A Splash Palace competition offering local children the chance to party with Southland’s top athletes has once again proven popular, with more than 100 nominations received from teams across the region.
Nominations closed on Sunday for the Splash Palace sports competition, which invited local teams to share why they deserved to win a poolside party with players from the SBS Bank Southland Sharks.
Invercargill City Council Manager Aquatic Services Stephen Cook said the 2026 competition attracted more than twice as many nominations as last year, with 137 entries received.
“The huge interest in this year’s competition really highlights Southlanders’ support for the Sharks and the important role Splash Palace plays in encouraging young people to stay active,” he said.
“It’s heartening to see so much enthusiasm for grassroots sport in our community – but it did make our job of choosing a winner really difficult.”
The Southern Stars Under 13 Marching team was selected as the ultimate winner, with the team recognised for their dedication to training and overall improvement, as well as receiving first and third placings at the Marching New Zealand National Championships in Wellington this year.
The winners would spend an afternoon at Splash Palace with players from the Sharks at a catered team party, including access to the pool and hydroslides.
SBS Bank Southland Sharks Operations Manager Jill Bolger said it was the third year the franchise had been involved in the competition in partnership with Splash Palace.
“Members of our team regularly use the pool as part of their training. It’s great to have the opportunity to come here in a different capacity, supporting and encouraging our region’s future athletes,” she said.
“It’s really fun for the Sharks players as well. It’s a chance for them to take some time off training, relax and enjoy an afternoon at the pool with their fans.”
Cook said it was an important part of Splash Palace’s ethos to encourage young people to get involved in active recreation, whether that was swimming, ball sports or something totally different.
“The winners in previous years have been football and rugby teams, so it’s nice to see a different kind of sport recognised this time around,” he said.
“We hope the Southern Stars will have a great time at their party with the Sharks.
“It’s a well-deserved reward for their hard work and a great opportunity to come together and celebrate their success.”
