Old scholars will be pleased to know that athletics continues to thrive at St Peter’s College. We won the Achilles Cup (the Athletics competition conducted between SAAS member schools) again on Thursday September 24th 2021 in the 50th year we have taken part in the Achilles Cup competition. We have won the Achilles Cup in every year except one (2002). This is 49 out of 50 Achilles Cup successes. Adam Goddard won the Tony Keynes Medal for his outstanding performance.
1972 Athletics Team
Large numbers of boys took part in heats in recent weeks and the Athletics Carnival on September 18th went well. The weather was beautiful and every boy in the School had the opportunity to take part in one or more of over 180 events. As well as “Championship events”, there were “House events”, relays and some fun events including an “Obstacle race”. There continues to be healthy competition between the Houses. Da Costa House won senior and junior competitions. Woodcock House was second in both of these. The College Cup Open Champions were Josh White (FLL) and Adam Goddard (YNG). The A K ‘Scotchy’ Gordon (SCH 1946) Trophy celebrating the most outstanding performance on the day was awarded to Adam Goddard (YNG) and Jonathan Harris (FRR). Their performances across the middle-distance events were of national significance. The Chris Taylor Medal for the winner of the Open 1500m was awarded to Adam Goddard (YNG Year 12). Seven records were broken. Jonathan Harris (FRR) broke the Under 16 800m and 1,500m records. Joshua Moro (FRR) broke the Under 15 Long Jump and Javelin records. Adam Goddard (YNG) broke the Open 800m, 1,500 and 3,000m records.
One of the reasons that we have had amazing success over many years in athletics is the support of outstanding old scholar athletes who have voluntarily given hours of time to coach young people.
It is interesting to note that 2021 is the 75th Anniversary of the Saints Athletics Club. Quoting from the Club’s website: “Formally known as The St Peter’s Collegians Athletics Club Inc, it was founded in October 1946 in the Master’s Common Room at St Peters College. It was the brainchild of our first iconic school coach Bob (Trunk) Vollugi. Another club legend Alistair (Scotchy) Gordon was also present as a schoolboy and subsequently gave many years of support as both athlete and sprint coach. The then Headmaster and ex-Olympian Colin Gordon was a strong supporter of the formation of this great club which has continuously been a force in athletics in South Australia. Bob realised that the underlying strength of this new club would be the schoolboys in conjunction with old scholars, hence the original name of St Peter’s Collegians Athletics Club. In 2000 the club chose to be known as the Saints Athletics Club. The Club has produced eight Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes: Bill Bruce, Ian Bruce, Scotchy Gordon, Leon Gregory, Nick Birks, Bruce Frayne, Simon Arkell and Henry Frayne.” Many others have taken part in international competition.
Chris Taylor led Athletics at St Peter’s College for 39 years (1973-2011). In that period, we won the Achilles Cup 38 times. Tony Keynes (SCH 1970) was President of Saints Athletics Club for many years and in 2019, was recognised with an Order of Australia for services to athletics. He has spent thousands of hours coaching young athletes at St Peter’s College and continues to do so in 2021.
Would our School have had the success it has had in athletics over this long period of time without the coaching and support we have had from a large number of old scholar athletes?
David Docwra
David Docwra retired from St Peter’s College in December 2015 after 37 years’ service and will be fondly remembered by many as a dedicated teacher, a committed coach of squash, cricket and soccer, and most especially as a passionate Head of Hawkes House for 21 years.
From the Archives: Achilles Cup competitiors, Michael O’Leary (HWD 1991) in 1990 and David Rohrsheim (YNG 1999) in 1996