All in the Spirit of the Derby 

A little competition, plenty of encouragement and even more laughter. The spirit of the Derby was easy to spot across the Top Field as our Girls’ School dads and daughters spent last Sunday afternoon playing, competing and simply enjoying each other’s company. 

Sometimes it was in the smallest moments; a dad straightening his daughter’s House scarf, offering a few pointers on the best way to launch a gumboot or helping find the rhythm in a three-legged race. Elsewhere, daughters were cheering Dad on, hitching a ride on his shoulders or lining up ready to give him some friendly competition of their own. 

It was an easy mix of teamwork and rivalry that carried through the afternoon. Gumboots flew, the inflatable caterpillar tested coordination, while the bouncing ball challenge brought plenty of laughs. Between activities, families gathered around the Parents & Friends sausage sizzle, Mr Whippy and coffee cart, while the photo booth captured moments for the album. 

As the afternoon moved towards its finale, the pace picked up with separate sprints for dads and daughters. Then came the tug-of-war, with the dads digging in and their daughters providing an enthusiastic cheering section from the sidelines. 

Prizegiving brought everyone together at the end, but amid the races, challenges and friendly competition, it was the time shared between dads and daughters that captured the spirit of the day. 

Our thanks to the Girls’ School Parents & Friends for organising another wonderful Dad & Daughter Derby, and to everyone who helped make the afternoon possible.