TWO Ōpōtiki Primary School students are flying the golden flag after the AIMS Games in Tauranga.

Twelve-year-old Mason Edwardson and 13-year-old Ahtlyz Gerrard-Watene competed in indoor bowls, with Mason winning gold and Ahtlyz winning silver in the individual section.

They joined forces to win gold in the pairs section, playing Whakatāne Intermediate in the final.

Principal Tony Howe said the number of students with special needs competing at AIMS was growing.

In the lead up to the games, the boys were practising three times per week at the school, spending between 30 and 40 minutes playing bowls each session.

“Mason has been playing bowls for two years and Ahtlyz picked it up recently.”

The boys stayed at Ōtamarākau Marae during the games.

“It was fun to be at the AIMS Games,” Mason said.

“I will be competing in swimming, cross country and indoor bowls next year.”

Ahtlyz also enjoyed the experience and said winning the medals was the best part.

The boys visited the Rocktopia climbing gym and the Baywave TECT Aquatic and Leisure Centre during their stay in Tauranga.

Ōpōtiki Primary School sent 35 children to the AIMS Games this year.

“The children aspire to it,” Mr Howe said. “This is the 20th year of AIMS Games and we started going 18 years ago,” he said.

In other results, the school finished eighth in the netball B-grade and 40th of the 136 teams competing.

“Our coaches were Kelly McGough and Kamiria Howe and we came fifth out of all Bay of Plenty teams,” he said.

In futsal, the school finished third out of the Bay of Plenty teams thanks to the efforts of the children and their coaches, Sekope Ligavatu, Michelle Whyte and Claire Kelly.

“We came 26th out of 40 teams with Woodlands coming 27th,” Mr Howe said.

Four players from the school took part in nine-hole golf, with Kymani Stewart coming 14th out of 53 players.

In indoor bowls, Halyn Kurei and Evalyn Winder lost the bronze play-off to finish 4th in the pairs.

“There were 140 bowlers and Hawai Waenga made the last 16 in singles,” Mr Howe said.

Their coaches were Kiri Howe and Anthony Winder.

William Shaw finished 25th out of 49 squash players, picking up the award for best sportsmanship over the week. He was coached by Mal Shaw.