On Thursday evening, the 2025 nominees and winners of the major Sports, Arts, and Culture Awards were celebrated at the Black and Gold Awards held in the AGC in the presence of students, whānau, staff, and special guests.

 

Sponsored by the Wellington College Foundation, these annual awards are an opportunity to spotlight WC’s co-curricular programme, acknowledging the efforts of the boys and their amazing achievements over the past 12 months.

MCs Harvey Walker and Patrick Jones lead the evening and the performances from Te Haeata Awatea Kapa Haka, Ngā Korimako, WC & WGC Big Band, and the Pasifika Performance Group throughout the Awards were truly exceptional.

A huge thank you to everyone involved with WC’s co-curricular programme and to all who helped deliver the special Awards evening. The 2025 category winners are:

 

Junior Sportsman – Alex MacBeth

Alex won the 800m and 1500m at McEvedy and claimed the U18 titles in both events at the NZ Track and Field Championships, earning a WC Blue. In cross-country, he was part of the unbeaten WC senior team that dominated locally, winning multiple CSW titles and placing 3rd (3-to-count) and 4th (6-to-count) at nationals. His performances earned him selection for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country team, where he finished 7th in the individual 16 – 17 year race and was a member of the NZ team that won gold in the teams event.

Junior Arts Person – Duncan Blennerhassett

Duncan plays Trombone 1 in the national award-winning school big band, the school orchestra, and has been a soloist with the school concert band. He sings in the barbershop chorus that was selected for the national finals. He was a member of the 1867 Project that was placed 2nd in the regional finals and in the top 20 bands in the country.

Duncan was a member of the MEFA Festival Big Band, Wellington Allstars Youth big band, and won Best Trombonist at both the Manawatū and National Youth Jazz festivals. He is principal trombone in the NZ Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra and a member of the NZSO Emerging Artists Programme for this year.

Senior Sportsman – Joe Martin

In December 2024, Joe won the senior 800m title at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics Championships and was subsequently selected for the NZSSAA Championship Team and Classics Tour team. In 2025, he was co-captain of the McEvedy team, winning the Open Boys 800m race, setting a new McEvedy record that had stood since 1993. He went on to win the U 20 title in the 800m at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships and is ranked the top U 20 800m and 1500m athlete in the country.

At cross-country Joe is a member of the Senior A team undefeated locally and winners of the Road Relays title. He won the Senior Boys Race at the Wellington Secondary School Championships and at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country Championship he placed 3rd in the Senior Boys 6km race. From this he was selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Team to compete at the Australian State Champs.

Senior Arts Person – Reilly Blennerhassett

Reilly is a Senior member of the Wellington College Big Band that won Best Big Band at the National Youth Jazz festival. A songwriter and bassist for the 1867 Project, which came second at the Rockquest Wellington regional final, with one of his songs winning Best Song overall. The band was named in the top 20 nationwide. He has also been selected in the Wellington All-Stars Big Band on bass.
He was also part of the 1867 Combo that won Best Combo at the Manawatū Jazz fest, and the WC rhythm section which won Best Rhythm Section at the National Youth Jazz Festival.
This year he won Best Bassist while representing Wellington College at three Jazz festivals across the country – the National Youth Jazz Competition in Tauranga, Manawatū Jazz festival, and JazzQuest in Christchurch.

Cellist in Wellington Youth Orchestra, and competed as part of two groups in the NZ Chamber Music Competition.
Associate Principal Cello in the NZ Secondary School’s Symphony Orchestra. Reilly was selected to play bass in the auditioned National Youth Jazz Competition Big Band 2025 and as a cellist in the NZSO National Youth Orchestra (open to U25s).

Te Toki Poutangata – Kael Kincaid

A proud member of Tū Tamatoa, he exemplifies excellence across both the arts and sport. A talented and versatile athlete, he represents Wellington College in basketball and volleyball, showing dedication, skill, and teamwork in every game.
Beyond the court, his creativity and depth of thought have shone through his writing, becoming not only the first Wellington College student, but also the first male to ever win the prestigious Katherine Mansfield Short Story Competition with his piece “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Bow.”

A true all-rounder, he embodies both strength and artistry, proudly carrying his whakapapa Māori in all that he does.

Lamepa o le Laumua – Lorenz Rere

As Deputy Head Prefect, Lorenz has worked hard balancing academic, cultural and sporting responsibilities, and has shown dedication and talent across both arts and sports.
He has been an active member and a leader of the Pasifika Performance Group, sharing his Cook Island culture with pride and mana especially for the Tu Tagata Secondary Schools’ Festival.  

Lorenz is a talented sportsman and has excelled in a number of sporting codes. This year he has been an active and committed member of the First XV, and selected in representative duties for Wellington Samoan U18’s rugby, as well as the Wellington Orcas U18 rugby league. Lorenz also represented the school in tag and rippa rugby.

Sports Team of the Year – Senior A Underwater Hockey

This team stayed at the top of the local competition from the beginning of the season, losing only one game. They won the CSW Premiership and went on to take out the Central Regionals Competition which doubles as nationals’ qualification. Here they came through strong competition from around the country to win the final in an exciting golden goal shoot out against Nelson after finishing 1-1 at full-time. Wellington College has a very successful history at the nationals, but this is the first time they have won the national title since 2011.

Cultural Group of the Year – Senior A Chess

As national champions, the Wellington College Chess team was invited to represent New Zealand in the Fide World Schools Chess Championships, held in Washington D.C. U.S.A. in early August.
Led by our own Fide Master, Ollie Archer, the team of Matthew Keith, Karthik Sethuramalingam, Joshua Lieser, and Aadhav Dhamodharan defeated National Champions from Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Israel and Estonia. Out of 50 teams, they placed 13th in the world.

College Mothers’ Award – Hamish Hull

Vice Captain of the Senior A underwater hockey team, junior team coach, a member of the senior rowing squad, member of the Prem B debating team, a debating adjudicator and organiser, coach of a Year 10 inter-college debating team, and co team leader of the student librarian team.   

Staff Contribution to Sports – Petra Malcolm

Manager of the 1st XI hockey team for the past 3 years and although admitting that she is not a hockey aficionado, has worked tirelessly to ensure the boys in the team have every opportunity to perform to the best of their ability. 

Friday night games, training and travelling away with the team to tournaments are all part of the job.

Staff Contribution to the Arts – Liam Boyle

Over the past 12 months, Liam has taken groups to Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch, Tauranga, and Palmerston North – overseeing one of the most successful years the music department has ever experienced. Always putting the boys at the centre of what he does, Liam is an integral part of the school’s arts and culture community.

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