Gifford High School Bulawayo 50th Anniversary Jubilee Magazine Page 105
INTER-SCHOOLS GALA RESULTS
OPEN —
W. Jones — first in 200 metres free-style; second in 100 metres free-style.
T. Jones — first in 100 metres back-stroke (record); second in 100 metres butterfly; third in 4 x 50 metres individual medley.
A. Palmer-Jones — first in diving.
B. van Blerk — first in both 100 metres and 200 metres breaststroke.
UNDER 16-
M. Hart — first in both 100 metres free-style and 100 metres breast-stroke.
S. Holmes — first in 1 00 metres back-stroke.
A. Smith — first in diving.
D. Viljoen — first in both 50 metres butterfly and 4 x 50 metres individual medley.
UNDER 15—
B. Beaumont — first in three events: 100 metres free-style (record), 50 metres butterfly, and 4 x 50 metres individual medley (record).
M. Coetzee — third in diving.
B. Duguid — first in 1 00 metres breast-stroke (record).
A. Jeans — first in 100 metres back-stroke.
UNDER 14—
D. Andraos — first in 100 metres free-style; second in both 100 metres breast-stroke and 4 x 25 metres individual medley.
D. Brannigan — first in 50 metres back-stroke.
S. Henderson — second in diving.
UNDER 13—
G. Tarr — second in both 50 metres butterfly and 4 x 25 metres individual medley.
N. Palmer-Jones — first in diving. A. Russell — second in 50 metres breast-stroke.
MEDLEY RELAYS—
Gifford came first in each age group except under 14 where
second place was attained; the under 15 and under 16 events were each won in record time.
FREESTYLE RELAYS—
Gifford came first in the under 13, under 14 and under 15
events, and second in the under 16 and open relays.
OVERALL RESULT—
1, Gifford — 129 points; 2, Hamilton — 67 points; 3, Milton — 51 points; 4, Plumtree — 45 points; 5, combined schools (C.B.C., Founders, Northlea) — 20 points.
TROPHY WINNERS:
Under 13 Champion (Devine Cup) : G. Tarr (W).
Under 14 Champion (Jones Cup): D. Andraos (F).
Under 15 Champion: B. Beaumont (W).
Under 16 Champion (Broster Cup): M. Hart (N).
Open 100 metres free-style (Finlayson Trophy): W. S. L. Jones (W).
Open free-style relay: Whitworth.
Open Champion (Robert Lee Jones Cup): W. S. L. Jones (W).
Inter- House Trophy (Ellenbogen Trophy): Whitworth.
SWIMMING RECORDS, 1939-1976
The tabulation of record-breakers serves to illustrate the history of swimming in this School both in achievement — a glance will show how times have steadily been improved, in some instances quite dramatically; and in development because the tabulation shows how the distances of various events have progressively been increased as the years have passed.
No record of the galas exists earlier than that begun by Mr. A. Menné in 1970. This tabulation therefore also shows when an event was held for the first time, and so represents an inaugural record (except those events of 1 939 when no times were recorded).
Events at present of the swimming programme are indicated in bold headings. All distances have been converted according to the official conversion tables of the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateure. The converted record for the metricated distance is in each case entered a second time when metric distances were contested for the first time, which was in 1974. In every instance the last record before 1974 was metricated.
Every effort, naturally, has been made to ensure the accuarcy of this record of thirty-eight years’ swimming.
R. T. McGEOCH
OPEN
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50 yards backstroke: 1948 — Knighton (W) 1953 — B. Barnard (Dy) 1956 — J. Banks (Dn) 1957 — J. Banks (Dn) 1962 — M. Smales (F) 100 yards backstroke: 1969 — L. Abrams (Dy) 1970 — M. Sykes (W) 1971 — R.vanWyk(W) 1972 — M. Robinson (Dy) 1973 — M. Robinson (Dy) 100 METRES BACKSTROKE: 1973 — M. Robinson (Dy) 1976 — T. Jones (W) 50 yards breast-stroke: 1956 — J. Banks (Dn) 1957 — J. Banks (Dn) 1959 — R. Armstrong (W) 1960 — A. Francis (W) 1961 — A. Francis (W) 1962 — N. Cooke (W) 100 yards breast-stroke 1964 — P. Watson (Dy) 1965 — J. Neser (W) 1966 — M. McNeil (Dn) 1967 — A. Caldwell (Dn) 1968 — A. Caldwell (Dn) 1973 — P. Broster (Dy) 100 METRES BREAST-STROKE: 1973 — P. Broster (Dy) 200 yards breast-stroke: 1969 — P. Semple (F) 1970 — P. Semple (F) 1971 A. van Wyk (W) 200 METRES BREAST-STROKE: 1971 — R.vanWyk(W) 50 yards butterfly: 1960 A. Francis (W) 1961 — M. Smales (F) 1962 — N. Cooke (W) 1963 — M. Smales (F) 1965 — J. Neser (W) 1966 — J. Neser (W) 1970 — G. Devine (Dy) 1973 — P. Broster (D) |
35,8 secs. 34,0 secs. 33,1 secs. 32,7 secs. 32,3 secs. 1 min. 10,3 secs. 1 min. 9,2 secs. 1 min. 8,6 secs. 1 min. 5,3 secs. 1 min 4,8 secs. 1 min. 11.2 secs. 1 min. 8,6 secs. 36,4 secs. 36,4 secs. 36,4 secs. 35,7 secs. 35,6 secs. 34,3 secs. 1 min. 19,6 secs. 1 min. 15,1 secs. 1 min. 12,0 secs. 1 min 10,9secs. 1 min. 10,0 secs. 1 min. 8,4 secs. 1 min. 15,4 secs. 2 mins. 58,2 secs. 2 mins. 54,4 secs. 2 mins. 37,2 secs. 2 mins. 52,9 secs. 36,3 secs. 33,0 secs. 31,1 secs. 31,0 secs. 30,6 secs. 29,8 secs. 28,4 secs. 28,4 secs. |
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50 METRES BUTTERFLY: 1973 — P. Broster (Dy) 1974 — P. Broster (Dy) 25 yards free-style: 1950 — W. Palmer (Dn) 50 yards free-style: 1939 — F. Lambert 1940 — J. Davidson (F) 1941 — D. Shepherd (Dn) 1942 — I. Baines (Dy) 1945 — P. Leach (Dy) 1949 — F. Turnbull (F) 100 yards free-style: 1940 — G. Raaff (W) 1941 — A. Kiemnenberg (On) 1945 — P. Leach (Dy) 1949 — F. Turnbull (F) 1956 — E. Marshall-Goodridge (Dy) 1965 — J. Neser (W) 1966 — A. Horrocks (Dy) 1970 — P. Semple (F) 1973 — P. Broster (Dy) 100 METRES FREE-STYLE: 1973 — P. Broster (Dy) 200 yards free-style: 1948 — W. Palmer (Dn) 1949 — W. Palmer (Dn) 1969 — P. Semple (F) 1970 — P. Sempie (F) 1971 — A. Mccoy (W) 1973 — P. Broster (Dy) 200 METRES FREE-STYLE: 1973 — P. Broster (Dy) 4 x 25 yards individual medley: 1965 — J. Neser (W) 1966 — J. Neser (W) 1967 — A. Caidwell (Dn) 1969 — L. Abrams (Dy) 1970 — P. Semple (F) 1972 — M. Robinson (Dy) 1973 — P. Broster (Dy) 4 x 25 METRES INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY: 1973 — P. Broster (Dy) 6 x 25 yards consolation relay: 1970 — Davy 4 x 25 yards medley relay: 1957 — Whitworth 4 x 50 yards medley relay: 1964 — Davy 1965 — Faraday 1966 — Davy 1970 — Faraday 1973 — Davy 4 x 50 METRES MEDLEY RELAY: 1973 — Davy 4 x 25 yards free-style relay: 1974 — Faraday 4 x 50 yards free-style relay: 1939 — Dalton 1940 — Whitworth 1950 — Faraday 1953 — Davy 1961 — Faraday 1967 — Davy 1969 — Faraday 1970 — Faraday 1973 — Davy 4 x 50 METRES FREE-STYLE RELAY 1973 — Davy |
29,2 secs. 28,9 secs. 12,4 secs. No time known 29,2 secs. 28,6 secs. 27,2 secs. 25,2 secs. 24,8 secs. 1 min.11,8secs. 1 mm. 2,8 secs. 1 mm. 0,6 secs. 59,0 secs. 58,8 secs. 57,0 secs. 57,0 secs. 55,5 secs. 50,9 secs. 56,0 secs. 2 mins. 20,0 secs. 2 mins. 16,0 secs. 2 mins. 11.6 secs. 2 mins. 7,8 secs. 2 mins. 6,6 secs. 1 min. 54,8 secs. 2 mins. 6,2 secs. 1 min. 9,5 secs. 1 min. 9,5 secs. 1 min. 9,5 secs. 1 min. 6,8 secs. 1 min. 5,3 secs. 1 min. 5,3 secs. 1 min. 1,4 secs. 1 min 7,3 secs. 2mins. 24.6 secs. 60,0 secs. 2 mins. 21 .0 secs. 2 mins. 1 5,4 secs. 2 mins. 4,2 secs. 1 min. 59,1 secs. 1 min. 53,3 secs. 2 mins. 5,3 secs. 50,25 secs. No time known 2 mins. 1,4 secs. 1 min. 57,0 secs. 1 min. 51,6 secs. 1 min.51,5 secs. 1 min. 50,7 secs. 1 min. 48,3 secs. 1 min. 43.1 secs. 1 min. 39,3 secs. 1 min. 55,1 secs. |
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50 yards back-stroke: 1959 — D. Taylor (W) 1960 — N. Cooke (W) 1963 — R. Hewson (Dy) 100 yards back-stroke: 1964 — E. Solman (W) 1969 — M. Sykes (W) 1970 — A van Aensburg (F) 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 100 METRES BACK-STROKE: 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 1975 — T. Jones (W) 50 yards breast-stroke: 1960 — N. Cooke (W) 1963 — P. Watson (Dy) 100 yards breast-stroke: 1965 — A. Dempster (Dy) 1969 — B. Henderson (Dy) 1969 — A. Caldwell 1972 — P. Broster (Dy) 100 METRES BREAST-STROKE: 1972 — P. Broster (Dy) 200 yards breast-stroke: 1964 — J. Neser (W) 1970 — A. van Wyk (W) 200 METRES BREAST-STROKE: 1970 — A. van Wyk (W) 25 yards butterfly: 1960 — N. Cooke (W) 50 yards butterfly: 1963 — P. Watson (Dy) 1964 — J. Neser (W) 1965 — M. McNeiil (Dn) 1967 — B. Mienie (Dn) 1969 — G. Devine (Dy) 1971 — M. Robinson (Dy) 1972 — P. Broster (Dy) 50 METRES BUTTERFLY: 1972 — P. Broster (Dy) 1975 — T. Jones (W) 50 yards free-style: 1946 — R. van Niekerk and A. Ballantyne (F) 1958 — M. Kinsey (Dn) 100 yards free-style: 1948 — D. Edwards (Dn) 1956 — V. Fletcher (W) 1964 — A. Warren (F) 1967 — B. Mienie (Dn) 1970 — A. van Aensburg (F) 1972 — P. Broster (Dy) 100 METRES FREE-STYLE: 1972 — P. Broster (Dy) 200 yards free-style: 1969 — B. Disler (F) 1970 — A. van Rensburg (F) 1972 — P. Broster (Dy) 200 METRES FREE-STYLE: 1972 — P. Broster (Dy) 4 x 25 yards Individual medley- 1964 — R. Warren (F) 1967 — B. Mienie (Dn) 1970 — A. van Rensburg (F) 1972 — P. Broster (Dy) 4 x 25 METERS INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY: 1972 - P.Broster (Dy) |
36,4 secs. 33,8 secs. 33,7 secs. 1 min. 16.5 secs. 1 min. 13,2 secs. 1 min. 7,7 secs. 1 min. 5,5 secs. 1 min. 12 secs. 1 min. 6,7 secs. 37,0 secs. 35,0 secs. 1 min 14,1 secs. 1 min 10,7 secs. 1 min 10,7 secs. 1 min 9,5 secs. 1 min 15,5 secs. 2 mins. 56,0 secs. 2 mins. 37.0 secs. 2 mins. 52,7 secs. 14,8 secs. 33,9 secs. 33,4 secs. 31,6 secs. 29,7 secs. 29,7 secs. 29,7 secs. 28,3 sece. 30,8 secs. 30,6 secs. 29, 2 secs. 25,9 secs. 1 min. 9,8 secs. 1 mmn. 1,1 secs. 59,7 secs. 56,6 secs. 56,0 secs. 51,5 secs. 56,6 secs. 2 mins. 15.4 secs. 2 mins. 8,7 secs. 1 min 57,4 secs. 2 mins. 9,1 secs. 1 min 10,2 secs. 1 mm. 6.6 secs. 1 mm. 5,6 secs. 1 mm. 2,2 secs. 1 min 8,6 secs. |
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4 x 50 yards medley relay: 1957 — Whitworth 1964 — Whitworth 1967 — Faraday 1969 — Davy 1971 — Davy 4x 50 METRES MEDLEY RELAY: 1971 — Davy 1975 — Faraday 4 x 50 yards free-style relay: 1964 — Whitworth 1965 — Davy 1967 — Faraday 1970 — Faraday 1971 — Davy 4x 50 METRES FREE-STYLE RELAY: 1971 - Davy 1976 — Davy |
No time known 2 mins. 17,0 secs. 2 mins. 2,9 secs. 2 mins 2.9 secs 2 mins 2.7 secs 2 mins 15,4 secs. 2 mins 13,0 secs. 2 mins 0,5 secs. 1 min 56.5 secs. 1 min 53,3 secs. 1 min 51,0 secs. 1 min 48,7 secs. 1 min 59,6 secs. 1 min 57,2 secs. |
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25 yards back-stroke: 1948 — D. Williams (Dy) 50 yards back-stroke: 1955 — C. Cuthbert (Dy) 1956 — M. Kinsey (Dn) 1957 — M. Kinsey (Dn) 1958 — J. Graham (F) 100 yards back-stroke: 1964 — I. McNeil 1967 — L. Abrams (Dy) 1969 — A. van Rensburg (F) 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 100 METRES BACK-STROKE: 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 1974 — T. Jones (W) 50 yards breast-stroke 1955 — C. Tetley (F) 1956 — M. Drummond (W) 1957 — P. Hovell (F) 1961 — P. Watson (Dy) 1962 — P. Watson (Dy) 1963 — J. Neser (W) 100 yards breast-stroke: 1964 — A. Dempster (Dy) 1971 — G. Mouat (Dy) 100 METRES BREAST-STROKE: 1971 — G. Mouat (Dy) 1976 — B. Duguid (Dy) 200 yards breast-stroke: 1969 — A. van Rensburg (F) 1970 — A. Weston (Dy) 1971 - P. Broster (Dy) 200 METRES BREAST-STROKE: 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 1975 — M. Hart (N) 1976 — B. Duguid (Dy) 25 yards butterfly: 1961 — R. Wheeler (W) 50 yards butterfly: 1962 — P. Watson (Dy) 1964 — M. McNeil (Dn) 1969 — G. Devine (Dy) 1970 — M. Robinson (Dy) 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 50 METRES BUTTERFLY: 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 1976 — B. Beaumont (W) |
17.1 secs 36.9 secs 35,7 secs 33.9 secs 32.1 secs 1 min 18,9 secs 1 min 15,4 secs 1 min 7,9 secs. 1 min 3,5 secs. 1 mm. 9,7 secs. 1 mm. 8,6 secs. 43,9 secs. 41,0 secs. 38,1 secs. 37,6 secs. 36,4 secs. 36,0 secs. 1 min 14.0 secs 1 min 12.8 secs 1 mm. 19,1 secs. 1 mmn. 17,7 secs. 2 mins 52,2 secs 2 mins 49.2 secs. 2 mins 41,1 secs 2 mins 57.2 secs 2 mins 54,1 secs 2 mins 49,7 secs 15,4 secs. 33.8 secs. 31,4 secs. 30,4 secs. 30,1 secs. 28,9 secs. 31.5 secs 30,2 secs |
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25 yards free-style 1948 - C.Gates (Dy) 1949 — R. Hill (F) 50 yards free-style: 1939 — G. Raaff (W) 1940 — A. Kleinenberg (Dn) 1945 — A. Ballantyne (F) 1955 — V. Fletcher (W) 1957 — M. Kinsey (Dn) 100 yards free-style: 1955 — C. Stanton (F) 1957 — M. Kinsey (Dn) 1958 — P. van den Heever (W) 1964 — 0. Haigh (F) 1966 — B. Mienie (Dn) 1969 — A. van Rensburg (F) 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 100 METRES FREE-STYLE: 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 1976 — B. Beaumont (W) 200 yards free-style: 1969 — A. van Rensburg (F) 1970 — M. Robinson (Dy) 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 200 METERS FREE-STYLE 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 1976 — B. Beaumont (W) 4 x 25 yards individual medley: 1964 - O.Haigh (F) 1966 — B. Mienme (Dn) 1969 — A. van Rensburg (F) 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 4 x 25 METRES INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY: 1971 — P. Broster (Dy) 6 x 25 yards consolation relay: 1964 — Dalton 1965 — Whitworth 1967 — Davy 1970 — Davy 1971 — Davy 6 x 25 METRES CONSOLATIon RELAY: 1971 — Davy 1974 — Faraday 1975 — Whitworth 4 x 25 yards medley relay: 1957 — Dalton 4 x 50 yards medley relay: 1964 — Davy 1970 — Davy 1971 — Davy 4 x 50 METRES MEDLEY RELAY: 1971 — Davy 1974 — Faraday 4 x 25 yards free-style: 1939 — Dalton 1940 — Faraday 1945 — Dalton 1949 — Faraday 1957 — Dalton 1958 — Whitworth 1959 - Faraday *joint holders. 4 x 50 yards free-style relay: 1962 — Davy 1964 — Faraday 1967 — Davy 1969 — Davy 4 50 METERS FREE-STYLE RELAY 1969 — Faraday 1974 — Faraday |
13,2 secs 12.7 secs no time noted 29,2 secs. 29.0 secs 27,5 seconds 26,7 secs. 1 min. 6,2 secs. 1 min 2.7 secs 1 min. 0,9 secs. 1 min. 0,5 secs. 1 min 0,4 secs. 56.4 secs 52,2 secs. 57,4 secs. 57,1 secs. 2 mins 11,6 secs. 2 mins 10.8 secs 1 min 55.1 secs 2 min. 6.6 secs. 2 min. 4,5 secs. 1 min 14.3 secs 1 min. 12,8 secs. 1 min. 6,0 secs. 1 min. 1,5 secs. 1 min. 7,4 secs. (no time) 2 min. 32,7 secs. 2 min. 19,4 secs. 1 min. 59.0 secs. 1 min. 58,4 secs 2 mins 8.9 secs 2 min. 5.3 secs 1 min. 56.1 secs 1 min 0,5 secs. 2 min. 16,7 secs. 2 min. 6,3 secs. 2 min. 5,6 secs. 2 min. 21,9 secs. 2 min. 18,2 secs. (no time) 61.6 secs. 56.0 secs. 54.2 secs. 54.0 secs. 52.3 secs. 2 mins 4.2 secs 2 mins 1,1 secs. 2 mim. 0.4 secs. 1 min 51,3 secs. 2 mins. 2,4 secs 2 mins 1.8 secs |
UNDER 14
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25 yards back-stroke: 1959 — B. Godley (F) 1960 — E. Finaughty (W) 1961 — P. Watson (D) 50 yards back-stroke: 1962 — R. Havekes 1963 — M. McNeill (On) 1966 — L. Abrams (Dy) 1968 — G. Devine (Dy), and A. van Rensburg (F) 1970 — A. Beaver (W) 1973 — T. Jones (W) 50 METRES BACK-STROKE: 1973 — T. Jones (W) 25 yards breast-stroke: 1957 — T. Reeves (W) 1960 — P. Watson (Dy) 1961 — P. Watson (Dy) 50 yards breast-stroke: 1962 — G. Bates 1963 — M. McNeill (Dn) 100 yards breast-stroke: 1964 — A. Caldwell (Dn) 1970 — P. Broster (Dy) 100 METRES BREAST-STROKE: 1970 — P. Broster (Dy) 25 yards butterfly: 1961 — P. Watson (D) 1962 — J. Neser (W) 50 yards butterfly: 1963 — M. McNeill (Dn) 1970 — A. Beaver (W) 50 METRES BUTTERFLY: 1970 — A. Beaver (W) 50 yards free-style: 1946 — G. Browning 1953 — J. Banks (Dn) 1955 — M. Kmnsey (Dn) 1957 — W. Bowen (Dy) 1963 — 0. Haigh (F) 1967 — G. Devine (Dy) 1970 — P. Broster (Dy) 50 METRES FREE-STYLE: 1970 — P. Broster (Dy) 4 x 25 yards individual medley: 1964 — A. Caidwell (Dn) 1965 — B. Mienie (Dn) 1967 — G. Devine (Dy) 1968 — A. van Rensburg (F) 4 x 25 METERS INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY: 1968 — A. van Rensburg (F) 1975 — B. Beaumont (W) 6 x 25 yards consolation relay: 1964 — Dalton 1965 — Whitworth 1970 — Whitworth 1971 — Faraday 1973 — Whitworth 6 x 25 METRES CONSOLATION RELAY 1973 — Whitworth 1974 — Davy 4 x 25 yards medley relay: 1969 — Davy 1970 — Davy 1971 — Davy 4 x 25 meters medley relay: 1974 - Davy 4 x 25 yards free-style relay: 1964 — Dalton 1968 — Faraday 4 x 25 METRES FREE-STYLE RELAY: 1968 — Faraday |
17,5 secs. 16,8 secs. 16,4 secs. 40.3 secs. 34,1 secs. 33,7 secs. 30,4 secs. 30,4 secs. 30,3 secs. 32,9 secs. 18,9 secs. 18,1 secs. 16,7 secs. 36,8 secs. 34,4 secs. 1 min. 17,0 secs. 1 min. 14,1 secs. 1 min. 21,7 secs. 16.8 secs. 15,6 secs. 31,1 secs. 28,1 secs. 30,6 secs. 34,0 secs. 30,0 secs. 30.0 secs. 28,4 secs. 27,4 secs. 26,7 secs. 24,8 secs. 27,3 secs. 1 min. 16,4 secs. 1 min. 16,2 secs. 1 min. 13,8 secs. 1 min. 5,6 secs. 1 min. 11,9 secs. 1 min. 11,9 secs. (no time available) 2 min. 31,4 secs. 2 min. 12,8 secs. 2 min. 7,6 secs. 1 min. 59,2 secs. 2 min. 9,8 secs. 2 min. 8,3 secs. 60,0 secs. 59,0 secs. 55,1 secs. 1 min 3.3 secs 55.2 secs 51.4 secs 56.5 secs |
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50 yards back-stroke: 1962 - M. MeNeill (Dn) 1967 - G. Devine (Dy) 1972 - T. Jones (W) 50 METRES BACK-STROKE: 1972 — T.Jones(W) 50 yards breast-stroke: 1962 — M. McNeill (Dn) 1968 — M. Robinson (Dy) 1973 — G. Magowan (Dy) 50 METRES BREAST-STROKE: 1973 — G. Magowan (Dy) 25 yards butterfly: 1962 — M. MeNeill (Dn) 1964 — B. Mienie (Dn) 1966 — G. Devine (Dy) 1969 — A. Beaver (W) 1972 — T. Jones (W) 25 METRES BUTTERFLY: 1972 — T. Jones (W) 25 yards free-style: 1939 — R. White (W) 1940 — W. Hawke (Dn) 1941 — K. Meyer (Dn) 1942 — T. Lange (F) 1945 — 0. Prentice (F) 1950 — P. Watson (Dy) 1955 — M. Kinsey (Dn) 1958 — G. van den Burg (F) 50 yards free-style: 1958 — T. Simpson (W) 1960 — R. Petzer (Dy) 1961 — J. Hawxby (F) 1962 — M. McNeill (Dn) 1967 — G. Devine (Dy) 50 METERS FREE-STYLE 1967 — G. Devine (Dy) 4 x 25 yards individual medley: 1964 — B. Mienie (Dn) 1966 — G. Devine (Dy) 1967 — G. Devine (Dy) 1969 — P. Broster (Dy) 4 x 25 METRES INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY: 1969 — P. Broster (Dy) 6 x 25 yards consolation relay: 1964 — Whitworth 1965 — Faraday 1967 — Davy 1971 — Whitworth 1972 — Whmtworth 1973 — Davy 6 x 25 METRES CONSOLATION RELAY: 1973 — Davy 1974 — Whitworth 4 x 25 yards medley relay: 1957 — Dalton 1969 — Davy 1972 — Whitworth 1973 — Davy 4 x 25 METRES MEDLEY RELAY: 1973 — Davy 4 x 25 yards free-style relay: 1964 — Faraday 1966 — Davy 1967 — Faraday 1969 — Davy 1972 — Whitworth 4 x 25 METRES FREE STYLE RELAY: 1972 — Whitworth |
36,2 secs. 31,4 secs. 31,4 secs. 34,2 secs. 36,3 secs. 36,5 secs. 35,9 secs. 39,2 secs. 15,9 secs. 15,5 secs. 14,1 secs. 14.0 secs. 13.4 secs. 14.6 secs. No time known 16,8 secs. 16,6 secs. 15,2 secs. 14,6 secs. 13,8 secs. 13,1 secs. 13,1 secs. 31,7 secs. 31,2 secs. 32,7 secs. 28,65 secs. 26,1 secs. 28,2 secs. 1 min. 23,1 secs. 1 min. 19,5 secs. 1 min.11,8 secs. 1 min. 8,5 secs 1 min. 15.5 secs. (no time available) 2 min. 45,0 secs. 2 min. 37,7 secs. 2 min. 19,2 secs. 2 min. 14,7 secs. 2 min. 14,7 secs. 2 min. 23,5 secs. 2 min. 16,9 secs. 1 min. 0,5 secs. 1 min. 3,0 secs. 1 min 1,5 secs. 1 min. 1,5 secs. 1 min. 6,2 secs. 58,3 secs. 57,0 secs. 56,0 secs. 55,1 secs. 53,9 secs. 59,3 secs. |
INTER- HOUSE GALAS 1939-1976
Dn — Dalton (until 1972)
Dy — Davy
F — Faraday
N — Newton (from 1973 to 1976)
W — Whitworth
Apparently there were no gaias in 1943, 1944 and 1952 as no mention is made of them in the only records extant, the Magazines. There are also gaps in those records. Should anyone have the missing details, we would be glad to hear from them.
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Year 1939 1940 1941 1942 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 |
First Dn W Dn Dn F Dn Dn Dn F Dn Dy Dy Dn Dn Dn Dn Dn W W W W F Dy Dn Dn Dy Dy Dy Dy Dy Dy W W W |
Second W Dy W W Dn F F F Dn F F - Dy Dy Dy Dy W F F F F W Dn - Dy F Cancelled F F Dn W W F F Dy |
Third Dy F Dy Dy Dy W W W Dy Dy Dn - W - W W Dy Dn Dy Dy Dn Dn F - F Dn - Dn W W F N Dy N N |
Fourth F Dn F F W Dy Dy Dy W W W - F - F F F Dy Dn Dn Dy Dy W - W W - W Dn F Dn F N Dy F |
RUGBY, 1930-1976
When one considers the number of leading personalities who have been associated with rugby at the School over the past five decades, it is hardly surprising that the history of the game at Gifford has been so eventful and so full of achievement. Names such as Desmond Lardner-Burke, “Bucky” Buchanan, Ronnie Hill, Ian McIntosh, and many more, crowd the pages of the School’s rugby record and it is gratifying to reflect on the extent of the contribution to Rhodesian rugby in general made by those who have either coached or played rugby at the School at some stage of their career. Small wonder that since the first major successes on the field in the mid-30’s, the School has established itself as a constant force to be reckoned with.
Solid foundations, so vital to the development of any sport at a school, were laid by a small but enthusiastic band of boys and masters between 1930 and 1936. Plagued by a host of problems which related inevitably, to fields, shortage of fixtures and a bus which was just plain otherwise, these rugger pioneers displayed commendable perseverence in their determination to promote the game at “Tech.”and to make a real contribution to rugby in Matabeleland. Indicative of the frustrations endured during this period is the somewhat mournful statement in the 1934 magazine which runs, “Owing to the fact that there was no Third League in operation this year, it was found difficult to arrange matches for the First XV and we had to rely solely on inter-schools fixtures”. Yet the problems were overcome and by the beginning of the 1936 season, the School was well-prepared for the challenging new era, on the threshold of which it then stood. Technical School rugby came of age in 1936.
In addition to the firm foundations laid in the preceding years, two principal factors enabled the School successfully to meet the new challenges introduced in the 1936 season: the expertise of coaches, namely Mr. D. Lardner-Burke and Mr.
W. C. Robertson, and the opening of the new Mining School, which meant the School had a much larger number of senior boys from which to draw. These factors considered, it is not difficult to credit the sound performances of the Technical School team in the newly-formed under-nineteen Matabeleland League, but one can still appreciate the delight of all those associated with rugby at the School when “Tech.” emerged as runners-up in this brain-child of the Matabeleland Rugby Board.
The other major challenge of 1936 came in the form of the Honey Cup, the premier trophy for
inter-schools rugby in Southern Rhodesia, the competition in which the
Technical School entered for the first time. A heavy defeat at the
hands of Plumtree knocked the School out of the 1936 competition in
its early stages, but the first step had been taken along the difficult
road which was to lead to permanent possession of the coveted trophy.
In the four years following 1936, the achievements of the School in the
Honey Cup competition were most impressive.
In 1936, too, the first colours for rugby were awarded to C. W.
Nelson, A. T. Willis, R. Ailberry, R. K. Pike. Henceforth colours would be
awarded “only to boys who in the opinion of the Headmaster and Committee
have excelled on the field”.
In the 1937 season the Technical School shared the Honey Cup with
Prince Edward School of Salisbury after a thrilling final. P.E. had a good
reason to be pleased with their performance as earlier in the season
the School had edged them out in another tight encounter. In the
following year “Tech.” again contested the final of the Honey Cup Competition
at the end of a fine season during which many admirers had been won.
Among these had been Mr. R. Hart, Chairman of the Matabeleland Rugby
Board, who described the School’s game against Plumtree at Hartsfield
earlier in the season as “the finest schools’ game seen in Bulawayo for
years”. “Tech.” lost the Honey Cup final 0-5 to a strong St. George’s
College side from Salisbury. According to the records in the 1937 magazine,
that year proved to be the “busiest and most eventful season in
inter-school and competitive rugby”, and yet again a place was earned in the
final of the Honey Cup Competition. The Technical School’s opponents in
the 1939 final were once again Prince Edward and those who had
anticipated another closely-fought duel were not disappointed. “Tech.” ran out
winners by the slender margin of six points to four. Possession of the
Honey Cup was contested for the last time in 1940, at the end of a
season which had not been as full as in previous years because of war
conditions. The result of the 1940 final, which was between The Technical
School and St. George’s College, was a splendid 18-0 victory for the
former. It is of interest to note that in 1974 these two schools renewed
contact on the rugby field and after the match a film of the 1940 final
was shown: the younger generation conceded that there were lessons to be
learnt from the quality of performance in the last Honey Cup final. The
Cup incidentally is still proudly displayed in the foyer of the
School’s administration building.
Another prestige competition with which the School has been associated
for a long time is the Rhodes and Founders’ inter-schools’ rugby
tournament. The School’s record in this particular competition since 1938 is
one of which any school would be proud, and often “Tech.” emerged
unbeaten. The 1946 season provided one of those occasions, not surprisingly,
since coaching the first XV for the first time was “Bucky” Buchanan,
surely one of the most knowledgeable rugby coaches this country has ever
seen. The writer’s cheeks still flush when he recalls a lesson learnt
during the first game of the 1973 tour to Port Elizabeth, which “Bucky”
had helped to organise. The Gifford lineouts were a shambles despite a
distinct height superiority and the service of Gareth Powell-Rees, a
superlative jumper and catcher of the ball. “Bucky” saw the problem
immediately and growled: “Move your loose-head prop to number three.” A
feature of the Gifford team’s performances thereafter, in what turned out
to be a very good year, was the quality of the lineout work. It is
interesting to note that one of the members of “Bucky’s” 1946 team was none
other than Ian Wedderburn whose services to the game have been and, in
fact, to this day still are, considerable.
In the year before “Bucky’s” arrival as first XV coach, eight schools
from all over Southern Rhodesia participated in the Rhodes and
Founders’ Tournament which was held at Hartsfield. Three Matabeleland schools,
Milton, Plumtree and the Technical School, reached the end of the
tournament undefeated, and it takes little to imagine the boost this gave to
the game at all levels in Matabeleland. The Rhodes and Founders’
tournament has long provided incentive for schoolboy rugby players,
entertainment for a rugby-mad population and an avenue for the promotion of all
that is best is this great game, and Gifford is proud that the
association of the School with the tournament, which is now held annually in
Umtali as part of the Aloe Festival celebrations, still continues. Over
the past four years Gifford has participated on three occasions and in
1976 won the tournament.
School rugby, like everything else, was adversely affected by the war
and yet, despite the trying conditions which came on top of the
perennial problems all school sports teams have to endure, rugby at the
Technical School moved steadily forward and several landmarks, some already
mentioned, were reached. In 1943 the Matabeleland Rugby Board eased the
problems relating to fields considerably by permitting our first XV to
practise on the “B” field at Hartsfield. One must
acknowledge here that the hindrance of having no really suitable venue
for practices and matches was eliminated only in 1952 with the
completion of the development of the South Field, now the Sutherby Field.
Staff and boys were justifiably proud of this new field which, they
asserted, “must rank with the finest schools’ fields in the Colony, and
indeed, challenge the excellence of Hartsfield itself”. Another notable
landmark reached during the war-years was the first match between the
Technical School and Allan Wilson School of Salisbury. “Tech.” won this first
encounter 15-0 despite the fact that the Salisbury side had been
boosted by the inclusion of a number of old boys. That progress was made
during those difficult times is a tribute to the resolve and
resourcefulness of masters and boys, and one must commend them on the positive
approach from which they never deviated. Lectures on the laws of the game
were often given by Mr. Lardner-Burke, and both players and coaches always
demonstrated a willingness to learn from touring sides. Thorough
coaches and dedicated players make a combination which will always be
difficult to beat.
Over the years the School has been fortunate to play host to some of
the most well-known rugby-playing schools from South Africa, and this
has undoubtedly had a rewarding effect not only from the rugby point of
view but also from the social angle. The contact afforded by tours is
inevitably of immense value to a schoolboy whether he be host or visitor
and, in the case of the latter, the opportunity to travel with a group
of his peers should always be seized with both hands.
In the vintage 1937 season, the only game that the Technical School
lost was to St. Andrew’s College from Bloemfontein who treated the
Bulawayo public to a fine display of controlled running rugby. The links
between this famous O.F.S. School and Gifford have been maintained and the
most recent clashes on the rugby field were in 1972, when the School
went down 6-18 in a disappointing match played at Falcon College, and in
1973, when Gifford turned the tables on their old adversaries in
Bloemfontein in running out winners by 16 points to 9.
Natal, the cradle of the running game in South Africa, has since 1939
sent us some of her top schoolboy sides. In that year of outstanding
achievement for the School in Rhodesian schools’ rugby, once again the
only defeat suffered was at the hands of a famous South African school.
On that occasion it was Hilton College from Natal who smashed hopes of
an unbeaten record.
Maritzburg College, Durban Boys’ High School, Glenwood, Michaelhouse,
and many others have all been guests at Gifford, and the School has
gained a great deal from the contacts with these teams who play in a home
league in which there are no easy games. Small wonder they have always
been such formidable opponents. In 1964, a full season in which the
school played 19 games, a very good “Tech.” side, which included future
Rhodesian forwards Jannie Neser and Murray Desfontaine, as well as Brian
Davison who was an exceptionally powerful wing three-quarter, went down
to the powerful D.H.S. team. It is of interest to note that a mere
three years later, the rangy Desfontaine stunned rugby pundits throughout
Southern Africa when he dominated the lineouts in Rhodesia’s match
against the 1967 French touring team, which included the great Benoit Danga.
Among Gifford’s other distinguished visitors from South Africa over
the years have been Bishops and Rondebosch from Cape Town, St. John’s
from Johannesburg, and Dale College from Kingwilliamstown. When one
studies results, one might get the impression that the School has all too
often “taken stick” from our South African friends, but this is in no way
the case. In most cases the matches have produced hard, exciting rugby
in which boys from both sides have given account of themselves. One has
only to recall the rugged 1953 encounter with Selborne, or the
ding-dong 1973 tussle with Dele, to dppreciate the standard of the School’s
performance, even in defeat. In the latter match, Dale, leading 17-13 ten
minutes from time, had to endure a sustained onslaught from a possessed
Gifford side which produced some of the finest running seen on the
Cowan Field. Rugby was the winner in a match from which both sides learnt
many lessons.
The School’s first tour to South Africa took place in 1962 and no
Gifford side since has been as successful as far as results are concerned.
The first XV coach in that year was Mr. Stan McLoughlin, a very fine
sportsman in his day, and the father of two excellent sporting sons. By
way of preparation for that 1962 tour, Mr. McLoughlin handed the team
over to another old boy for fitness training. After qualifying as a
physical education master at Bulawayo T.T.C., Ian McIntosh had returned to
his old School and no pupils were more aware of his presence than those
rugby players who toiled for long hours under his critical eye, so
well-known now throughout Rhodesia, and indeed throughout the whole of
Southern Africa. In 1955 “Mac” had
been a member of the unbeaten second XV, but had never made the first XV, believe it or not, because he was too small!
The two “Macs” worked wonders on that first tour and the side returned from Johannesburg with the proud record of five victories in five matches. It is worth remembering that money for the tour had been raised by the legendary fund raiser, Mr. J. Hotz.
Since 1962 Gifford has toured the Northern Transvaab, Natal, the Orange Free State, the Eastern Cape, Western Province, and Boland. Win or lose, the School has always learnt a great deal and lasting friendships have been made. The hospitality with which we have been received has always been flawless and I am sure that every Old Boy who, while at School, toured to South Africa with the first XV, still appreciates the great personal value of the experience.
Any really comprehensive survey of the history of rugby at the School would run to several volumes, and, if the personal experiences of but a few of the leading personalities were included, one could probably fill the School library. It takes little to imagine how many pages could be filled and how much nostalgia could be whipped up by the reminiscences of an old work-horse like Brian Webb, who has coached under-13 rugby at the School for close on 20 years.
It is a safe bet that John Finlayson, who coached the first XV for eight years, has a bag of memories that would raise many a laugh, redden many a cheek, and, perhaps, bring a nostalgic tear to the odd eye; and if a crowd of old boys bike Hill, Mackenzie-Fraser, Van Schalkwyk, Lukan and Rowland got together, what a host of stories, and legends, would be forthcoming. Alas, we have to be satisfied with an all too brief resume on this, the occasion of the School’s Golden Jubilee.
Rugby at Gifford has an impressive record of past achievements, many proud traditions, and, overall, a great legacy for present and future generations. It is fitting that we should here salute all those who have made a contribution, great or small, over the past 50 years.
A.L. van HEERDEN
RUGBY, 1976
Master-in-charge: Mr. A. L. van Heerden
Captain: G. W. Ashby
The 1976 season was in many ways one of frustration and disappointment for the Gifford first team. The side won only five of the seventeen games played, and often lost by score-margins which suggested irremedial weaknesses in the team. It is, however, difficult to accept that the team was as poor as the results suggest, and that we could not have done better. A large number of players started the season with first team experience and for the first time in many years there was genuine competition for places in the first XV. Furthermore, there was a hard core of really talented players who promised to provide the flair so vital for the success of any side. In the light of these facts, it was justifiable that supporters generally anticipated a successful season. What, then, went wrong?
After the first few games it was apparent that we were going to struggle for first phase possession since the side was surprisingly short of power and drive among the tight forwards. A lot of reshuffling, the emergence of several promising younger players, and a great deal of sweat and toil all contributed to a partial solution of the problem. Unfortunately, at no time did we have a pack which could really stamp its authority on a match. This is not to say that we did not see flashes of potential. Indeed, there were isolated moments when the whole senior group threatened to come good with a vengeance. But, if there is one characteristic absolutely vital to both the team and the individual at first team level, it is consistency, and here the 1976 Gifford side was sadly lacking. The number of players who earned places in the first XV and maintained those places through consistent performances, can be counted on the fingers of one hand. This is especially disturbing in the light of the fact that consistency in anything is the fruit not of natual ability, but of hard work and dedication. It is not without justification that one feels the results after the fixture against Falcon should have been better than was the case.
The inconsistency of individual performances was underlined by the successful challenges for first XV berths made by several under-16 players. By the end of the season, three of these players had established themselves firmly in their positions and their determination and tenacity had set a valuable example for their fellows.
The selection of G. Ashby and I. Fraser for the Rhodesian Schools’ team to play in the Transvaal Craven Week Tournament was just reward for two players who seldom failed to produce the form expected of them. Fraser proved to be a veritable points-machine with his boot and his exciting running, while Ashby showed himself to be as accomplished a scrum-half as one is likely to see at schoolboy level. Ashby also captained the side with maturity and intelligence.
FIRST TEAM RUGBY RESULTS, 1930-1976
Rhodesian Schools First No. Greatest Greatest
Played Played Won Lost Drawn Victory Date Defeat Date
Allan Wilson 1944 23 14 7 2 36-0 1951/54 3-34 1975
C.B.C. 1970 5 5 - - 43-0 1972 - -
Chaplin 1933 36 17 16 3 32-0 1941 3-21 1949
Churchill 1954 14 4 9 1 18-5 1948 3-48 1965
Falcon 1960 19 7 12 — 48-0 1963 3-42 1975
Guinea Fowl 1952 24 17 5 2 40-0 1954 14-40 1975
Hamilton 1963 26 12 14 — 34-3 1971 13-33 1976
Milton 1930 72 26 39 4 33-3 1950 3-33 1930
Mount Pleasant 1973 1 1 - - 59-14 1973 - -
Northlea 1960 27 19 8 — 38-0 1972 0-39 1976
Plumtree 1933 69 28 37 4 28-0 1940 0-63 1936
Prince Edward 1937 24 8 14 2 27-6 1953 0-39 1960
St Georges 1938 14 7 7 — 18-0 1940 12-24 1975
St Stephens* 1966 4 4 - - 44-3 1968 - -
Sixth Form College* 1967 2 2 - - 42-3 1967 - -
Thornhill 1961 8 4 2 2 44-0 1968 3-11 1965
Umtali Boys High 1950 7 3 3 1 12-3 1957 18-37 1973
*St. Stephen’s and Sixth Form College are both now defunct.
OTHER LOCAL MATCHES
Army Under 19 1965 2 2 — — 14—0 1965 - -
Induna 1943 1 1 — — 27—15 1943 - -
Initial Training Wing 1943 2 1 1 — 28—0 1944 6-11 1943
Old Miltonians 1930 7 3 3 1 12—0 1937 3-17 1930
Old Technicians 1933 10 6 4 — 31—3 1935 0-25 1934
Postals 1936 1 1 — — 6—3 1936 - -
Queens 1930 3 1 2 — 12—0 1930 0-8 1933
R.A.F. Heany 1944 3 3 — — 21—3 1953 - -
R.A.F. Kumalo 1941 7 5 2 — 29—3 1952 3-7 1944
Raylton 1930 9 8 — 1 20—0 1953 - -
Salisbury Composite Side 1976 1 1 — - 16—6 1976 - -
Technmcal College 1963 1 1 — — 17—3 1963 - -
Since 1939 the School’s First XV has played no fewer than 88 matches against 53
different South African schools. Of these matches 25 have been won, 59 lost, and
4 drawn. The earliest recorded match was in 1937 against St. Andrew’s of Bloemfontein,
which the School lost 3—13. Other early games before the commencement of our rugby
tours, are tabulated as follows:
Bishops 1948 2 — 2 — - - 0—31 1948
Hilton College 1939 3 - 3 — — — 0—31 1952
Michaelhouse 1946 1 - 1 - - - 3-18 1946
Rondebosch 1949 1 - 1 - - - 0-5 1949
St. Andrew’s 1937 4 1 2 1 16—3 1973 3—13 1937
St.John’s 1947 3 — 3 - — - 3—20 1965
Also, in Federal days, matches agamnst two Northern Rhodesian schools, namely
The Gilbert Rennie High School of Lusaka and the Kitwe Boys High were played in 1963.
We lost to the former 11-13, but beat the latter 23-0 having drawn one game 6-6.
RHODESIAN SCHOOLS PLAYERS
1950 E. F. Hartman, K C. Ziehl, E. R. van Schalkwyk, H. MacKenzie-Fraser
1951 A. A. Hill, E. R. van Schalkwyk, H. Mackenzie-Fraser
1952 M. Lukan
1953 M. Lukan, D. W. Dewy, T. P. Drummond
1964 B. P. Edwards
1966 J. T. Neser
1967 A. R. Dempster
1968 F. N. Wilson
1969 P. C. Semple, J. P. Paterson
1970 P. C. Semple, R. D. Seton-Rogers
1972 M. Falconer, A. P. Roberts
1973 S. A. Oborne, K. G. Schlaghter, A. P. Roberts
1974 G. R. Herbert
1975 C. Hughes
1976 G. W. Ashby, I. G. Fraser
RUGBY 1976
FIRST TEAM RESULTS
Tour Matches:
Lost to Settlers 11-13
Lost to Drostdy 10-29
Lost to HottentotsHolland 7-41
Beat St. Joseph’s 19-13
Lost to Boland 0-33
Home Matches:
Lost to Hamilton 13-33 and 9-11
Beat Plumtree 15-13
Lost to Milton 6-18 and 15-28
Lost to Northlea 0-39 and 10-14
Lost to Guinea Fowl 8-34
Lost to Allan Wilson 6-14
Lost to St George’s 14-21
Beat Falcon 15-11
Umtali Festival (Rhodes and Founders):
Beat Salisbury invitation 16-6; Beat Army Under 19 22-20
SECOND TEAM RESULTS
Lost to Hamilton 3-19 and 12-16
Lost to Plumtree 9-30
Lost to Milton 4-18 and 4-16
Lost to Guinea Fowl 4-24
Lost to Allan Wilson 0-26
Beat Northlea 34-6 and lost 6-10
Beat C.B.C. first team 22-4
THIRD TEAM RESULTS
Lost to Hamilton 0-45 and 7-24
Beat Milton 22-6, and lost 0-30 and 4-8
Lost to Guinea Fowl 4-36
Lost to Plumtree 0-34
Lost to Allan Wilson 6-32
FOURTH TEAM RESULTS
Lost to Hamilton 0-23 and 9-32
Beat Milton 44-13 and 18-4
Lost to Guinea Fowl 10-20
Beat Northlea 3rd XV 32-7 and 16-4
Beat C.B.C. 2nd XV 31-0
Lost to Plumtree 9-40
FIFTH TEAM RESULTS
Lost to Hamilton 3-32 and 0-22
Beat Milton 26-4, 11-4, and lost 6-9
Lost to Guinea Fowl 0-42
Lost to Plumtree 6-46
UNDER I5 ”A” RESULTS
Lost to Hamilton 0-45 and 3-54
Lost to Milton 10-14 and 10-12, and won 15-7
Lost to Guinea Fowl 4-22
Lost to Plumtree 0-40
Beat Allan Wilson 22-10
Beat Northlea 78-0
UNDER 15 “B” RESULTS
Lost to Hamilton 8-14 and 0-46
Lost to Plumtree 4-36
Lost to Milton 6-26 and 4-15
Beat Northlea U 15 “A” 24-7
Lost to Guinea Fowl 0-16
Lost to C.B.C. U15 “A” 0-43
UNDER 14“A” RESULTS
Lost to Hamilton 8-12, and won 22-8
Beat Falcon 11-8
Beat Plumtree 28-4
Beat Northlea 19-0, and 44-10
Lost to Guinea Fowl 4-24
Drew with Allan Wilson 14-14
Lost to Milton 10-15,0-17,and 23-0
UNDER 14 “B” RESULTS
Lost to Hamilton 4-26, and 0-3
Lost to Plumtree 4-6
Beat Milton 8-0, and lost 0-42
Lost to Guinea Fowl 0-16
Lost to Milton U13 “A” 4-34
Beat Northlea 8-0, and 34-0
Lost to C.B.C. U14”A” 12-44
UNDER 13 ”A” RESULTS
Beat Hamilton 14-7, 10-8, and 12-6
Beat Falcon 36-4
Drew with Plumtree 8-8
Beat Guinea Fowl 16-0
Beat Northlea 52-0
Beat Allan Wilson 10-4
Lost to Milton 8-10, and won 12-6 and 20-0
UNDER 13 “B” RESULTS
Drew with Hamilton 0-0, lost 4-16
Beat Plumtree 18-10
Beat Northlea 32-0
Beat Northlea U13 “A” 16-10
Beat Guinea Fowl 50-0
Lost to Milton 4-14, and won 10-0 and 14-0
UNDER 13 “C” RESULTS
Lost to Hamilton 4-11, and 8-24
Beat Northlea U13 “B” 40-0
Drew with Milton 8-8 and 4-4, lost 0-8, and won 7-0
GIFFORD ATHLETICS, 1930-1977
The earliest record of Gifford athletics dates back to 1930 when F. Viljoen won the 880 yards and the 100 yards in an inter-schools’ event. The first annual inter-house sports were held on the B.A.C. ground on a Wednesday afternoon, 22 April 1931, under far from favourable
conditions there being a “bitingly cold wind” cutting across the ground “to the
discomfort of competitors and spectators alike” and this “militated
against good times being put up in any of the track events”. These times,
however, were inaugural times and stand as records in their own right.
There were only three houses competing as Davy House did not appear on
the scene till 1939; Faraday and Whitworth shared first place. There
were only fifteen events in both the senior and junior (under fifteen)
age-groups, yet in the same year the School won its first major
inter-schools’ tournament and the Administrator’s Shield that went with it.
The 1931 sports were held at the B.A.C. field, the first of numerous
venues which, over the years, have been as follows:
1931-1933: B.A.C.
1934-1938: Twelfth Avenue field of the Technical School
1939-1956: Russell House Field.
1958-1960: O.M.’s field.
1961-1974: Russell House Field, now the Cowan field.
1975: Farrell Field.
1977: Jubilee cinder-track around the Farrell Field.
In 1933 the sports were disrupted by a mumps epidemic as a result of
which performances were poor although R. Capon must have escaped the
disease since he won most of the senior events. “Standard” times were
first awarded in 1933, a system which earned the approval of Mr. George
Johnson, later Sir George, who presented the cups. Commenting on the
system; he said it was “designed to include the lesser lights among the
runners, and to encourage them to earn marks for their Houses by
finishing the course or achieving a certain standard in time or distance”.
Since then “standards” have been a feature of the School’s athletics. In 1934 the sports were dominated in both senior and junior sections by the
brothers A. and J. Tsirindanis, but it was in 1935 that the first real
stars in the Gifford athletic endeavours emerged in the names of G.
Hart and
D. McKenzie, both of whom later represented Rhodesia in the Empire
games. In those early days, as a matter of interest, competitors vied for
the Robertson Inter-house Shield.
After two quiet years which saw the introduction of new age-groups
divisions and the expansion of the programme, the year 1938 was notable
in that the name of Noel Cumming appears for the first time. Although
the athletics programme still had only twenty-six events, 1940 was one
of the School’s prime athletic seasons:
Whitworth won the inter-house sports by a large margin, timing in
tenths of a second was first introduced, and N. Cumming ran the first ever
School 100 yards in 10,0 secs. This record was at the time of
international standard and was to stand for 23 years.
The war years produced no athletics of great significance although
Faraday took most of the honours. In 1946 after some sixteen years of
Gifford athletics, the first compilation of records was done and for the
next ten years fewer than three records per year were broken on average,
mainly, the next magazine notes, owing to the odd-length tracks, rain,
and poorly prepared fields.
In 1948 the School colours blazer for sports was introduced and the
first athletic awards went to D. Kets (a middle distance runner), and A.
Jenkinson (a sprinter). That year also saw the first triangular sports
meeting with Milton and Plumtree: Gifford took third place. In this immediate post-war period
the number of events, notably field events, had gradually expanded and
in 1949 the first two-day sports were held with some forty-five events
on the programme in five age-groups.
In 1953 Roy Collins, who, to the present day is still a force in
Rhodesian and Matabeleland athletics, jumped further than twenty feet, the
first school athlete to do so since 1939. The
following year showed the entrance of yet another famous Rhodesian
sporting name into the record-books, namely D. Judge who broke the under
thirteen 440 yards record.
Between 1930 and 1977 there are only two years without a record of an
athletic sports, namely 1957 and 1976; both meetings were washed out
by rain. During the period 1958-1960 the sports were held on the Old
Miltonian’s cinder track; during these three meetings, no fewer than
twenty-one records were broken on a good track with good facilities.
The following four years were amongst the best in Gifford’s athletics
history, and although the Russell House/Cowan Field had a good slope to it, and events were run around the track in the wrong directions to
take advantage of this; the standards were high, and no fewer than forty
records were broken.
In 1964 Davy won the inter-house competition for the first time in 25
years, and in the following twelve years proceeded to repeat this
achievement no fewer than ten times, a remarkable run of success which may
not have ended yet.
Over the past five years there has been a steady procession of new
records being established, mainly in track events. This denotes a change
over to metric distances, and not, unfortunately, a tremendous boost in
athletic performance. It may be said that athletics in recent years at
Gifford have been very much in the doldrums, both in achievement and
attitude. The blame can be attributed variously to poor equipment, worse
facilities, and little athletic tradition or enthusiasm. Remember, too,
that in recent times sports have been held on 220 yards,. 330 yards and
440 yards tracks as well as the metric distance of 400 metres. Athletics
has to be a large extent been a Cinderella sport and until very
recently remained so. Most of our successful athletes owe their success to
the activities of the Bulawayo clubs rather than to the efforts of the
School. We have the talent, but at the present time we have very little
inclination amongst our athletes to work hard. Similarly, except in a
few instances, notably Mr. J Finlayson and Mr. W. McQuade, the School has
lacked skilled and enthusiastic coaches. Also for many years all the
athletes could look forward m were two or three meetings, but-now there
are no fewer than eight separate meetings on the calendar, and even more
for the highly skilled; Surely this incentive for competition and the
magnificent facilities we now have are sufficientto ensure that Gifford athletics will flourish in the coming year.
This page sponsored by: . . Mr. and Mrs. N. Koufopoulos, R. H. Batty,
Mrs. M. Smillie.
SOME STATISTICS:
Inter-house Tug-o’-war
trophy wins wins
Davy 11 11
Dalton/Newton 9 11
Faraday 10 11
Whitworth 13 8
INTER-HOUSE SPORTS, 1931-1976
Dn — Dalton (until 1972)
Dy — Davy (from 1939)
N — Newton (from 1973 to 1976)
F — Faraday
W — Whitworth
No sports meetings were held in 1957 and 1976 owing to unfavourable weather conditions. There are a few gaps: we would be grateful to hear from anyone having the missing information.
First Second Third Fourth
1931 F&W — Dn
1932 W Dn F
1933 On W F
1934 W F On
1935 W On F
1936 On W F
1937 W F On
1938 F W On
1939 F W Dn Dy
1940 W On F Dy
1941 On Dy F W
1942 Dn W F Dy
1943 W Dy On F
1944 F W On Dy
1945 F On W Dy
1946 F On W Dy
1947 F On W Dy
1948 F On — —
1949 On F Dy W
1950 On W Dy F
1951 On Dy W F
1952 W Dn — —
1953 W Dn Dy F
1954 Dn Dy F W
1955 F On — —
1956 F
1957 Cancelled
1958 On F W Dy
1959 F On W Dy
1960 Dn Dy F W
1961 Dn Dy F W
1962 On W F Dy
1963 On Dy F W
1964 Dy W Dn F
1965 On Dy W F
1966 Dy On W F
1967 Dy W F On
1968 Dy W F On
1969 Dy F W Dn
1970 Dy F W On
1971 Dy F W Dn
1972 F Dy W Dn
1973 Dy W F N
1974 Dy W F N
1975 Dy W F N
1976 Cancelled
R.T.M.
ATHLETICS, 1976
Master-in-charge: Mr. D. J. Gray
Captain: A. F. S. Parker
Early in February a group of fourteen competitors went to Messina for what has become an annual event. The heat was extreme which caused us a number of minor medical problems, yet we managed to gain fourteen places out of the thirty-six events entered. A. Parker, S. Luff, C. Hodder and A. Erasmus did particularly well, the latter equalling the current Rhodesian record for the under 19 hurdles.
The School team thereafter participated in a number of meetings, beginning with a triangular in which we just lost to Milton “A” in what turned out to be a very close contest. At that stage our under 13, 15, and 17 age-groups looked very powerful, and we hopefully anticipated a first-class season.
The Bulawayo Harriers’ meeting was poorly supported by our athletes, there being only twenty entries, yet Hodder, Parker and Luff again performed well as did B. Devine. In the next meeting, the Matabeleland Championships, we gained seven firsts. Parker, Erasmus, Devine, Luff, Hodder and C. Lowenthal were selected for the provincial junior team; A. Konson and I. Barnard were selected as reserves. The last meeting before our own sports was a pentagonal at Plumtree in which we were pushed into fourth place after Milton as a result of the outcome of the last two events of the day. Our weakness again was, with the exception of the under fifteens, in the relays.
At that stage our own field was inundated by rain which eventually forced the cancellation of the inter-house sports for only the second time in the School’s history. The effect of this cancellation was that all the edge of our competitors was lost, and so we entered the inter-schools meeting the next weekend in anything but a state of peak fitness. We were eventually placed a fairly creditable fifth after a much improved Founders team. Once again the lack of success in the relays cost us dearly, and only the under 13 and 15 teams were placed, respectively first and second.
Overall we gained eleven first places, four seconds, eight thirds, and ten fourth places.
THE JUBILEE ATHLETICS TRACK
The possibility of constructing a cinder athletics track was inherited
by the 1975/1976 P.T.A.’s as a suitable major jubilee project; the
transfer of Mr. D. S. Gray to Gifford provided a suitably willing
supervisor. The final decision to proceed with the project was taken in February
1976.
The first problem to be surmounted was drainage, a problem of
formidable proportions, but an excellent survey done by Conex, notably Mr.J.
Piggott, assisted greatly in the early planning. The Farrell Field had
during the 1975 rainy season provided a haven for water-fowl, so severe
was the flooding. The concept of building the running surface above the
field level and using large eighteen-inch kerb-stones as a negative dam
to keep the water off the field made the construction a reality. The
1975-6 rainy season was so bad that the field for two months had water
standing continuously, and it was this that caused the cancellation of
the sports in 1976. Early in May the initial excavation of some 900 cubic
metres was begun by Mr. Ian Farrell from Messrs. Playford and Farrell
(Pvt.) Ltd.; Mr. Farrell is the son of the former deputy headmaster
after whom the field is named. The excavation was filled with hard core,
largely the spoil from the McLachlan Swimming Pool.
After the backfilling and rolling of the hard core had been completed, the kerb-stones — some 2 000 in all which had been previously made at the School — were laid as an inner and outer ring. These rings totalled a length of some 900 metres. During this period an extensive drain of some 600 metres in length was dug on the west and north sides of the field.
For the previous six months we had been stockpiling and sieving cinders, largely supplied by Messrs. Ward’s Transport (Pvt.) Ltd. using a fine rotary trommel made in the School’s workshops by Mr. T. M. Brine. This was powered initially by a motor loaned by Mr. J. Young of the firm of Copthall’s; later the workshops modified this arrangement with a reduction gear-box to improve the efficiency of the motor. The second layer in the biscuit was a course under-layer six to eight inches deep after which the preliminary levelling was done. In addition to the seemingly vast quantity stored at the School, the Railways gave us no fewer than 190 lorry-loads of coarse cinders.
The next step was to dig up a lot of the carefully laid cinder on the east side of the track and lay across it sixteen french drains connected to sumps inside the track. For the materials for this job, we are very grateful to Mr. Dring of Turnall (Pvt.) Ltd. for a gift of 1 000 feet of six-inch diameter asbestos piping.
Further considerable assistance about this time came in the form of $325 from the Beit Trustees, to enable us to construct a store-room for athletics equipment. Mr. R. A. Gray, father of Mr. B. S. Gray, did the drawings and quantities for the building.
Prior to the start of the laying of the fine topping-layer (a three-to-one mix of fine cinder and decomposed granite), Mr. Roussot of the Surveyor General’s office undertook a survey of the track for registration purposes. This turned out to be a nerve-racking process, but eventually the calculations revealed a most satisfactory 400,06’ metres circumference which is well within the error tolerances permitted. During the Christmas holidays some 200 lorry loads of topping were laid, and eventually some 240 loads were used altogether. It seemed unimaginable in August that our enormous stock-pile of Power Station cinder, would ever be used, yet early in February this year we were running short and needed more. The moving of this mixture was greatly facilitated by the use of a C.M.E.D. lorry for which we are extremely grateful.
In December work on the internal track fittings was started, namely a long-jump pit, high jump
areas, shot-put rings, discus rings, and a javelin run-up. The first week in February saw the weather turn against us and the area outside the track began to resemble the Battle of the Somme, and for nearly three weeks little was achieved. Mr. Berry of Tarmacadam Services (Pvt.) Ltd. had kindly given a large quantity of concrete edging and flagstones as well as 200 litres of bitumen to seal the track surface. Mr. Du Plessis made us a first-class discuss safety net, which was erected in February.
At the time of writing we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of a grader to level and finish the top layer; effectively we are now in mid-February, some two to three working days from finishing the track, although the addition of markers and final titivation means that there is still a lot of work to be done.
Mr. Gray at this stage is allowed a few personal comments. (Editor)
Firstly, without the whole-hearted support of Mr. Cyril Hart, Chairman of the P.T.A., the job would have beaten me before I was well started on it. Secondly, I am a firm believer in one-man committees, yet the 1976 P.T.A. Committee excelled in allowing me to get on with the job alone, and yet at the same time provided all imaginable help upon being asked for it. Finally, after having been away from Bulawayo, the city of my youth, for some fifteen years, I have been totally amazed at the resources of the City and willingness of friends of the School and total strangers to offer me time, help and advice when asked.
My only background in track-construction at the start of the project was to have witnessed another track being constructed some seven years ago. I also had a total willingness to ask questions. The names of the people to whom the School owes, and I in particular owe, a debt of gratitude, are sufficient to fill a small telephone directory. And so Gifford High School should in early March have an athletics track that ranks with the best in the country and a facility which the School can be justly proud of.
D. S. GRAY
At this point the Headmaster also is allowed a few comments. (Editor)
Firstly, he would like to add to Mr. Gray’s his own thanks to all the many good people who helped so notably with this project. Next, he would like to pay tribute to the king-pin, in this giant operation — Mr. Gray himself.
Mr. Gray’s total involvement in this project, on which he spent many hundreds of hours particularly during the last School holidays, has yielded
the School a cornucopia of benefits, chief of which is the track itself. This major facility will serve the School (and indeed the sport of athletics generally) for many years. It is a monument to the fund-raising efforts of the P.T.A., the generosity of our many friends and the dedication of this one man, Derek Gray.
D. FINCHAM
Headmaster
ATHLETICS RECORDS, 1931-76
This compilation of records is the first in the School’s athletics history and has been produced to co-incide with the opening of the Jubilee Track. It serves many purposes, but chief among these is the fact that it is a definitive record of achievement over the past forty-four inter-house sports meetings.
The source has been the magazines, and in so far as they offer an accurate record of times and distances then is this accurate. In numerous instances the lack of a record-book has led to various “records” being “established” when, in fact, there was an earlier and better record which had been forgotten. In this connection the record for the 4 x 110 yards relay in the under 15 age group set in 1934 was never bettered, despite several "records" to the contrary.
Also, the first entry under an event tells when an event was held for the first time. It is worth noting that records in English measurements are all-time records as far as we are concerned, and that all times for metric distances at the 1969 sports are considered as inaugural records.
This is because it is unfair to convert the records because equivalent distances vary so much, and so times where a distance in metric measurements is greater than the English measurement must be fractionally slower than a mathematical, conversion would allow: for example 100 metres is over 9 yards longer than 100 yards. Conversely, all metric distances from the 200 metres event up are shorter than the equivalent in English measurements: for example, the 1500 metre event is over 119 yards shorter than the one-mile event which it replaces. Obviously records would be quicker than a simple mathematical conversion which ignores the human factor.
Records for field events have been converted. Where a record has not yet been bettered, the metric equivalent is given in brackets.
The compilation also shows how athletics has grown over the years: from the modest fourteen events of 1931, there were sixty-seven at the last meeting. Moreover there were in 1975 more events in each of the open and under sixteen age-groups than there were for the whole of that first historic meeting forty-seven years ago.
Also the improvement in achievement has been impressive, particularly in the field events: for example, the under 13 long-jump record standing now at 17’O3/4" (5,20 metres) was once a modest 13’6". The one I like most is the open-high jump record that I remember being broken by R. Seton- Rogers in 1969 after having defied successive high-jumpers for thirty-two years. It was a memorable performance, too, for conditions underfoot were slippery on that historic day.
R. T. McGEOCH
OPEN
100 yards
1931 G. Hartwell (Dn) 11,0 secs.
1937 P. Pike (Dn) 11,0 secs.
1938 P.Rix(F) 11,O secs.
1939 W. Kok (F) 10.8 secs.
1940 N. Cumming (W) 10,0 secs.
1949 R. Smith (Dn) 10,0 secs.
1968 R. Pitchford (Dn) 10,O secs.
22Oyards
1946 L. Bligh-Wall (Dn) 23,6 Secs.
1947 A. Jenkinson (F) 23,4 secs.
1949 R. Smith (Dn) 23,0 secs.
1951 E. R. van Schalkwyk (Dy) 22,8 secs.
440 yards
1931 H. Dickinson (F) 59,O secs.
1933 F. Capon (W) 58.8 secs.
1936 P. Pike (On) 56,6 secs.
1937 P. Pike (On) 56,2 secs.
1938 W. Kok (F) 55,2 secs.
1945 D. Morrison (W) 54,2 secs.
1953 M. Lukan (W) 53,9 secs.
1960 P. Lishman (F) 53,6 secs.
1961 B. Marler (Dy) 53,6 secs.
1962 R. Sudding (F) 53.5 secs.
1967 C. Coetzee (W) 52.9 secs.
1,968 R. Pitchford (On) 52.3 secs.
880 yards
1931 H. Dickinson (F) 2 mins. 29,0 secs.
1932 K. Attwell 2 mins. 22,2 secs.
1933 F. Capon (W) 2 mins. 18,0 secs.
1946 G. Young (F) 2 mins. 16.8 secs.
1948 D. Kets (F) 2 mins. 7,2 secs.
1954 A. Pool (Dy) 2 mins. 6,7 secs.
1961 B. Marler (Dy) 2 mins. 5,7 secs.
One mile
1931 H. Dickinson (F) 5 mins. 13,O secs.
1945 N. Peacocke (Dy) 5 mins.5,2 secs.
1947 D. Kets.(F) 5 mins. 2.2 secs.
1948 B. Turner (F) 4 mins. 53,6 secs.
Hurdles (125 yards)
1934 D. Smith (W) 19,4 secs.
1935 J. Tsirindanis (Dn) 19,0 secs.
1936 P. Pike (Dn) 17,8 secs.
1937 P. Pike (Dn) 17,2 secs.
1938 P. Pix(F) 17,2 secs.
1939 P. Aix (F) 16,6 secs.
1941 B. Mullon (On) 16,6 secs.
1942 B.Mullon (Dn) 16,2 secs.
1947 T. Lange (F) 15,9 secs.
1953 M. Lukan 15,6 secs.
Hurdles (120 yards)
1960 G.duToit(Dn) 16.8 secs.
1961 G.duToit(Dn) 16.4 secs.
1962 G.duToit(Dn) 16,3 secs.
1967 R. Pitchford (Dn) 15,9 secs.
1968 R. Pitchford (Dn) 15,2 secs.
4 x 100 yards relay
1939 Faraday 1 mm. 49,6 secs.
4 x 110 yards relay
1938 Faraday 49,6 secs.
1940 Faraday 44,2 secs.
1967 Dalton 44,0 secs.
4 x 220 yards relay
1931 Faraday 3 mins. 2,4 secs.
1932 Whitworth 2 mins. 56,6 secs.
1934 Whitworth 1 mm. 46.0 secs.
1936 Whitworth 1 mm. 45,4 secs.
1937 Whitworth 1 mm. 44,6 secs.
1938 Faraday 1 mm. 42,6 secs.
1939 Faraday 1 mm. 40.4 secs.
1948 Faraday 1 mm. 39,1 secs.
1953 Dalton 1 mm. 38,4 secs.
1960 Dalton 1 mm. 38,6 secs.
100 METRES
1969 R. Pitchford (Dn) 11,5 secs.
1970 P. Semple (F) 11,4 secs.
1972 L Toblas (F) 11,4 secs.
1973 G. Herbert (Dy) 11,4 secs.
1974 G. Herbert (Dy) 11,1 secs.
200 METRES
1969 R. Pitchford (Dn) 23,4 secs.
1973 G. Herbert (Dy) 23,1 secs.
1975 G. Herbert (Dy) 22,9 secs.
400 METRES
1969 R. Pitchford (F) 53,1 secs.
1970 C. Eley (F) 52,9 secs.
1972 L Toblas (F) 52,4 secs.
800 METRES
1969 R. Croll (Dn) 2 mins. 5,8 secs.
1970 C. Eley (F) 2 mins. 4,9 secs.
1970 J. Penny (W) 2 mins. 4,9 secs.
1 500 METRES
1969 R. Croll (Dn) 4 mins. 35.1 secs.
1972 C. van Wyk (F) 4 mins. 31,7 secs.
3000 METRES
1970 J. Penny (W) (no time available)
1971 K. Fagan (F) 10 mins. 56,7 secs.
1972 C.vanWyk(F) 10 mins. 37,6 secs.
1973 A. Bekker (F) 10 mins. 3,9 secs.
HURDLES (110 METRES)
1969 R. Pitchford (Dn) (no time available)
1970 R. Seton-Rogers (Dy) 17,5 secs.
1971 C. Eley (F) 17,0 secs.
1972 C. Eley (F) 16,9 secs.
1974 M. Robinson (Dy) 16,7 secs.
4 x 100 METRES RELAY
1969 Whitworth 47,6 secs.
1970 Davy 47,1 secs.
1974 Davy 46,4 secs.
4*100 METRES RELAY
1969 Whitworth 47,6 secs.
1970 Davy 47,1 secs.
1974 Davy 46,4 secs.
LONG JUMP
1931 G. Hartwell (Dn) 19' 1"
1939 E. Hadingham (W) 20' 8.5"
1953 R. Collins (F) 20' 9"
1962 R.Sudding (F) 21' l.75"
1967 R. Clayton (W) 21' 2.5"
1969 G. McLoughlin (W) 21' 8.5" (6,62 m.)
HIGH JUMP
1931 W. Brebner (W) 4' 9.5"
1932 W. Albertson 5' 0"
1933 0. Smith (W) 5' 0"
1934 W. Dixon 5' 2"
1936 0. Authers (Dn) 5' 2.5"
1936 P. Wiley (W) 5' 2.5"
1937 A. Johnson (W) 5' 8"
1955 R. Goosen (W) 5' 8"
1969 R. Sewn-Rogers (Dy) 5' 8.5"
1973 S. Osborne (Dy) 1,75 m.
TRIPLE JUMP
1960 G.duToit(Dn) 41' 3"
1961 D. Androuliakos (W) 41' 8"
1962 G.duloit(Dn) 41' 8.5"
1963 0. Androuliakos (W) 42' 11"
1964 0. Androuliakos (W) 43' 2"
1974 G. Herbert (Dy) 13,53 m.
SHOT PUT
1931 W. Brebner (W) 26' 3"
1932 D. Smith (W) 28' 10"
1934 D. Smith (W) 34' 11"
1937 A Johnson (W) 34' 11.5"
1938 C. Fawcett (F) 37' 2"
1939 E. Hadingham (F) 37' 6"
1945 0. Poole (On) 38' 9.5"
1946 V. Devine (Dy) 40' 6.5"
1948 R. Jenkinson (F) 40' 7"
1955 R. Goosan (W) 42' 3.5"
1970 R. Seton-Rogers (Dy) 45' 0" (13,72 m.)
JAVELIN
1958 M. Wyndham (Dn) 157' 4"
1959 K. Parkes (F) 169' 0.5"
1960 P. Lishman (F) 179' 0"
1961 P. Lishman (F) 194' 4.5" (59,245 m.)
DISCUS
1949 R. van Schalkwyk (Dy) 105' 4"
1951 W. Palmer (Dn) 113' 7"
1953 R. Gooser~ (W) 124' 4"
1969 P. Bate (Dy) 124' 4"
1970 G. M. Devine (Dy) 130' 6" (39,776 m.)
UNDER 16
100 yards
1935 P. Theodosiou 11,6 secs.
1938 G. Rademann (F) 11,4 secs.
1939 N. Cumming (W) 10,6 secs.
1965 R. Petzer (F) 10,4 secs.
220 yards
1948 E. Hartman (Dn) 24,8 secs.
1951 J. B. Rance (F) 24,4 secs.
1962 B. Petzer (Dn) 24,0 secs.
1966 R. Pitchard 23,6 secs.
440 yards
1961 K. Nicholson (Dn) 56,6 secs,
1962 B. Petzer (Dn) 54,5 secs.
580 yards
1961 M. Campbell (Dy) 2 mins. 22,3 secs.
1967 G. McLoughlin (W) 2 mins. 20,7 secs.
1968 0. Yates (Dy) 2 mine. 19,1 secs.
One mile
1968 D. Yates (Dy) 5 mins. 20,3 secs.
Hurdles (125 yards)
1935 0. Authers (Dn) 19,4 secs.
1936 A. Armstrong (W) 19,0 secs.
1938 G. Rademann (F) 17,0 secs.
Hurdles (110 yards)
1941 A. Klelnenburg (Dn)15,8 secs.
Page 127
Hurdles (100 yards)
1960 C. Smith (Dn) 16,0 secs.
1967 0. Morrison (F) 16.0 secs.
4 x 100 yards relay
1964 Faraday 52,0 secs.
1967 Whitworth 49.8 secs.
1968 Davy 49,7 secs.
100 METRES
1969 G. M. Devine (Dy) 12,3 secs.
1970 G. D. Devine (Dy) 11.5 secs.
1972 J. Mallet (Dy) 11.5 secs.
1973 R. Archer (Dy) 11.5 secs.
200 METRES
1969 G. M Devine (Dy) 25,5 secs.
1970 G. D Devine (Dy) 24,0 secs.
1972 G. Herbert (Dy) 23,4 secs.
400 METRES
1969 A. Phillips (Dy) 58,1 secs.
1970 G. D. Devine (Dy) 53,5 secs.
1972 G. Herbert (Dy) 52,9 secs.
800 METRES
1969 G. M. Devine (Dy) 2 mins. 23.9 secs.
1970 D. Kennerley (F) 2 mins. 15.2 secs
1972 G. Archer (Dy) 2 mins. 9,7 secs.
1 500 METRES
1969 K. Fagan (F) 5 mine. 7.1 secs.
1970 D. Kennarley (F) 4 mins. 41,1 secs.
3000 METRES
1972 A. Bakker (F) 10 mins. 30,7 secs.
1973 D. Armstrong (W) 10 mins. 29,9 secs.
100 METRES HURDLES
1969 F. Grobler (Dy) 17,0 secs.
1970 C. Eley (F) 15,9 secs.
1971 M. Robinson (Dy) 15,8 secs.
1972 G. Herbert (Dy) 14,7 secs
4 x 100 METRES RELAY
1969 Davy 49.9 secs.
1970 Davy 48,7 secs.
1972 Davy 47,5 secs.
LONG JUMP
1935 P. Theodosiou 16’ 8.25"
1959 K. Parkes (F) 18’ 6"
1961 K. L. Nicholson (Dn) 18’ 11"
1963 R. Meiring (F) 19’ 6.25"
1967 G. McLoughlin (W) 20’ 4.5"
1972 G. Herbert (Dy) 6,33 m.
TRIPLE JUMP
1969 C. Williams (W) 36’ O.75"
1970 K. Doyle (Dn) 38’ 4.5’
1971 D. Bowman (F) 40’ 6"
1972 G. Herbert (Dy) 13,00 m.
HIGH JUMP
1935 0. Authers (Dn) 4’ 11"
1958 J. Jankinson (Dy) 5, 1.75"
1962 P. Spiller 5’ 2.25"
1963 I. Jordan (Dy) 5’ 2.25"
1967 D. Uoyd (W) 5’ 3"
1968 B. van Rensburg 5’ 5"
1974 L Kreidla (Dy) 1,70 m.
1975 I. Fraser (F) 1,76 m.
SHOT PUT
1960 Fauche (Dn) 37’ 4"
1968 P. Bate (Dy) 45’ 4" (13,82 m.)
DISCUS
1961 A. Cunliffe (F) 107’ 11.5"
1962 W. Welman 116’ 0"
1967 N. Jooste (Dn) 126’ 11"
1968 P Bate (Dy) 144’ 3"
1969 G. M. Davine (Dy) 149’ 2" (45, 47m.)
JAVELIN
1961 R. Landman (Dn) 141’ 3.5"
1967 G. McLoughlin (W) 166’ 3" (50,67 m.)
UNDER 15
100 yards
1931 R. Ward (F) 12,5 secs.
1935 J. Davison (F) 12,5 secs.
1936 P. Jones (Dn) 12,0 secs.
1937 R. Ott (W) 12,0 secs.
1939 W. Viljoan (F) 12,0 secs.
1940 A. Kleinenburg (Dn)11,4 secs.
1949 G. Smith (W) 11,2 secs.
1950 J. Melloy (Dn) 11,2 secs.
1951 R. E. Brassington (F) 11,2 secs.
1964 M. Sherwood (Dn) 11,2 secs.
220 yards
1931 C. Mann (W) 32,0 secs.
1932 S. Todd 30,6 secs.
1933 D. McKenzie (Dn) 26,2 secs.
1942 L Conradie (Dn) 25,4 secs.
1951 R. E. Brassington (F) 24,8 secs.
1967 P. Bate (Dy) 23,3 secs.
440 yards
1931 J. Griffiths (F) 1 mm. 17,2 secs.
1932 A. Tsirindanis 1 mm. 12,2 secs.
1933 D. McKenzie (Dn) 1 mm 6,8 secs.
1948 R. Howes (Dy) 1 mm. 2,8 secs.
1949 G. Smith (W) 1 mm. 1,6 secs.
1950 J. Malloy (Dn) 59,7 secs.
1956 M. Wyndham (Dn) 58,2 secs.
880 yards
1934 H. Smith (F) 2 mins. 45,4 secs.
1935 J. Davison (F) 2 mins. 39,4 secs.
1942 P. Killin (Dn) 2 mlns. 33,2 secs.
1943 J. Erasmus (W) 2 mins. 25,8 secs.
1962 B. Petzer (F) 2 mins. 22,8 secs.
One mile
1948 R. Howes (Dy) 5 mm, 34,4 secs.
Hurdles (90 yards)
1934 G. Nicholl (F) 20,2 secs.
1935 A. Booth 19,2 secs.
1936 G. Chalmers (W) 19,0 secs.
1937 G. Chalmers (W) 13.8 secs.
1949 J. Davies (Dn) 12,4 secs.
1950 J. Melloy (Dn) 11,9 secs.
Hurdles (100 yards)
1960 B. Godley (F) 13.6 secs.
1968 A. Phillips (Dy) 13,3 secs.
4 x 110 yards relay
1934 Faraday 50,4 secs.
4 x 220 yards relay
1931 Faraday 2 mins. 13.8 secs.
1932 Dalton 2 mins. 6,2 secs.
1933 Dalton 1 mins. 58,0 secs.
1939 Dalton 1 mins. 56.4 secs.
1940 Dalton 1 mins. 51,8 secs.
1947 Dalton 1 mins. 48,2 secs.
100 METRES
1969 G. M Davina (Dy) 12,0 secs.
1970 G. Smith (Dy) 12,0 secs.
1971 J. Mallet (Dy) 11,7 secs.
200 METRES
1969 G. M Devina (Dy) 25,1 secs.
1970 G. Smith (Dy) 25,0 secs.
1971 G. Herbert (Dy) 24,4 secs.
1972 S. Fitzgerald (F) 24,4 secs.
Page 128
400 METRES
1969 G. M Devine (Dy) 56,6 secs.
1970 G. Smith (Dy) 56,4 secs.
1971 G. Herbert (Dy) 55,4 secs.
800 METRES
1969 D. Kennerley (F) 2 mins. 26,2 secs.
1970 G. Smith (Dy) 2 mins. 25,0 secs.
1971 D. James (W) 2 mins. 18.7 secs.
1 500 METRES
1972 R. Archer (Dy) 5 mins. 42,0 secs.
1973 A. Bekker (F) 5 mins. 42,0 secs.
1975 S. Holmes (F) 5 mins. 0,4 secs.
3000 METRES
1972 B. Welensky (Dn) 11 mins. 18,1 secs.
1975 S. Holmes (F) 11 mins. 3,0 secs.
100 METRES HURDLES
1969 G. M. Devine (Dy) 14,8 secs.
1971 G. Herbert (Dy) 12,8 secs.
1974 K. Williams (W) 12,7 secs.
1975 B. Devine (Dy) 12,4 secs.
4 x 100 METRES RELAY
1969 Faraday 51,2 secs.
1971 Davy 50,1 secs.
1973 Davy 50,1 secs.
LONG JUMP
1931 C. Mann (W) 12’ 1"
1932 J. Picken 13’ 7"
1934 H. Smith (F) 14’ 8"
1937 E. Hachngham (W) 15' 2.5"
1938 B. Haworth (F) 16’ 2"
1939 J. Viljoen (F) 16’ 11.5"
1940 A. Kleinenburg (Dn) 18’ 0"
1942 P. Conradie (Dn) 18’ 3"
1956 M. Wyndham (Dn) 18’ 9"
1961 R. Petzer (Dn) 18’ 10"
1971 J. Mellet (Dy) 19’ 3" (5,866 rn.)
TRIPLE JUMP
1969 A. van Rensburg (F) 36’ 7"
1970 G. Smith (Dy) 38’ 3"
1972 D. Armstrong (F) 11,73m.
1973 P. Badenhorst (F) 11,74m.
HIGH JUMP
1931 A. Tait (F) 4’ 0"
1934 J. Hooper (W) 4’ 5"
1937 G. Chalmers (W) 4' 9"
1941 P. McCallum (Dn) 4' 9"
1942 I. Morrison 4’ 9"
1946 H. Barnard (Dn) 5' 1.5"
1954 J. Goosen (W) 5’ 1.75"
1956 R. Rhodes (Dy) 5’ 2.25" (1,58m.)
1972 A. Erasmus (W) 1,58 m.
1975 B. Devine (Dy) 1,67 m.
SHOT PUT
1959 J. Davie (W) 38’ 45"
1967 P. Bate (Dy) 44’ 8" (13,5m.)
DISCUS
1958 K. Parkes (F) 122’.9"
1961 R. Dobson (Dy) 122’ 9"
1967 P. Bate (Dy) 126’ 0" (38,4m.)
JAVELIN
1958 K. Parkes (F) 132’ 10’
1960 P. Hilton (W) 186’ 5.5’
1964 0. de Klerk (Dn) 145’ 1"
1967 G. McLaughlin (W) 44,50 m.
UNDER 14
100 yards
1936 G. Nicholl (Dn) 13,4 secs.
1937 B. Haworth (F) 12,8 secs.
1939 A. Markides (W) 12,3 secs.
1940 0. Conradie 12,2 secs.
1941 L. Conradie (Dn) 12,0 secs.
1945 J. Badham (F) 11,8 secs.
1959 R. Petzer (F) 11,7 secs.
1963 I. Ansel(Dn) 11,7 secs.
1968 G. M. Devine (Dy) 11,6 secs.
220 yards
1961 R. Petzer (Dy) 26,7 secs.
1968 G.M. Devine (Dy) 25,7 secs.
880 yards
1948 D. Watkins (W) 2 min. 29,8 secs.
Hurdles (80 yards)
1950 P. Spiller (Dn) 13,4 secs.
1960 F. Potgieter (F) 12,7 secs.
1963 M. McNeill (Dn) 12,5 secs.
1967 K. Mulvey (F) 12,3 secs.
4 x 110 yards relay
1964 Dalton 54,9 secs.
1967 Faraday. 54,4 secs.
1968 Davy 53,2 secs.
100 METRES
1969 G. Smith (Dy) 12,9 secs.
1970 J. Mellet (Dy) 12,6 secs.
1975 S. Luff (W) 12,5 secs.
200 METRES
1969 G. Smith (Dy) 27,0 secs.
1970 G. Herbert (Dy) 26,0 secs.
1975 M. Spinks (F) 25,6 secs.
400 METRES TEAM EVENT
1973 Whitworth 1 mm. 1,3 secs.
800 METRES TEAM EVENT
1974 Davy 2 mins. 34,4 secs.
1975 Whitworth 2 mins. 2,8 secs.
HURDLES (80 METRES)
1969 P. Queale (F) 15,0 secs.
1970 G. Herbert (Dy) 12,7 secs.
4 x 100 METRES RELAY
1969 Davy 54,3 secs.
1970 Davy 52,6 secs.
LONG JUMP
1958 D. Smith (Dn) 14’ 2.75"
1960 P. Edwards (Dn) 15’ 5"
1961 R. Meiring (Dn) 16’ 3.5"
1964 P. Conje (Dv) 16’ 5"
1968 T. Staples (Dy) 17’ 3"
1969 G. D. Devine (Dy) 5,39 m.
TRIPLE JUMP
1969 G. Smith (Dy) 34’ 3.5"
1970 G. Herbert (Dy) 35’ 6.75" (10.838 m.)
1973 C. Botha (F) 10,87 m.
HIGH JUMP
1958 R. Scott (Dy) 4’ 4.75"
1959 D. Dewar (W) 4’ 6.5"
1960 M. Desfontaine (Dn) 4’ 8.5"
1963 A. Dempster (Dy) 4’ 8.5"
1968 L. Tobias (F) 4’ 11.5"
1973 A. Parker (Dy) 1,53 m.
1974 B. Oavine (Dy) 1,58 m.
SHOT PUT
1961 C. Stidworthy (Dy) 35’ 6.5"
1967 G. M. Devine (Dy) 41’ 3" (12,57m.)
DISCUS
1969 K. Schlachter (Dy) 96’ 2" (29,31m.)
Page 129
UNDER 13
100 yards
1938 R. Howell (W) 13,6 secs.
1939 A. Jenkinson (Dy) 13,2 secs.
1940 0. Conradia (Dn) 13,2 secs.
1949 C. Armstrong (Dn) 12,7 secs.
1950 C. van den Heaver 12,4 secs.
1962 R. Clayton 12,3 secs.
1963 P. Viljoen (Dn) 12,1 secs.
1969 G. D. Devine (Dy) 11,4 secs.
220 yards
1942 C. Enslin (Dn) 32,4 secs.
1944 J. Badham (F) 28,0 secs.
1967 G. M. Davine (Dy) 26.3 secs.
440 yards
1948 B. Melloy (Dn) 1 mm. 49,0 secs.
1949 C. Armstrong (Dn) 1 mm. 12,8 secs.
1950 C. van den Heever (Dn) 1 mm. 9,2 secs.
1954 0. Judge (Dn) 1 mm. 7.9 secs.
1955 W. Naude (W) 1 mm. 5,3 secs.
Hurdles (90 yards)
1942 C. Enslin (Dn) 16,6 secs.
1944 J. Badham (F) 15,4 secs.
Hurdles (75 yards)
1947 J. Ferns 11,5 secs.
4 x 110 yards relay
1942 Davy 59,6 secs.
1944 Faraday 58,0 secs.
1959 Faraday 57,5 secs.
1963 Dalton 56,6 secs.
1965 Whitworth 56,6 secs.
1967 Davy 55,8 secs.
100 METRES
1969 G. Herbert (Dy) 13,6 secs.
1970 B. Tobias (F) 13,6 secs.
1971 0. Kleinanburg (F) 13,1 secs.
200 METRES
1969 G. Herbert (Dy) 27,8 secs.
1971 0. Klainenburg (F) 27,6 secs.
HURDLES (80 METRES)
1969 G.Herbert(Dy) 16,2 secs.
1970 B. Tobias (F) 15,1 secs.
1971 D. Kleinanburg (F) 13,7 secs.
4 x 100 METRES RELAY
1969 Davy 55,7 secs.
LONG JUMP
1942 G. Ziehl (Dy) 13’ 6"
1946 F. Hatfield (Dn) 13’ 8.5"
1958 M. Scott (Dy) 14’ 0.5"
1960 R. Meiring (Dn) 14’ 7.25"
1962 R. Clayton 15’ 0.75"
1963 P. Viljoen (Dn) 15’ 5.5"
1964 G. McLoughlin (W) 15’ 9"
1967 G. M. Devine (Dy) 17’ 0.75" (5,20 m.)
TRIPLE JUMP
1972 C. Botha (F) 9,37 m.
1973 G. Bruce (W) 9,56 m.
1974 J. Gallagher (W) 9,87 m.
1975 B. Brinkley (Dy) 10,43 m.
HIGH JUMP
1942 J. Lange (F) 4, 1.5"
1944 H. Barnard (Dn) 4’ 5.5"
1963 T. Maidwell (F) 4’ 8"
1964 A. Parry-Hughes 4’ 8.75"
1968 M. Robinson (Dy) 4’ 10" (1,47 m.)
SHOT PUT
1969 M. Bernet (W) 29’ 3"
1972 K. Williams (W) 9,57 m.
1975 I. du Plassis (Dy) 9,97 m.
SOCCER, 1931-1976
Although soccer is no longer an official sport at Gifford, it started early in the School’s history and had a long and honourable run. In 1931 there were three teams formed, two in the under 16 age group and one under 14 team. The under
16A played three matches and won them all, and in the process scored 24 goals and conceded only
2.
Even at that early stage there was opposition to soccer vis-à-vis rugby: Mr. Gifford was definitely opposed to it largely because there were not enough boys in the school to play both games without weakening the rugby teams: rugby was always Mr. Gifford’s first love in sport. Later he was under pressure from the parents of day scholars, and as a result he gave soccer a tacit and reluctant tolerance. Certainly soccer was being played under the aegis of Mr. W. S. Penfold who had joined the staff in 1935. As Mr. Sutherby recollects, “it was probably he who knitted together the random strands of soccer interest which existed chiefly among junior boys, mainly day scholars, and quietly edged the game on to the map, so to speak”.
In 1937 Mr. S. Perkins took over, and the under sixteens promptly won the league in the following year. As a matter of interest Mr. J. McBean of the contracting firm, Burger and McBean (Pvt.) Ltd. which built the newest buildings at the School, played right-half in that team. Further successes followed in 1942 when the under sixteens won the Neill Cup and were runners-up in the league; the under fifteens won the Morgan Cup in 1943, which was the last year that Mr. Perkins coached soccer.
Assisted for part of the time by Mr. J. Falloon, Mr. Stan McDougall supervised for the period 1944-1947. The under thirteens, under fourteens, and under sixteens all won their leagues in this time, and the under sixteens won the Neill Cup again. Although no one obtained Rhodesian honours at school level, J. Robb went on to represent Rhodesia in the senior game.
In 1948 Mr. “Jock” Ness and Mr. Jack Sandham took over soccer and for more than a decade soccer thrived at the School. Excellent results were obtained at all levels. Many players represented Matabeleland and several gained Rhodesian Honours. A measure of the School’s prestige is indicated by Mr. Sandham’s positions as both National and Matabeleland Junior selector. 1951 was a vintage year for, in addition to the four representatives in the Rhodesian and Matabeleland teams, the School provided eight
members of the Matabeleland under 14 1/2 team against Mashonaland.
In the early years, Queens, Callies and “Tech” provided the bulk of the soccer at under 16 level while the primary schools gave opposition to the under thirteens. 1960 saw the start of the fully inter-school competition with Milton and Northlea entering teams. This stimulus did not seem to help the game: in 1961 all under thirteen pupils had to play rugby, and so it is not surprising that it became difficult to raise teams.
In 1966 a schools’ soccer league was revived and an under 15 side was entered by Mr. E. R. Lafrentz. The only pitch available was at Municipals’ Sports Club. Unfortunately the revival was short-lived. Lack of a pitch plus active official discouragement — boys chosen for rugby had to play rugby in preference to soccer finally removed soccer from Gifford’s activity list.
Today soccer is popular, but has to be played at clubs outside the School. In recent years, N. Watson, I. Frazer, and A. Konson have all played for the Rhodesian under 17 side, while Watson, in addition, has played for the senior side. But, there is little chance of soccer again becoming a major school sport for, while there is no opposition now to soccer, there are just not sufficient men staff available to coach soccer in addition to all the other sports that have to be catered for.
E. M. CAREW
WATER POLO, 1935-1976
The Early Days of the Game
The first ever recorded water-polo result was when the School in 1935 beat a Milton team by three goals to one. The magazine of that year called the result “creditable” and went on to say that the match was “one of the few occasions when we can measure ourselves against other schools in this sport”. We of today tend to forget that in 1935 the only other local boys’ schools that the Technical could compete against were Milton and Plumtree. School matches were few and far between, the next recorded one being in 1939 when the Technical team again beat Milton by eight goals to nil.
The only way to improve the players’ skill was to enter the senior league, for the Payne Shield, which was done. In those far off days of 1936 the polo team played well in the league where, it is recorded, they were top of the log. The leading player was one D.Balsdon by name. The team also enjoyed regular coaching by players from this senior league.
As time passed and an R.A.F. training establishment came to Bulawayo,
so the School played the R.A.F. at Kumalo. That team was described as
being probably the strongest in Rhodesia at the time, but the "Tech"
team, though beaten, managed to put up a good showing in good company. In
1942 the team finished third out of five teams in the Challenge Water
Polo Shield, and the captain, W. V. Barnes played for Matabeleland
against Mashonaland and Midlands, and in a Bulawayo team against an army team
from Salisbury. The teams in that league were:
Bulawayo Town, R.A.F. Kumalo, R.A.F. Hillside (l.T.W.), and R.A.F.
Induna.
The era of the Crusaders’ Shield
The School first entered the Crusaders’ Shield Competition in 1947.
This is a Shield which was donated by the Crusaders’ Swimming Club to be
competed for on a national basis by all schools in Rhodesia. In 1951 the
team won four out of the five local league matches although it was not
as successful in matches for the Crusaders’ Shield. For the first time
ever in 1 952 the School were runners-up in the competition; prominent
members of that team included I. Goldberg, C. Waterworth, M. Lukan, J.
Haggart, and D. Ogilvie. In 1953 the School once again came close to
winning the Crusaders’ Shield: the team had to beat Milton to win the
trophy. At half time we were 2-0 ahead, but in the second period Milton
scored three goals without reply. We were thus runners-up for the Shield
for the second time.
In 1955 not many matches were played because of the polio scare. We
were, however, for the third time, runners-up for the Crusaders’ Shield,
having lost the final to Plumtree. Believe it or not, we were, in 1956
runners-up yet again, this time being narrowly beaten by three goals to
five by Prince Edward.
During the next decade, water-polo in the School seemed to decline
somewhat owing to the demands of cricket and the dearth of good players. We
were not as successful as in former years, but we did continue to enter
the leagues. Not all, however, was gloomy for in 1961 at an
inter-school tournament in Salisbury, the team of that year did well by winning
two of its three matches. N. Cooke and R. Francis played in the
Matabeleland Schools’ team against the Mashonaland schools’ team.
A decade of triumph
Gradually standards improved and suddenly in 1966 the School came back
with a vengeance and in that year lost only one game of the twenty six
played. In fact, the analysis at the end shows
what an accomplished decade we have just enjoyed. In 1966 the School
won the coveted Crusaders’ Shield for the first time in twenty-two years,
having been runners-up four times.
P. Horrocks played for the Matabeleland Men’s 'A' team whilst O. Haigh,
and A. Dempster played in the Men’s 'B' team. Other players in the
School team were L. L. Abrams, M. McNeiIl,
A. Caidwell, J. Neser and R. Warren. Another notable achievement of
this year was the beating of the Old Miltonians’ Club who were then
considered to be the strongest club side in Rhodesia.
Although 1966 was a notable year in the history of water polo at
Gifford as far as results were concerned, it is my personal feeling that the
1967 team was the best in the history of the School. Not only did they
win the Crusaders’ Shield for a second year running, but three boys,
namely R. Horrocks, J. Neser, and A. Dempster were chosen to represent
the Rhodesian national team which took part in the Currie Cup competition
which was held in Bloemfontein. With nineteen goals J. Neser was the
highest goal scorer, while A. Dempster had an excellent tournament, so
much so that a visiting Dutch coach mentioned that he was the best
seventeen-year old goalkeeper he had ever seen. P. Semple was also awarded a
trophy for the most improved goalie in Matabeleland.
In 1968 we did not lose a game in the Crusaders’ Shield competition,
but we did draw two matches with Plumtree and Prince Edward, and thus had
to be contented with second place. Four of our boys were selected as
being amongst the best eleven players in Rhodesian Schools, namely,
A. Caldwell, B. Abrams, P. Semple and R. Horrocks. The run of successes
continued, and in 1969 we lost two matches, both to Prince Edward; P.
Semple and R. Horrocks were both selected for the Rhodesian under 19
team.
The School had by comparison only mediocre success for the next few
years until 1973; this was mainly a team-building period, although K.
Schlachter was selected for the Rhodesian under 19 side in 1972. In 1973
only five out of the twenty-seven matches were lost, and four boys were
selected for the Rhodesian under 19 team, namely P. Martin, M. Robinson,
K. Schlachter and A. Weston. In the Crusaders’ Shield tournament we
came joint second with Plumtree. The high light of the 1974 season was the
nomination of M. Collington to play in the Rhodesian National team,
while in 1975 we undertook a tour to the Northern Transvaal where the boys
acquitted themselves very well.
GIFFORD PUPILS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED
NATIONAL HONOURS:
1967 — R. Horrocks, A. R. Oempster, J. T. Neser, L. L. Abrams (National Team).
1968 — A. B. Caldwell.
1969 — P. C. Semple, R. Horrocks (Under 20).
1970 — P. C. Semple, M. Sykes, A.J.van Rensburg (Under 20).
1971 — M. Sykes (Under 20).
1972 — K. Schlaehter (Under 20).
1973 — K. Schlachter, G. P. Martin, A. R. Weston, M.F.Robinson (Under 19).
1974 — M. J. Collington (national team), M.F. Robinson (under 19).
1976 — C. M. Botha, E. I. G. Trouw (Rhodesian Schools).
ANALYSIS OF GAMES, 1965-1976
Played Won Lost Drawn For Against
1965 25 6 15 4 124 157
1966 26 24 1 1 269 73
1967 30 29 1 0 313 85
1968 26 18 1 7 205 81
1969 22 16 2 4 218 90
1970 35 23 10 2 250 157
1971 30 11 17 2 169 190
1972 27 13 13 1 202 190
1973 39 28 8 3 367 158
1974 34 19 13 2 223 185
1975 39 16 21 2 206 263
1976 30 18 10 2 255 182
WATER POLO, 1976
Master-in-charge: Mr. F. Wilson
Captain: C. M. Botha
Strenuous training before the first tournament, held at Plumtree, paid off as the three games against Plumtree, Falcon and Milton were all comfortably won. We lost, however, to Falcon in the second triangular tournament as the team took time to adjust to the very small Falcon pool.
The third tournament of the first term was, in fact, the zonal finals for the Crusaders’ Shield, and this was held at Gifford. We drew with our rivals, Falcon, and lost one other match. Nonetheless we had accumulated five points and so travelled to Salisbury for the finals at the Allan Wilson Pool. The team acquitted itself reasonably well against strong competition: we beat Oriel and Allan Wilson, but lost the other three matches to end up fifth overall in the competition.
As a result of the zonal finals, C. Botha, E. Trouw, B. Beaumont, and D. Viljoen were selected for a Matabeleland “A” team, and M. Hart represented Gifford in the “B” team. Further,
C. Botha and E. Trouw were selected at the conclusion of the Crusaders’ Shield to represent Rhodesia in a schools’ team.
In the third term the team travelled to Gwelo to participate in a competition with the Midlands
schools. The team played excellent water polo, the result being that we won all three matches against Guinea Fowl, Chaplin, and a combined Midlands team.
FIRST TEAM RESULTS
First term:
Lost to Hamilton 7-8, and 6-10
Beat Plumtree 5-4, drew 6-6, and lost 6-10 and 9.10
Beat Milton 9-1, and 9-4
Beat Falcon 12-2 and 6-2, and lost 8-9
Third term:
Beat Plumtree 9-6, and 11-7
Beat Milton 14-6, and 11-5
Beat Falcon 8-5, and lost 3-5
Beat Guinea Fowl 14-4
Beat Chaplin 12-3
Beat Midlands Schools 13-6
Zonal finals of the Crusaders’ Shield:
Beat Hamilton 5-3
Beat Chaplin 11-7
Beat Milton 11-7
Drew with Falcon 8-8
Lost to Plumtree 5-7
Finals of the Crusaders’ Shield:
Beat Oriel 7-5
Lost to Prince Edward 5-12
Lost to Mount Pleasant 7-10
Lost to Churchill 5.7
Beat Allan Wilson 9-4
(Gifford came fifth in overall position in the tournament).
SECOND TEAM RESULTS
First term:
Beat Milton 7-2
Beat Hamilton 5-2
Third Term
Beat Milton 11-1
Beat Hamilton 7.5
Lost to Plumtree 1 -8, and 3-9
Beat Falcon 7-3, and 8-5
UNDER 15 RESULTS
First term:
Lost to Hamilton 8-10, and 4-6
Beat Plumtree 5-4
Beat Milton 6-4
Third term:
Lost to Hamilton 4-5, and won 7-4 and 6-1
Beat Milton 9-1, and 10-2
Drew with Falcon 6-6
Beat Chaplin 9-1
Lost to Plumtree 1-6
FIRST TEAM WATER POLO RESULTS, 1938-1976
RHODESIAN SCHOOLS First No. Greatest Gratest
Played Played Won Lost Drawn Victory Date Defeat Date
Allan Wilson 1955 21 12 7 1 19-0 1969 6—12 1972
Chaplin 1973 7 7 - - 30-2 1977 - -
Churchill 1961 11 9 2 - 21-0 1968 5-7 1976
Cranborne 1966 2 2 - - 21-0 1966 - -
Ellis Robins 1965 4 4 - - 23-0 1966 - -
Falcon 1961 66 43 14 4 20-1 1966 0-8 1970
Guinea Fowl 1973 6 6 - - 24-0 1973 - -
Hamilton 1965 67 45 18 4 26-9 1977 0-12 1975
Milton 1947 93 68 29 6 29-5 1977 0-7 1957
Mount Pleasant 1970 8 4 3 1 15-2 1970 2-7 1975
Northlea 1963 3 3 - - 22-1 1971 - -
Oriel 1975 2 2 - - 7-5 1976 - -
Plumtree 1938 86 39 43 4 21-0 1967 3-16 1975
Prince Edward 1947 31 12 18 1 16-1 1966 5-12 1976
Sinoia 1968 9 8 1 - 18-1 1968 2-6 1972
OTHER LOCAL MATCHES
Army 1968 1 - - 1 - - - -
Combined Services 1974 1 - 1 - - - 6-7 1974
Crusaders 1965 2 - 2 - - - 6-8 1965
Midlands Schools 1976 1 1 - - 13-6 1975 - -
Northern Traansvaal Schools 1974 1 - 1 - - - 1-6 1974
Old Miltonians 1965 4 1 3 - 6-5 1966 3-13 1973
R.A.F. Kumalo 1957 4 4 - - 7-0 1957 - -
T.T.C. 1965 1 - - 1 - - - -
R.T.M/A.L.L.F
TENNIS, 1938-1975
The history of tennis in this School has, unfortunately, not been one of outstanding success. In the 1938 School magazine mention was made, in passing, of tennis: “The only interschool match played was against Milton on the B.A.C. courts, in the first round of the Du Toit Cup competition. The result was a decisive win for the Milton team.” Since that time the School has suffered numerous decisive losses against Milton in the early rounds of the Mim du Toit inter-schools competition. The next match played by the School was not until 1942 when the Magazine reports that the School won, “by a large number of games”, a friendly match played against the Convent School.
The small flame of interest shown by early pupils was barely kept alive until the School started playing regular inter-school fixtures in
