Auckland University claims Uni Snow Games shield

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For immediate release

Auckland University claims Uni Snow Games shield

Friday August 30: Auckland University has achieved a rare double in University Sport after winning the Uni Snow Games overall shield in Wanaka this week.

The Michael Forrestal Shield, which has been held by Otago University for the past eight years, will now hold pride of place much further north, alongside the Uni Games Shield Auckland University won at the New Zealand University Games earlier this year.

Auckland team manager Hannah Newman said the Uni Snow Games team had been “awesome”.

“They all had a great time and the competitors were awesome, coming through and winning a lot of the events,” she said.

“It’s great to finally take the shield out of the South Island!

It (winning both University Sport New Zealand tournaments in the same year) definitely shows that sport at Auckland University is still going strong and we’re very proud of all of the students. Hopefully we’ll retain both shields next year!”

Otago University did the double twice during its eight-year hold on the Uni Snow Games Shield, but it has been a long time since Auckland achieved the feat. The last time Auckland University won the Uni Snow Games was 1992.

University Sport New Zealand executive director Peter McDonald said the Uni Snow Games had been another fantastic week.

“We’ve had amazing weather, great competitors, a brilliant overall games atmosphere and the snow conditions were awesome, particularly towards the end of the week,” he said.

“It’s good to see Auckland University having such a good year in university sport. It’s quite a rare feat to secure both trophies, especially when both tournaments have not been held in the winning team’s region. I’d expect there will already be plenty of other campuses looking to take that shield back next year now that Otago’s hold on it has been broken.

It’s been good to see some new competitors this week and to see new talent coming through.”

Lincoln University retained the Small Campus Shield.

The Uni Snow Games started on Sunday, with events including Slalom (Giant and Skills-based), Big Air, Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Gravity X, Cross Country and Biathlon held at Treble Cone, Cardrona and Snow Farm.

This year was the 67th annual Uni Snow Games.

Only University Sport New Zealand member universities were eligible to win the overall Uni Snow Games shield, which meant Otago University and Canterbury University could not earn points towards it.

ENDS

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