Wednesday 18 June 2025
On the beautifully crisp and clear morning of Sunday 8 June the students from School House were joined by enthusiastic parents and staff to take on the legendary One Tree Hill Run - a tradition that never fails to test the endurance and resilience of all participants and display the true spirit of School House.
Conditions were perfect and shortly after 8am the participants set off from the College and started their 11.2 km journey to the summit of iconic One Tree Hill in Cornwall Park. With clear skies, cool air and quiet roads, runners made fast progress and after just 44 minutes and 6 seconds Jake Chapman (Year 9) was the first student to reach the summit and claim the One Tree Hill Cup for 2025. Shortly after Jake reached the summit, the winner of the girls’ race, Mollie Tohaia (Year 11, Middlemore), finished in an impressive time of 49 minutes and 57 seconds to claim the Garrett-Silverman Cup. Every single runner successfully completed the challenge and that is a fantastic achievement and a display of the value of determination and perseverance that runs centrally within the School House ethos.
For some though simply reaching the summit was not enough and approximately twenty students made the return journey, running all the way back to the College and completing a remarkable 22.4km round trip. A special mention must go to Charlie Robertson (Year 12), who held the lead for the entire second leg and completed this in an impressive time of 1 hour and 35 minutes, which is a phenomenal effort, setting a challenge for his peers to aspire to.
We are incredibly proud of all who took part in the event, not just for their physical performance but for the positive energy, teamwork and support displayed throughout the morning. A massive thank you goes to the many enthusiastic parents and staff who supported the event, from marshalling to handing out snacks and cheering runners on. Your involvement and support helped make the morning a safe, smooth and inspiring success for all involved.
We would also like to extend our deepest thanks to Rob Paterson, who even with a broken rib, took on the leading role in coordinating the event. He has organised the One Tree Hill Run for the past eight years with unwavering dedication and enthusiasm. His commitment to this important tradition has not only built a sense of resilience and pride among School House whanau but also created lasting memories and strengthened the generational bond between School House students. Through his leadership, countless boys have been inspired to continually challenge themselves, support one another and embrace the values of perseverance combined with teamwork. His positive impact on School House has been profound. We are truly grateful for the legacy that he leaves behind and hope to see him at the finish line next year.
We look forward to building on this event in the years to come, continuing to strengthen the House spirit and sense of shared adventure that makes School House so special.
Martin Wesley, Associate Housemaster, School House