14th Annual SMGS Cross-Country Carnival 25.03.26
14th Annual SMGS Cross-Country Carnival
The SMGS Cross-Country Carnival is to be run at The Station Resort on Wednesday 25 March, 2026 from 9:15 am to 12:30 pm
Principal:
Deputy Principal:
Dr Andrew Bell
Mrs Danielle Goucher
Head of Middle and Senior School: Mr Tim Bland
Head of Junior School:
Captains of Sport:
Convenor:
Start Marshall:
Starter:
Finish Marshall:
Mrs Kim Whitehead
Tessa P, Toby S and Heidi C
Director of Sport, Mrs Sally Bourke
Mr Dylan Hughes
Mr Scott Frize
Mrs Emma Smith
Colour: Green
Head of House: Mrs Krista Mower
House Captains: Chase H and Grace F
Colour: White
Head of House: Ms Mariah Dhar
House Captains: Violet O and Harrison K
Colour: Light Blue
Head of House: Mr Nathan Booth
House Captains: Lola B and Edison M
Colour: Red
Head of House: Mr Tim Bland
House Captains: Cole H and Orlando M
General Information
The SMGS Cross-Country Carnival is planned to be a fun day, full of enthusiasm and house camaraderie. As much as possible, all students are encouraged to ‘have a go’. The emphasis is on earning points for students’ houses, rather than only on winning.
• The event will be held on Wednesday 25 March, 2026 at the Station Resort. This is an outdoor event.
• The Cross-Country Carnival is a compulsory school event. The carnival is a significant school event that contributes to house and school spirit. All students are expected to participate by either competing or supporting their peers.
• Parents are welcome to attend and support the event, however, there is no specific spectator seating. All students will be required to remain in their house areas when not competing. House areas will be confirmed on the day, based on specific weather conditions, to provide the most shade for spectators.
• Races will be run concurrently on the course by using split starts.
• Marshalling will be 10 minutes before each race and will include a race briefing. A formal warm-up will be done before the start of the race.
2026 Program of Events
Students are to arrive at school at the regular time. All students will be transported from school at 9:00 am by buses, except K-2.
At the completion of the carnival at approximately 12:30 pm, all students are expected to meet in year group areas. Once rolls have been marked, students will progress to the relevant bus and return to school for afternoon classes or Wednesday sport for Years 5-11.
Transport
All students are expected to travel on the school buses provided for the carnival (9:00 am departure Years 3-12; 10:30 am departure for K-2) and return to school on the bus at the end of the carnival (approx. 12:30 pm).
Please Note: If a student misses the bus, it is an expectation and the responsibility of the parent to drive the student to the venue. There will be no provisions for students to remain at school. Students are not permitted to drive themselves or other students to or from the venue.
*Age is taken at 31 December, 2026
Race Information
• The aim of this event is to maximise participation. All students are encouraged to participate in the 2km, 3km, 4km and 6km races.
• All students are expected to try their best and respect the environment. If a student is disrupting the carnival by not making a serious attempt during an event (e.g. walking the whole way or not listening to instructions from Marshalls) they will be removed from the event. There will be other school consequences as deemed appropriate.
• Each competitor must walk the course upon arrival and speak to staff if any part of the course appears unclear. No special consideration for the carnival point score will be given to students who run the wrong course.
• What age group do I compete in?
• The age group you compete in is the age you will be on 31 December, 2026
• For example, if you turn 14 this year (before 31.12.26), you run in the U14 race
• No student may run up or down an age group.
• When not racing, students are to sit in house areas as marked.
• All students are to compete in their regulation school house PE uniform. Students should wear their sports uniform, house shirt and hat, and bring a water bottle, sunscreen and supportive running shoes. All students will need to take their water bottles with them.
• Students must have appropriate footwear to run in to be able to compete in any of the applicable races. No student will be permitted to run without shoes. No spikes are to be worn.
• Competitors MUST run in house colours:
• Cascades = green
• Kiandra = white
• Mowamba = light blue
• Twynam = red
• Students will not be permitted to leave the grounds during the day. Please bring food and drink.
Cross-Country Carnival Rules
Start Line Management
The starting positions are rotated for each age group and each year of competition. The announcer will call events as per the program.
Finish Line Management
There will be staff at the finish line who officially record the position of the athletes as they pass over the finish line. Their time will not be recorded. Athletes are to leave the finish area as soon as possible after they have finished the race to keep the finish area free.
Medals and Ribbons
Medals will be presented on the day to 1st place Age champions. 2nd and 3rd places will receive school ribbons.
Medical Information
There will be first aid staff on course throughout the event. Students must bring their required medication with them to the carnival, e.g. EpiPen, asthma medication, etc. Please note there will be no strapping facilities available at the carnival. Parents/carers, please ensure that your son’s/daughter’s medical information is up to date prior to them attending the carnival. Please also notify Mrs Sally Bourke (Director of Sport) if there are any current concerns about illness or injury.
House Points
In all competitive events, i.e. the 2km, 3km, 4km and 6km events, the top ten finishers for each race will receive points outlined below. Finishers outside the top ten will receive one point. All competitors receive one point for running.
House Shield
The ranking of competitors per age group is used to calculate the house point score. The house with the highest point score will be awarded the House CrossCountry Shield for 2026.
HICES / ISA Representative Cross-Country Carnivals
Teams will be selected based on the carnival times to represent at the ISA Carnival (Senior School) and HICES (Junior School). These are prestigious carnivals and we are looking forward to competitive teams being selected. More information will follow for representative runners.
Past Cross-Country Carnival Results
2012 Mowamba
2013 Cascades
2014 Cascades
2015 Mowamba
2016 Mowamba
2017 Mowamba
2018 Mowamba
2019 Kiandra
2020 Did not run
2021 Cascades
Past House Championship Cross-Country Shield Winners 2025 Results
Age 8-9
Age 10
Age 11
Age 12
Age 13
Age 14
Age 15
Age 16
Age 17
Age 18
2022 Cascades
2023 Mowamba
2024 Kiandra
2025 Mowamba
Boy Logan C Charlie T Ove D
Girl Imogen L Blake K Ilaria B
Boy Xavier M Soren B Oscar M
Girl Zara M Norah S-P Matilde M
Boy Harrison K Hugo W Charlie C
Girl Heid C Rosie D Amelia W
Boy Justin K Nicholas W Archie V Odon B William O William S
Girl Billie P Naomi C Indigo B Ruby R A Ashleigh H
Boy Jackson L Sergio C Harper A
Girl Cailynn M Marley L Cleo B
Boy Filip K Tor P Jeremy V
Girl Maddie L Ivy P Zara P
Boy Kieren B Jules W Finnigan B
Girl Ayla M Amellia M Ava C
Boy Kai P-W Kai S Thomas H
Girl Tessa P Lacey W Sienna M
Boy Jack P Hunter P Aidan O
Girl Francesca D Stella S Helena S
Boy Xavier A Harrison L Jethro B
Girl Amelia R Zara B Jessie F
Fastest Boy and Fastest Girl
The Thredbo Cup is a tradition at Snowy Mountains Grammar School and has been occurring since the start of SMGS back in 1996. It was initially started as a challenging run around the many hills of Thredbo. Over the years the run has been moved to many different locations due to weather and poor track conditions, however, the overall purpose of the day has not changed. The two Silver trophy bowls to be awarded to the victors are among the oldest trophies in our display cupboards. The Overall Male Winner and the Overall Female Winner will have their names engraved onto these highly prized Thredbo Cup trophies.
2025 Fastest Boy: Jack P | 2025 Fastest Girl: Tessa P
