Orienteering is a sport that has grown at OHS thanks largely to the successes and determination of Year 10 student Xavier White and the support of his family, who have encouraged and supported other interested students.

Over ANZAC weekend, Onehunga High School students proudly represented their school at the North Island Secondary School Orienteering Championships. Events were held across three challenging days: the Sprint at Wesley College, and both the Long Distance and Relay at Muirs Farm.

The Sprint event at Wesley College tested competitors with complex maps, unexpected map flips, and exciting spectator run-throughs. Xavier White claimed an impressive gold medal in the Intermediate Boys category. Other strong competitors included Maya Mendis, Ollie Ren, Shea Mendis, Nathan Marshall, and William Scott.

Sunday’s Long Distance at Muirs Farm brought strong winds, steep hills, and tough running conditions. Xavier White, Shea Mendis, and Ollie Ren battled the elements and performed admirably.

The final day’s Relay event was extremely wet, with low visibility and difficult terrain. Despite these challenges, the OHS Intermediate Boys team—Arlo Gould, Nathan Marshall, and Xavier White—finished 6th overall. Xavier’s outstanding third-fastest time in his grade helped the team make a strong comeback. The Junior Boys team of Shea Mendis, Maya Mendis, and Ollie Ren showed great determination.

All students conducted themselves with excellent sportsmanship. Well done to all the students who participated, despite the awful weather!