Macleans College climbers perform strongly at national competition
Posted on September 21, 2026
Macleans College climbers delivered a strong performance at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Climbing Cup in New Plymouth.
Five of the school’s 10 competitors progressed from the qualifying rounds to the semi-finals, competing alongside 180 students from secondary schools across the country.
This national bouldering competition provides secondary school students with the opportunity to test their skills against some of the country’s strongest young climbers.
A highlight came from Zach Munro (Mansfield House), who produced an excellent qualifying performance to place sixth in the Junior Boys division and secure a place in the semi-finals. He went on to finish 14th overall in the division.
In the Senior Boys division, Ashton Phillips (Kupe) qualified in 12th place before finishing 11th overall in the semi-finals. Klaas Kamp (Kupe) also performed strongly, reaching 13 of the 15 boulders in the qualifying round. He finished 15th in qualifying to progress to the Senior Boys semi-finals, where he placed 17th overall.
Macleans College’s Junior Girls also made an impressive contribution. Gabi Fluks (Rutherford) qualified in 11th place, while Eden Tan (Batten) qualified 14th. Both continued their strong performances in the semi-finals, finishing equal 12th overall.
The team also made a valuable contribution to the School Cup, earning 67 points to place Macleans College 16th among 26 schools.
Beyond the results, the competition provided valuable experience for the entire team. Students showed determination and resilience as they tackled challenging climbs and supported one another throughout the event.
Their positive attitude and commitment reflected the strong team spirit shown across the competition. Macleans College is proud of the way all 10 climbers represented the school on the national stage.
