Beijing, Vancouver and Wall of Fame

13/5/2008

Greg Henderson

The August Olympic Games in Beijing, China, will hold special interest for past and present pupils of Otago Boys’.

Among the athletes named in the New Zealand team are three recent former pupils.

Champion cyclist Greg Henderson (1990-94), the 2002 Commonwealth Games points race gold medallist and the 2004 world scratch race champion, will compete on the track as part of a powerful looking men’s line-up.

Hamish Bond

Greg has won numerous World Cup races throughout his professional road racing career in the United States and comes off a very successful Tour de Georgia where he clearly emerged as the sprint category champion.

He is equally adept on the track.

Joining Greg in Beijing will be rowers Carl Meyer (1995-99) and Hamish Bond (1999-2003).

Carl Meyer

Carl and Hamish are current world champions, having formed half of the crew to take the gold medal in the coxless fours at last September’s regatta in Munich.

The coxless four is seen as a very real medal prospect in Beijing.

They’re a little way off but the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada may also feature an Otago Boys’ Old Boy.

Tom Davie

Tom Davie (1999-2003) has been selected to trial for the New Zealand four-man bobsleigh team with an exhaustive series of training camps and overseas competition schedule being put together to find a team capable of finishing in the top five in Vancouver.

Tom is the national junior long jump and triple jump record holder.

Mike McGarry

And current school master and hostel manager Mike McGarry has also been in the news of late, being admitted to the Otago University’s Wall of Fame.

Mike was a brilliant football (soccer) player for New Zealand, representing the national side from 1986 to 1997, scoring 24 goals and appearing in more than 80 internationals. The Wall of Fame inductees were announced at the recent 60th anniversary of the Otago University’s School of Physical Education.