Last Saturday hundreds of schoolkids descended on Baycourt for the JUMP JAM North Island Regional Competition, with several Tauranga schools placing highly.

Among them were Omanu School's ‘Magical Jammers', coached by Year 6 students Stella Herrick and Ella McSweeney.

The team of three boys and twelve girls scored first in the Year 1-4 Open division, performing their routine to the song ‘Magik 2.0'.

They initially qualified under a different song, but Stella and Ella say they changed it at the last minute something 'more upbeat and funky.”

The decision paid off, because they came away not only with a win, but distinction in costume, and two excellences in creativity and technical execution.

The girls are stoked with the result, especially since it was their first time coaching. They agree it was fun, but challenging at times.

'It actually got quite hard when we had to give out certificates to each of the team members,” says Ella, who now knows how her teachers feel.

Omanu School JUMP JAM organiser Barbara Laing is very impressed with what the girls have achieved.

'The respect they get from the juniors is quite phenomenal,” she says. 'They don't event talk during the practices.”

She says the great thing about JUMP JAM is the way it allows the older pupils to act as role models for their younger peers.

'It's just lovely to see kids giving back to kids.”

Ella also won the X-Factor section with her ‘Greased Lightning' routine.

All in all, it was a successful Saturday for schools across the district. Omokoroa No. 1 School came third in the Strictly JUMP JAM section, while the Maungatapu Cowgirls also came third in the Year 4-6 Open. Greenpark School came second in the same section, while Mt Maunganui Intermediate came second in the Year 7-8 Open.

Papamoa Primary School won the Year 4-6 Novice section, while St. Mary's Catholic School and Omanu School took first and second in the Year 4-8 All Boys section, respectively. St. Mary's also came second in the Year 4-6 Advanced Open and Year 1-4 Open divisions.

Full results are available on the JUMP Jam website.

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The Maungatapu Cowgirls also did well. Pictured is coach Paula Thomason with some of her girls and their trophy. Supplied Photo.

Omanu's ‘Magical Jammers'. Supplied Photo.