The Riverside High School Athletics Carnival was held on Thursday, 30^th October and Tuesday, 4^th November. We again conducted the carnival on the school grounds, where we found the atmosphere of community spirit has been a highlight. Leading up to the carnival, the school’s groundsmen, Darren and Rene, put in many hours work to mark out the track lanes, ensure the long jump pits were well prepared, and ensure the school looked immaculate in readiness to host 700 students over the two-day carnival.

The over-arching focus of our school sports carnivals is participation, doing your best, and having fun with friends. Although most events at the Athletics Carnival are individual events, our students compete to gain points that go towards their House tally. There is a very strong historical, healthy, and friendly, rivalry between our four Houses - Forrest, Kingsford Smith, Lawson, and Monash, to see who will be crowned the champion House each year.

Carnival and House information was shared with students at the assembies and through videos that House Prefects filmed to ensure words of inspiration and encouragement were imparted onto their Houses. The aim being to have the students in their House participate in as many events as possible to maximise points scored.

This year, the carnival days were split due to unforeseen circumstances, with the first day being Thursday before a Student Free Day on Friday. With weather we could have only dreamed about, there was an air of excitement, with the colours yellow, red, blue and green displayed all over the school. Students from all four Houses answered the call of their House Prefects and were entering in as many events as they could. Some highlights were the greatly improved participation from our Grade 9 cohort and the commitment of our Grade 10 students to lead the way with their efforts in their last ever school carnival. Competition was even, with points being shared between the four Houses, at the halfway mark of Day 1. As the day progressed, Lawson forged ahead ever so slightly and held a small lead over Forrest going into the last event of the day, the 100m Finals. The 100m Finals are always very exciting. This was enhanced by all students lining the 100m track to cheer on their House team mates as they sprinted with every morsel in their bodies towards the finish line. There were many great times achieved and some excitingly close finishes, with the Grade 10 Girls and Boys Finals being standouts, as Maddie G and Lachie P claimed famous victories.

Day 2, was held on Tuesday after the long weekend, was able to get underway, despite heavy rain the night before. With students, and school staff, having 4 days to recover, competition was once again going to be fierce. As the day wore on, and with Lawson hanging on to a slender lead over Forrest, the Lawson Grade 8 girls were once again dominating their year group and making it hard for the other Houses. Monash and Kingsford-Smith, both had strong performers across all year groups, and were showing a never-say-die attitude to stay in the race for the House win. As the relays are worth double points, Lawson needed to continue to accumulate points to hold off Forrest and a fast-finishing Monash. Many of the races were hotly contested and we again witnessed some very close races. In the end, Lawson were able to accumulate points consistently across the track and field events over the two days, reversing the results from last year by bettering Forrest at the final tally. Once again, Monash finished in third place, followed by Kingsford-Smith. The final House placings and accrued points were:

Congratulations Lawson House!!!!!

There were many standout performances over the two-days. Each student can earn a maximum of 120 points in both track and field events by competing in and performing well in each event. The student with the highest number of points is crowned RHS Track Champion and/or Field Champion.

Congratulations to the following students, who are the 2025 Riverside High Athletic Carnival Track and Field Champions.

Congratulations must also go to the following students who were the runners up in their age groups at the 2024 Riverside High Athletic Carnival.

We would like to thank the families and friends who came along to support over the two days. It was wonderful to see you all at the event supporting the students as they gave their very best efforts.

The HPE team at Riverside High School would also like to publicly thank all school staff for their commitment to their roles in ensuring the carnival was a great success.

Finally, congratulations to all students for your wonderful efforts over the two days of the carnival. Without your commitment to the event, it would not have been the success that it was.

Mr Sanders