A Look Back on the Terms Sporting Events and Achievements

A Presentation Given to the Boys at the Sports Awards Dinner

by Michael Foxcroft (Grade 12)

Michael "Foxy" Foxcroft

Before I get on to the events of the term, I want to take a look back to my early days as a White House man. When our year of current Matrics joined White house - almost 5 years ago now - White House sport was nothing to write home about. I am not sure if we came last in sports day that year but one thing is for sure we did not feature at all. The distant dream of a triple crown, winning Relay Sports, Heats Week and Sportsday, let alone three in a row was ludicrous to imagine. I myself would have laughed at the idea. However, as I stand here before you tonight as you know, we have achieved , as has become tradition, excellence in Athletics and I think a round of applause is in order as the historical significance  of winning relay sports, heats week and sports day three years in a row is awesome.

Kris Otto putting his word in

For that I think we have a lot of people to thank. It started 3 years ago when the current head of house George Hutchins said to us in the TV room “Okes we are going to win sports day” I honestly thought he was being ridiculous. That was my doubt which has been proven wrong and it is what we as White House men seem to pride ourselves on doing, to prove the cynics wrong. There are plenty of teachers in this school especially some Housemasters who have laughed off White House as a joke, not to be taken seriously and not made of the right stuff to be true champions. Well how stupid do they look now? We have become true champions not only with our performances, outstanding as they have been, also with our humility in victory. We have remained humble and no one can tell us we are arrogant or it is a fluke because we have come back and proved them wrong time and time again and we have done it with pride in ourselves and love for our House and those in it. 

Sister Bryant showing her favoritism to White House

This has not only been illustrated in the success of our athletes but also in something that has come with us from the trophy-less days of the past… the incredible support and cheering of the okes on the sidelines or in the stands. I can tell you when you are broken and feel like you have nothing left to give and you hear your name shouted by White House lads louder and clearer than anything else, you find something inside of you that I know all of us have in this dining room… a commitment to give everything for this house, in pursuit of victory and success. As Vince Lombardi said “I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour – his greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear – is that moment when he has worked his heart out for a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.”

Just a few of our trophies

The term has not only been filled with athletics however. The valiant efforts of our inter-house cricket teams who managed to win one game each must be noted. Our support at the inter-house swimming was fantastic and sent a message to the rest of the school we have more pride than all of you put together.  The tug of war was as we know a disappointment but I would like to highlight again our support for the teams. A lot of you were out there screaming your lungs out and although there was massive disappointment that is something I want you okes to never forget and let go of; the pride and support for our boys no matter what, something we have always been known for. We have had many representatives in A team sport this term and also provincial and national representation. As Kris and I looked through the sporting statistics of the house it became clear what we have is special and I want all of you to realize that. Sometimes you can become complacent and take things for granted and I beg of you not to, as we know once you get to the top it becomes everyone’s mission to knock you off your perch. So keep it up boys, we have done exceedingly well so many of you are being honored tonight. But I want to personally thank all of you, athletes and supporters equally for everything you have done this term for the house. The House is proud of you and I wish you all best of luck for coming events this year and the years after for those not in matric. Keep up this tradition of excellence and even with disappointment please don’t forget what got us here- our pride and gees for White House. Back your boys no matter what. And I end with the words of Michael Jordan “Some people want it to happen, others wish it would happen, others make it happen”. Boys we have made it happen. 

List of Awards

The awarding of the prizes

GCWH:

U14

Siya Qamgwana- 400m relay team

Cornel Smit – 100m sports day

Seb Hanekom – 200m sports day, victor ladorum, Triangular

Leonardo Potgieter – Discus sports day, Triangular 

Enio Hamutneya- Triangular

Dakota Chong – Triangular

Llewellyn Shanjeganje- A team Basketball

Chris Hitchman – 100m, 200m relay

U15

Daniel Lombard – hurdles, shot, discus, victor ladorum, A team cricket

Jordan Flax – A team cricket

Mukumba Chiti – A team Basketball

Jonathan Sheefeni – A team Basketball

Grant Soll – A team Rowing

'Spoon Banging"!

U16

Justin Wyatt Smith – Long Jump sports day, triangular

Allen Maimba – Triangular

Jack Hannekom – Discus sports day , Triangular, A team rowing

CG – A team Basketball

Remy Miller – 400m relay

Oliver Belcher – 400m Relay

Mahutma Ulimwengu – 400m Relay

U19

Chaaba Jangulo – 1^st team polo (half colours), Swimming team

David van de Merwe – 1^st team waterpolo (half colours)

Mathew Haw – 1^st team Basketball (half colours)

Jordan Sheefeni – 1^st team Basketball

Shiraz Tobias – 1^st team Basketball

Junade Arnolds – Triangular, 100m relay , 200m relay , 800m relay

Brandon Wheeler – 1^st team tennis

Michael Korniew – 1^st team shooting

Alex Giardini – 1^st team shooting

Cameron Vinoker – Wp Bench Press

Kevin Shanjengange – triangular, Hurdles, 800m Relay, 1stteam Basketball (half colours)

Excellence Tie:

Jason Morris – Ist team rugby, winning shot put at triangular, general excellence over the years and dedication to White House sport

Excellence Tie winners

Jack Nebe – representing South Africa in Ice Hockey championships

Kris Otto – 1sts rugby , Triangular , General excellence over the years and dedication to white house sport

Michael Foxcroft – Captain of Athletics, 1sts rugby , Triangular , general excellence over the years and dedication to white house sport

James Drummond – Triangular, representation of South African Hockey

Newlands Rugby 30/03/11

Kris Otto on the right wing

Kris and Tshepo representing White House in the 1st XV

Kris alongside Vice-Captain, Timo Swiel

Tshepo getting stuck into the action

Tehepo clutching the Bishops Mitre in pride during Hymn 295

White House Social

The Bouncers (Don and Tyron)

Alex and Co. controlling the tuckshop

Seriously hi-tech sound and lighting

The open-air dance floor

Jean, Seb and Omphile enjoying the vibe

George and Earl showing their support

CG pulling out some funky moves

Leonardo giving his impression of the evening

The famous South African music group - Goodluck - was the main attraction of the evening

White House's head of Entertainment, Stratos, pulling out all the stops to make sure that the social was a success

Even more hi-tech equipment

Llywelyn having a bit of a sing-along

The TV room couches made a popular 'chill-out' zone

Even the Grade 11s couldn't resist the urge to party!

The Bishops 1st XV letting their hair down after a hard day's training

Pooch having a blast

Pictures from Sporting Events



White House Weights Club



 

Senior Cricket Team and a Founder's Boy in strange trousers

Chaaba doing what he does best during the 1st Team Waterpolo's Mazinta Cup play-offs

Anxious Grade 11s during the Inter-House swimming

Chaaba keeping his cool before the start of the u19 Freestyle relay



The White House supporters at the Triangular Athletics looking pleased
(probably at Morris' efforts in the Shot Put)



Daniel leading the pack in the u15 Hurdles at Triangular

 

Jack Hanekom representing Bishops at Triangular




Makumba giving his all in the Inter-House swimming

White House's promising u14 swimming team



Angus Firth and Chaaba plotting out the game plan 

Chaaba and David bellowing Hymn 295 along with the rest of the Bishops supporters

Mr Firth takes a celebratory dive following his teams great victory

Founders' Day Report

If you had to ask any other sort of Bishops boy as to why Founders’ Day is special to him, you would get an answer like, “It gives us a chance to remember our forefathers” or “I find the OD debating quite interesting”. Now, ask a White House boy that same question... “We get a whole day off school!”, “We get free cokes and donuts for tea!”, “The Avenue Mile gives me a chance to make a fool of myself in a goofy outfit!” or “I love the house gees during the Tug-of-War!”

I think you get the idea that Founders’ Day is a highly anticipated event in the Bishops calendar for us White House chaps.

The day started with College Eucharist which allowed the boys time to mentally prepare for the excitement of the day ahead...

The excitement started with the Avenue Mile – an event organised by White House’s very own Mr Court. The Avenue Mile is a traditional running ‘race’ where the boys start below Rondebosch Train Station and finish at the school gates on the far side of campus. Seen by some as a competitive event (including Michael Foxcroft who quite unsurprisingly won the event) the Mile also provides the houses a chance to spark some house spirit. Armed with boxing gloves, swimming caps, ties and skateboards, the White House runners made their presence felt on the course! The finish line was particularly rewarding due to the free cokes and donuts that were on offer.

After the Mile, there was hardly enough time for the boys to catch their breath before the Inter-house Tug-of-War started. With the entire House out to support our troops, the gees was electrifying! The deafening call of, “Dip, heave. Dip, Heave” sent shudders down our opponents’ spines! Our junior team managed to annihilate their first opponents before narrowly losing in the semi-finals. As for our seniors, the inspirational words of Andrew Earl and Tshepo Motale spurred our boys on to scream their hearts out for our senior ‘tuggers’. One by one, our opponents fell to our sheer power backed by the droning chants of the Koshuis supporters. Although our valiant efforts were eventually thwarted in an epic final tug-off against a post-matric team with a few Mallett House boys in it, the result did not silence the White House cheers. We left the battleground in White House fashion – our heads held high!

Amongst the many other exciting activities on the day was:

• The OD tennis matches (in which Jean Truter made known his Botswanian prowess)
• The OD shooting (in which many hours of Shoot ‘em Up computer games gave Egor Arkhipov an unfair advantage)
• The OD basketball match (during which Kevin, Jordan, Shiraz and Matthew How managed to salvage some pride at last against a seriously talented OD side)
• The Inter-house long distance gala (in which Jaco (alias David van der Merwe) skretched his way to a admiral 2^nd place in the u19 category)
• The OD Water Polo where Chaaba Jangulo and Jaco both played their hearts out but were thwarted by a seriously talented and LARGE OD team.

See below for the Founders’ Day highlights video...

Dorm Photos