The 2018-19 Summer Sports season saw some real highlights, both individually and collectively, for TBHS students and teams. It also saw notable improvements in some areas and the need to try and consolidate and grow in others.

Rowing, Athletics, Sevens Rugby and Swimming have led the charge during the past season.

Our Rowers enjoyed one of their best ever seasons, certainly in depth and quality of performance, across the squad. This was highlighted by four crews medalling at the sport’s showpiece, the Maadi Cup at Lake Karapiro in March.

A similar depth of performance came from our Athletics squad at the South Island Championships in Nelson in March where five athletes brought home a total of seven South Island titles from the meet.

Our Sevens Rugby team surpassed the efforts of the talented 2017 side by finishing 5th and top South Island school, losing only to champions Hamilton Boys’ at the Condor Sevens in Auckland last December.

Our swimmers have continued the strong performances of recent years and still have a number of important meets on the calendar in 2019. Jack Sand’s efforts in owning eight individual Senior and Junior Swimming records may be unique for a student at Timaru Boys’ in any sports code.

These performances and those of individuals like Kaylum McAuley and Keaton Swindells in Speed Skating and Riley Mullings in Softball, show that teams and individuals from this school and region can compete very strongly at South Island, National and even International level.

This is further emphasised by the performances at national level throughout summer by Old Boys’ such as New Zealand Amateur Golf Representative Matthew McLean, today’s guest speaker and New Zealand rower Cameron Crampton, and New Zealand Sportsman of the Year for the second year in succession, World Champion shot putter Tom Walsh.

For an average sized school with comparatively modest finances and resources, these achievements are a credit to the individuals and teams concerned and reflect much selfless time and support by parents, coaches/managers and the local community.

Our 1st XI Cricket side made some really pleasing strides, particularly after Christmas. This was most markedly in their technique and application with the bat which saw the side consistently post competitive scores of 170 plus for the first time in a long time. Continuing this progress and trying to return to the Christchurch schools 1st XI competition should be goals for next season.

Equally, our tennis side at full strength were a competitive unit and George McAleer and Josh Cameron competed strongly as a pair in the Cup competition at the National Championships.

It is important that we continue to try and build and develop our involvement in sports like Volleyball, Softball, Bowls, Golf and Croquet as offering a range of sporting opportunities and options is important to a school such as ours.

The Multi-Turf and Lights Project fund has approximately $100,000 dollars in kitty with three applications to Trusts and Charities to be considered in June and the exciting possibility of a major sponsor coming on board. This should see us in a position by the middle of the year to prepare the surface, lay the turf and provide gear and storage, with the lights a realistic option by early in 2020 prior to the next winter sports season. If this is to come to fruition, some genuine school support of a potential Work-day and Charity Auction to supplement what has been good and generous community support will be important. The facility would add considerably to our Physical Education and Sporting facilities and options.

The achievements of those on stage show the opportunities Sport provides not least of all for travel and the opportunity to get out and see a large part of the countryside and further afield and make a range of friendships. An example of this is the recent Tour of NZ cycle tour where a group of boys were able to cycle across large areas of both islands. There is heaps out there for you boys be proactive and get into it.

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