11 August, 2022

PODIUM POWER! Ex-TGS athletes win games medals

Takapuna Grammar School (TGS) is celebrating its two latest Commonwealth Games medallists, former students Jacko Gill and Imogen Ayris.

Principal Mary Nixon this week expressed the school’s delight at the pair’s feats, along with the performance of current year 12 student Maggie Squire, who at 16 years old was the youngest Kiwi at the Birmingham games, finishing a creditable 10th in one of her diving events. Gill, aged 27, won a silver medal in shot-put and Ayris, 21, took bronze in the pole-vault.

“TGS staff, students and alumni are very proud of Jacko, Imogen and Maggie for their outstanding performances,” Nixon said.

All had demonstrated at school the attributes required to foot it at the top level of their sports. “They each deserve their current success and all of us at TGS congratulate and applaud them.”

Gill and Ayris both said their performances had fuelled their self-belief they could throw further and jump higher.

Medal path set by early sporting ambition

Even as a a child watching sport on television, Imogen Ayris knew she wanted to go to Commonwealth Games or the Olympics.

“It was always an aim,” she said. “I just never knew what sport it would be.” By the time the talented all-rounder started high school at Takapuna Grammar (TGS), she was competitive in gymnastics and athletics and had been a North Harbour netball age-group representative.

Through their shared success in athletics, Ayris already looked up to Devonport pole-vault star and senior student Eliza McCartney, a future Olympic bronze medallist.

“I did an open day at TGS. Eliza was in the sports room and I knew it was the place I wanted to go,” she recalled to the Flagstaff.

Introduced to McCartney’s coach Jeremy McColl at the Millennium track just a few months later, 13-year-old hurdler and high-jumper Ayris got her first taste of pole-vault.

“It was always something I wanted to try,” she said. “I never looked back.”

Her background in gymnastics and jumping proved handy for the exacting discipline. “You’re always constantly chasing the perfect jump and it never really happens,” says Ayris, now 21.

“When it comes together it feels like you’re flying,” she says.

Her results have mostly lagged behind those of fellow North Shore pole-vaulter Olivia McTaggart. But at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last week, she beat her training partner on countback to take the bronze medal.

McCartney – who has been plagued with health issues in the last few years – was quick to congratulate Ayris.

“She sent me a nice message on the night of the competition.”

Ayris says she always had the self-belief she could establish herself internationally. “I’m one of those people, frustratingly, that trains better than they compete.”

She is confident she can improve on her personal best of 4.50 m – 5cm higher than she jumped in Birmingham. “I’m determined to follow on and show what I can do.”

With her mother Bridget and brother Harry, 20, in the stands at the games, Ayris had plenty of support. Her biggest fan, her English-born father Barny, died of cancer two years ago, but his brother, sister and aunt, who all live in Birmingham, were there.

“He was my taxi driver growing up, and even when I was driving he would come along,” recalled Ayris.

The family celebrated together at her grandmother’s home.

During the medal ceremony, Ayris says she felt more nervous than when competing, but on a victory lap with the other medallists she enjoyed seeing New Zealand flags and familiar faces among the warm-hearted Brummie crowd.

Plans to see a lot more competition were stymied when a scan on a “niggly” foot revealed a fracture. “It was a shock. We knew something was wrong, but did not expect it to be fractured,” she said.

She got to a Silver Ferns netball game in a wheelchair, but now faces a month in a moonboot and a lengthy rehab.

The Takapuna Athletics Club member and University of Auckland exercise science student aims to compete domestically over summer. She wants to be back in action internationally for the next world championships, with an eye to the Paris Olympics in 2024.

She appreciates having those at her old school following her progress. She keeps in touch with staff. “It’s cool to have an affiliation.” To current students dreaming of success, Ayris said: “Just stick with it – it’s so worth it. There’s no miracles along the way. You just keep working at it and suddenly you’re at the Commonwealth Games.”

Gill elated as career resurgence delivers silver

Devonport shot-putter Jacko Gill was “walking on water” after claiming a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, says proud father, Walter.

“It was wonderful to see him like that, so happy,” said Walter, who watched from home, while Jacko’s mother, Nerida, was in Birmingham to witness their son’s success in person.

The couple, both field athletes themselves, have resumed coaching Jacko, a high-achieving teenager whose adult career was in recent years hampered by heart-condition myocarditis and injuries.

His determined battle back into contention at the top of his event took him to a personal best of 21.90 metres in the Birmingham final, second to Kiwi teammate Tom Walsh, who threw 22.26 metres.

“It’s probably one of best moments of my career,” he said later. ““To come back from the heart issues has been huge.”

He paid tribute to the support of his parents, and that of mentor Dale Stevenson. After the Games, he headed immediately to Hungary for another event, with others ahead in Germany and Switzerland.

“It’s just been a magic time,” Walter said.

“And we’re looking forward to more.” Walters says the aim has always been to beat Walsh. “Tom of course is one of the world’s greatest, but we came very close.” The two shot-putters get on well, despite their rivalry, Walter said. “They’ve become a duo. They’re two great New Zealand throwers and the standard’s really high.” The Kiwi pair were well ahead of the rest of the field.

Walter recalled that Jacko, 27, played soccer and cricket as a youngster, and was very good at both. “But he loved the shot put, because he felt he was in control and he didn’t rely on someone’s opinion [for selection].

“He said, ‘I know if I throw that, I’m in’.”