The Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the achievements of Old Boys who have performed with distinction at a national and international level in their sporting field.

The 2021 inductees are:

Mathew Sinclair - Cricket, PNBHS 1989 - 1994, Gordon Club
Eskell 'Buster' Andrews - Tennis, PNBHS 1917 - 1922, Gordon Club
Nick Wilson (inducted in 2019 but unable to attend so a presentation was made this year) - Hockey, PNBHS 2004 - 2008, Gordon Club
Bob Burgess - Rugby, PNBHS 1964 - 1966, Kia Ora Club
Don Burmeister - Squash, PNBHS 1958 - 1961, Gordon Club
Gary Hermansson - Sports Psychology, PNBHS 1954 - 1958, Albion Club
Stu Jacobs - Football, PNBHS 1979 - 1982, Vernon Club
Levi Sherwood - Freestyle Motorcross, PNBHS 2005 - 2007, Kia Ora Club
Bryan Yuile - Cricket, PNBHS 1955 - 1959, Kia Ora Club.

You can read about the sporting exploits of each of these prestigious Old Boys below.

Thank you to everyone in our school community who came along to support the PNBHS Sports Hall of Fame and a special thank you to Property Brokers and Morgan Laurenson Ltd. for their sponsorship of the event.

Property Brokers — Image by: Property Brokers

Morgan Laurenson Ltd. — Image by: Morgan Laurenson Ltd.

Mr Mathew Sinclair

Mathew played a variety of sports at school but it was cricket where he excelled. If there were people prepared to bowl to him, he would bat anywhere any time. He received the Page Trophy for the Best Third Form Cricketer and a number of other awards for the 1st XI cricket including the Retemeyer Brothers Trophy for his magnificent 122 versus Auckland Grammar. Skippy had a great relationship with Phil Gosling who taught him and coached him cricket and rugby. 1st XI coach Alec Astle predicted he had the ability and mental attributes to reach the highest level of the game. He was PNBHS 1st XI Cap number 606. Mathew was vice-captain of the 1st XI, vice-captain of Gordon Club and a School Prefect.

His debut for the Black Caps against the West Indies on Boxing Day 1999 was a memorable one where he scored 214. He still holds the equal world record for the highest test score for a number three batsman on debut and holds the NZ record for the highest score on debut. The next season he followed this with another double hundred; 204 not out against Pakistan. He played 33 tests (Cap number 208), 54 One Day Internationals (Cap number 113) and two T20s (Cap number 8) accumulating nearly 3,000 international runs.

Mathew had 18 seasons with Central Districts.

· Tied fourth on the list of most 1st class appearances for a NZ Association (119). Skippy has broken a number of records over the course of his career.

· Leading run scorer in all formats for CD, scoring over 15,000 runs

· Most 1st class runs for one association with 9148 runs. This is more than 2,500 runs in front of the next best.

· A record 27 1st class centuries for CD. He took 350 catches, 3 stumpings as well as 24 1st class wickets.

· Four times he was the leading run scorer in NZ first class cricket and during his career helped CD win eight trophies.

Mr Eskell Dundas “Buster” Andrews

Buster was a fine all-round student with a strong academic record and sporting talent. In athletics he was an expert high jumper, played A Grade rugby for Gordon, was a School Librarian and platoon sergeant in the school's Cadet Unit. In 1921 he was the NCO in charge of the squad which won the Monrad Cup, a special physical drill competition. The Cup was presented by Mr O Monrad in 1919. This was the first year of the inter-club competition and hence Buster was a foundation member of Gordon Club.

It was tennis where he made his sporting fame. Tennis had started in 1917 at the School when a tournament was arranged to be played at the conclusion of the cricket season. Mr Hodder, Chairman of the High School Board, kindly presented a silver medal to be competed for in the championship singles event. Buster won this from 1920-1922 and was runner-up in 1918-1919.

While at School he became the NZ Junior Champion on two occasions. He was the Senior Champion of the Wellington Provinces in 1922. He was NZ Champion on two occasions and represented NZ four times in the Davis Cup. The first time he won the NZ title was after a tour of Australia where he learnt very rapidly the impact of the serve and volley game.

On moving to England in 1927 he continued to play Davis Cup for NZ and had an excellent record at Wimbledon. In 1928 he defeated 4th seed, American Frank Hunter in the first round; Hunter was the 1923 Wimbledon runner-up and the 1924 Olympic Champion. Buster staved off three match points to win 7-5 in the fifth and, to quote the press at the time, had “stunned the tennis world”. In 1929 he won the South of England Championships at Eastbourne overpowering England's best to show he was world class. Buster would go on to reach the singles quarter-finals twice at Wimbledon, as well as the doubles and mixed doubles quarter-finals. He competed in the US National Championships, later the US Open, in 1935 while on a business trip. His final hurrah came in the doubles at Wimbledon in 1947.

Buster is remembered annually at the School with the Andrews Cup which is competed for as an inter-club tennis competition and part of the Shand Shield rivalry. Buster presented the Cup to the school in 1934 while on a home visit.

Mr Nick Wilson

In his first year at PNBHS in 2004 Nick was playing for both the 3rd Form specials cricket and hockey. In cricket his top score was 82 and he was the winner of the Page Trophy for the best 3rd Form cricketer. He received from the coach and then Rector, Mr Tim O'Connor ''the NZ Stick'' for the most promising 3rd Form hockey player.

In the 4th Form Nick began playing for the PNBHS 1st XI hockey with coach Bruce Kensington. From 2005-2007 Nick scored 138 goals for PNBHS. He won the Parrot Brothers Cup for the ''best forward'' three times, won the Champions Trophy twice for the most valuable player and the John Dentice Cup three times for the best forward. Nick led the 1st XI to two consecutive Rankin Cup finals where the team lost in strokes in both 2006 and 2007.

The 2006 Palmerstonian reads ''2005/06 3rd XI cricket – Nick has given up cricket to concentrate on hockey and if he chooses not to come back to cricket it would be a huge waste of talent''.

Nick's sporting talent led to him winning the Senior Pentathlon at the School's Athletics. He was awarded the prestigious Dux Ludorum in 2007 and was a School Prefect in 2008.

In 2007, at the age of 17 and still at school, Nick made his international debut for the Black Sticks against Korea. In 2010 Nick had a stellar year. He won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. He was nominated for the International Hockey Federation Young Player of the Year award. He was named in the FIH All Stars team of players who lit up the hockey world in that year. He played at the Champions Trophy in 2012 and played for the Ranchi Rhinos in the Indian Hockey League. Nick represented NZ at two Summer Olympics in both 2012 and 2016 becoming NZ Olympian 1231. During his career he has 170 internationals and scored 76 goals for the NZ Black Sticks.

Despite one of the pre-requisites for the Hall of Fame being retirement, Nick is making a comeback and we wish him all the best in his efforts to return to international hockey.

Mr Bob Burgess

Bob was an outstanding athlete and scholar at school. Middle distance running, road race and cross country were his strengths. In 1966 he broke the school's Senior 880 yards record (2min 1.3 seconds) and went on to win the same event at the Manawatu Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics. Bob was the Club Captain of Kia Ora in 1966. He was a Platoon Officer and Company Commander in the school's Cadet Unit and was a School Prefect. Bob also excelled at tennis and was in the A Team for three years. He was promoted to the 1st XV in 1964 after returning from a year at Hastings Boys’ High School and he was a member of the school's inaugural 1st XV tour to Australia. He went on to play for the 1st XV over 60 times and scored over 300 points. Bob was vice-captain in the undefeated 1966 side, only the second team in the school's history to do this. "The 1966 rugby season will be mentioned with delight at Old Boys’ gatherings wherever they be held" said Mr Colquhoun (IAC).

Bob represented Manawatu Rugby 24 times between 1967-68 and 1971-73 and he represented Southland in 1970 when he was teaching at Southland Boys’ High School. He was a NZ Junior and NZ Universities representative in 1968 and toured Japan with NZU in 1970.

In 1970 Bob refused nomination for the All Black trials for the tour of South Africa as a protest against that country's apartheid regime. Picked for the All Blacks in 1971, he became All Black number 690 and played 30 times for the All Blacks including 7 tests. "Following the 2nd test against the Lions in 1971 several critics rated the Manawatu five-eight the best All Black 1st five for over 20 years. He was outstanding in the memorable 22-12 victory at Lancaster Park scoring two brilliant tries and displaying his class as a running passing five-eight" (NZ newspaper). Bob went on the 1972-73 tour to the UK, France and the US. It was the last of the long tours (32 games). In Belfast he received a letter of warning from the Sinn Fein, the political arm of the IRA, not to discuss politics. He played better outside Lyn Colling rather than the unpredictable Syd Going who never had the reputation of giving his 1st five an armchair ride. In 1973-75 he played for Lyon Olympique Universitaire in Lyon, France. One season he was voted the best 1st five in France. Two other members of the 1966 1st XV also became All Blacks; John Loveday and Ian Stevens.

Mr Don Burmeister

Don was an outstanding athlete at school. He was later able to transfer his aerobic fitness onto the squash court. He was regularly in the top three in the school road races and in the middle-distance events during the school's Athletic Sports. Don ran successfully for the school at the Manawatu Inter-Secondary cross country. He also played basketball and cricket. He was a versatile and able five-eight on the rugby field and played in a well-performed 8th Grade A team where he was the captain.

Don was a NZ Squash representative from 1966-1971 including three World Championships. He was the NZ Champion in 1967,1969 and 1970 and was runner-up to Trevor Johnston (a PNBHS Old Boy) in 1966 and 1968. He was ranked number 1 in 1967, 1969, 1970 and 1971. Don was North Island Champion in 1969. His brother-in-law, Charlie Waugh (a PNBHS Old Boy) was also a NZ Champion. During the 1971 World Championships held in NZ, Don's Egyptian opponent collapsed with exhaustion when he left the court in Palmerston North. The final three rallies were over 60 shots each. This was an indication of Don's fitness levels. He was a great mover and retriever on the court wearing down many an opponent. Contemporaries labelled him as the player of the time in NZ, forming a formidable Palmy trio with Charlie and Trevor. NZ placed 3rd in the 1967 World Championships in Sydney, with Don the number 4 player. In the 1969 and 1971 World Championships in London and Palmerston North respectively he was the number 1 player. NZ was placed 5th in both these championships.

During the 60s and early 70s, Palmerston North men dominated Men's squash in NZ. Other PNBHS Old Boys international players from that era include Don Mochan, Allan Johns and Bryden Clarke. Gerald Haddon, who is here tonight, was also nationally ranked. Don's sister Megan won a NZ Championship and, uniquely, Don and Megan won a NZ Championship on the same day.

Mr Gary Hermansson

Gary was a fine all-round sportsman at school. He was a member of the 1st cricket XI and 1st XV rugby. While at school he represented Manawatu and Central Districts Colts as a wicket-keeper batsman. He appears on the School's Cricket Honours Board for a century against Tech Old Boys. Gary also played hockey, was athletics shot put champion, Club Captain of Albion, vice-captain of the 1st cricket XI, a platoon commander in the School's Cadet Unit and a competitive swimmer. Gary played in the 'famous’ 1957 1st XV match against St Patrick's Silverstream after nine members of the initial team were stood down for ill-discipline following the Napier Boys' High School exchange. Gary's contribution included two penalty goals and two conversions in the 16-9 win. He was a renowned goal kicker and scored 119 points in the 1958 season. His 1st XI cricket cap number is 374.

Gary went on to play 100 first-class games of rugby for Manawatu, Wellington and NZ Universities. He also had one game of first-class cricket for a NZ Under 23 side.

Gary has been the Sports Psychologist for 10 Games campaigns; five Commonwealth and five Olympic Games from 1998-2016. He has been on nine International and four Black Cap tours, including the World Cup in the West Indies. He has worked with Central Districts since 2004 and has been the Team Psychologist for the NZ Equestrian Team. He has also had three books and countless articles published.

In 2015 Gary was made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for services to Sport Psychology in NZ. In 2017 he was made a Member of the Olympic Order of NZ for services to the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Gary has been inducted into the Manawatu Legends of Sport and is a Life Member of Central Districts Cricket.

Gary caught the eye of deceased basketball superstar Kobie Bryant. He promoted Gary's views when he posted a link to the Massey News website on his Facebook page for his 13 million followers. The video was an interview about what Professor Hermansson considers the key factors high-performance athletes need to focus on to achieve at the top level. They met at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Mr Stu Jacobs

The 1st XI football coach Steve Robb said "Stu was born to play football". He also had other sporting talents including athletics where he was first in the Junior 800m and 3rd in the Intermediate Pentathlon. He played cricket in Mr Doyle's talented 8th XI. Stu also won a Junior Freestyle swimming event.

The school recognised his talents in 1980 when he was awarded the Hornblow Brothers Cup for All Round Excellence in Scholarship and Sport in the Junior School.

It was football where Stu shone, captaining both the 3rd and 4th Form Specials with Charlie Lake as coach. He was promoted to the 1st XI in Form 4 and immediately made an impact. He was regarded as the mid-field general with all the skills and scored 50 goals for the 1st XI. Steve Robb said "The greatest honour to ever befall a soccer player while at PNBHS was bestowed on one of our fine team – Stuart Jacobs” when he was named in the NZ Under 19 World Cup Squad in 1982. He was the youngest in the squad and the only one not playing in National or Regional Leagues. Since leaving school he has followed his football dream by playing overseas and returning to play 31 times for the All Whites between 1988-1997. He made 220 appearances for Miramar Rangers between 1984-2000.

Following retirement, Stu has embarked on an extensive coaching career including

· Junior All Whites to the 2007 FIFA Under 20 World Cup in Canada

· The NZ Under 23 "Olywhites'' to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing

· Team Wellington

· Young Heart Manawatu

· Central Coast Mariners (Youth)

· Assistant Coach with both the Phoenix and All Whites

· Coached with Hibernian in Edinburgh, Scotland

· Currently Director of Football at Scots College, Wellington and coaching consultant with a number of clubs.

Mr Levi Sherwood

In 2005 Levi had a high number of absences from school due to his freestyle motorcross commitments with the ''Crusty Demons'' in Australia and also to recuperate from injuries. His nickname is ''rubber kid''.

After successfully passing Level 1 NCEA he left school to pursue his international career in freestyle motorcross.

He started racing motor cycles at aged four following his father Dave who was a professional speedway racer. Trying freestyle at age nine put an end to motorcross. At age 12 he was invited to ride on the Crusty Demon's Australian tour, giving him a taste of professional freestyle. He has since ridden in the X Games, Red Bull X-Fighters and Nitro Circus. He has won events all over the world and in 2017 won two gold medals at the X Games in Minneapolis, USA.

Levi has created his own Freestyle Motorcross playground at home on a hilly paddock with a state-of-the-art airbag. This he credits to have helped him become one of the most successful riders in the history of the sport.

In 2017 Levi became just the second rider to win the Motor X Freestyle and Best Trick at the X Games in Minneapolis and stunned his rivals with a second run that included three double backflips and three different variations in one run.

Levi is now referred to as a modern-day Bert Munro. He is a self-taught engineer who tinkers in his shed and was able to make his bike lighter and more responsive. Only 15% of his bike was not customised. He even made his own crutches! Towards the end of his career Levi said ''I have hurt myself too many times to take big risks on a daily basis''.

After retiring in 2019, his focus is now on producing specifically built FMX bikes.

Mr Bryan Yuile

While at school Bryan was an impressive performer both academically and on various sports fields. He was a member of the 1st cricket and hockey XIs for four years and was chosen for both Manawatu and Central Districts cricket while at school. He was selected for a NZ Secondary Schools Hockey team and narrowly missed final selection for the NZ hockey team which attended the Rome Olympics in 1960. Bryan captained both cricket and hockey XIs in his final year at school. He achieved a remarkable 13 Honours Board performances for the 1st XI cricket. He was Club Captain of Kia Ora and a School Prefect in his final year. He was a boxing champion, athletics field event champion, a CSM in the Cadet Unit, a leader in the Crusader Movement, a swimmer of considerable merit, thrice represented the school in annual cross-country events and played a good game at five-eight for one season (as well as his hockey). He was awarded the prestigious Dux Ludorum in 1959.

Bryan played 17 tests for NZ and went on three lengthy overseas tours. His Test Cap is number 95 and his PNBHS Cap is 372. He played 123 first-class matches with a highest score of 146 and best bowling 9/100. He played first class cricket from 1959-1972 amassing nearly 4000 runs and 375 wickets. For NZ he scored 481 runs and took 34 wickets.

Bryan played in the match when NZ first beat an Australian Cricket team, although it wasn't a full test squad. His match figures were 69 overs, 34 maidens, 7/119. Victor Pollard took 11 wickets in the same match. His test debut was against England where he took Ted Dexter's wicket and top-scored in the first innings with 64 which remained his highest test score. In 1969 he headed the batting averages in the NZ tour of England but was not selected in the tests. For religious reasons, he did not play cricket on a Sunday which ultimately curtailed his career.

Click here to view the full album of photographs from the PNBHS Sports Hall of Fame presentations for 2021.

PNBHS March 2021 Newsletter

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