School News

HBHS was represented by 13 wrestlers at the 2011 NZSS Wrestling Championships, held in Hamilton on 9 April. As you would expect at a National championship, the competition was a notch above what the boys had previously encountered at the Auckland Secondary Schools and North Island Secondary Schools tournaments. That said, all of our wrestlers showed improvement. They had clearly learnt a great deal and gained valuable experience in those lead-up tournaments.

Last weekend, teacher Hemi Coates accompanied HBHS swimmers to the State Insurance 2011 New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships.  We congratulate the boys on their impressive results:

Bradlee Ashby (15 year old boys)
Gold: 400m Freestyle, 200m Backstroke, 200m Freestyle
Silver: 100m Butterfly
Bronze: 200m Butterfly

Carter Edgecombe (14 year old boys)
Gold: 400m Freestyle, 200m Butterfly
Silver: 100m Butterfly, 100 Freestyle
Bronze: 50 Freestyle

HBHS had five teams and two individual athletes competing in the NZSS Triathlon at lake Karapiro on Thu 29th March  Excellent conditions ensured some fast times and competitive racing. In the morning’s individual events Leon Arcus finished nineteenth in the U 16 individual event and Tom McLaughlin earned a bronze medal in the senior boys' class.

In the teams event the junior boys team  (Michael Woods, Oliver Ng, Blair Pennell) finished forth in the U14 division. The intermediate team (Tyler Ellis, Sam Dobbs, Drikus Conradie) placed second after cylist Sam Dobbs fell and sustained minor damage to himself and his bike, but completed the leg to ensure a strong result  for the team.

The senior boys teams had a reshuffle on the day.  Carter Edgecombe was unavaliable for the swim, having the finals of the 1500m freestyle at the National Championships. The teams came out of the water in fifth and seventh place. "B" team cyclist  Corby Price had a very strong leg, moving his team up to first place and after a strong run by Tom Mclaughlin, the "A" team gained a silver medal. 

LONIC HARKNESS  (centre of photo) Massey 52 (2009 –2011)

Graduated 2012, Bachelor of Aviation, ‘C’ Cat instructor.

GFI, 2012 - Massey University School of Aviation.

 Lonic grew up on a farm in Taupiri north of Hamilton and attended Hamilton Boys High School, where he graduated as Dux in 2008.  However he had wanted to fly from a very young age.

 In January 2009, immediately after finishing school, Lonic enrolled at Massey University in the Bachelor of Aviation – Air Transport Pilot degree, as a member of the “Massey 52” cohort. He subsequently graduated with his degree in May, 2012.

Current Waikato Chiefs winger Henry Speight (pictured with Barbara Clarke) visited HBHS today to catch up with his former 1st XV coaches, team manager and teachers.  The Chiefs are playing Cantebury in the National final on Saturday, where Speight should be matched against another HBHS Old Boy, Sean Maitland. 

Speight has a two year contract with the Australian Super 15 team the Brumbies. He is remembered at HBHS for his fine sporting performances in the '07 first XV on the wing and in the centre, as well as for his kind-hearted and responsible nature.  Many HBHS rugby enthusiasts will be watching both Speight's and Maitland's progress in the game on Saturday with interest.

<From stuff.co.nz>

Dane Coles and Tawera Kerr-Barlow are the new caps in the All Blacks squad named today for the four-test end-of-year tour.

A predictable All Blacks squad has been named for next month's European tour.

Coach Steve Hansen has selected the 28 players who played in the Rugby Championship, with Ali Williams the fourth lock, Kerr-Barlow the third halfback and Coles the third hooker.

"Firstly, I would like to congratulate Tawera and Dane on their selection," coach Steve Hansen said.