Old Boys versus School sports day

09/02/2007

There was an added twist to the annual Old Boys versus School sports day yesterday, with an appearance by the RNZAF Red Checkers aerobatic display team.

The Red Checkers begin their public display. Squadron Leader Stephen Hunt, as Red Checkers One, is in the middle of the formation.

With Squadron Leader Stephen Hunt (1978-82) in the lead aircraft, the five-plane team swooped over the Balmacewen golf course and tennis courts while play was underway and then buzzed the school, stirring the cricketers from their mid-afternoon slumber and right on schedule to give the junior classes a treat as they left the grounds after their first full day of the year.

The Red Checkers then put together a spectacular 11-minute public over the Otago Harbour, which was watched by thousands from various vantage points around the hill surburbs, the foreshore and at the Harbour Basin.

Squadron Leader Hunt, now the officer in command of pilot training at the Ohakea air base, will be back in the city later in the year and will visit the school to talk about his career.

The coup de grace. Just before swooping low over the city one last time, the Red Checkers thrill the thousands of on-lookers around the city with their skill and daring.

The mid-afternoon displays obviously worked a treat for the Old Boys who swamped their younger and fitter, but less experienced, opponents in all three disciplines.

The Old Boys took out the tennis 9-1 with four former school number one players in action – Mark Gribben (1976-80), Iain Notman (2000-04), Andrew Swan (1973-77) and Conrad Wong (2002-06) all showing they had lost none of their ability.

Knocks of 78 from Henry Bates (1998-2002) and an unbeaten 45 by Rhiane Smith (1989-92) saw the Old Boys reach 258 in the cricket match, that tally too much for the school which reached 206/8 (Ben Main 41, Fergus McRae 40 not out and Hayden Miller 35).

While the golf was a little more even, the Old Boys still took the honours with relative comfort, winning 6½ to 3½. Of special note was the performance of the school’s Life Governer and a James Macandrew Member of the Foundation, Dr Brian McMahon (1943-47) who at the age of 77 saw off two opponents more than 60 years his junior.

Old Boys’ names first –

Michael Burrowes (1998-2002) 3 & 2 over Nick Borren

Richard McKnight (1972-76) 5 & 4 over Jimmy Hunter

Sean Geary (1982-85) lost 3 & 2 to Scott Shaw

Barry Timmings (1983-87) 2 & 1 over Brendon McIntosh

Norcombe Barker(1982-86) lost 2 up to Duncan Croudis

Trevor King (1969-73) 3 & 1 over Tyrone Ratahi

Ron Maher (1953-55) all square with Thomas Facer

Brian McMahon (1943-47) 3 & 1 over Ben McDonald

Brian McMahon (1943-47) 5 & 4 over Dean Griffiths

Richard Ellis(1971-76) lost 2 up to Travis Applegarth