at the nationals, with Year 7 student, Ocean Scott crowned the New Zealand champion! Madison Hickin, who is in Year 8, and Kaythi Finn (Year 7), finished in second and third respectively. A clean sweep of first, second and third has never before been achieved by the same school in the event’s 14 years. Ocean will now travel to Ohio in the United States to compete in the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championships in July!

In the East Auckland regional event the week before, the Girls’ School was just as successful, with Ocean, Bridget Dennis, Kaythi and Madison in first to fourth, ahead of Boys’ School racers in fifth and sixth. With the top six place-getters qualifying for the national final, all of the East Auckland representatives were from Saint Kentigern. The Girls’ School also won trophies for best cheer squad and most organised team.

Principal, Ms Juliet Small is justifiably proud of the girls’ achievements. ‘This is an amazing result! The students put so much time and effort working as a team preparing the machines, practising their driving and supporting each other. To have Saint Kentigern appear alongside the best in the world in the United States will be fantastic! The hard work has definitely paid off.’

The Girls’ School is extremely grateful to the following sponsors for their support: GreensceneNZ Ltd; Bellevue Hotel, Lower Hutt; Stevenson Engineering; Isignit; and Sulco Ltd. A big thank you also to parents and staff who helped out on both days, especially chief engineer, Warren Frazer, Paul Scott for taking care of the transportation and set-up and Mike Thorpe for his invaluable input.

GIRLS’ SCHOOL SOAPBOX NATIONALS RACING TEAM

Drivers

Ocean Scott

Bridget Dennis

Kaythi Finn

Madison Hickin

Pit Crew

Eva Colyer

Kate Frazer

Kate Dryden

Rachel Black

Zoe White

Lily-Belle Sawyer

Anna McKenzie

Anna Carr

Sophia Hay

Cameron Paje

Victoria Tiong

Meletaufa Lolo

Chelsea Baxter

Taylor Maxwell