Message from the Headmaster

Understanding Boys

Dear Parents and Carers

I am in the business of trying to understand boys, their motivations and how to influence them for good. Sometimes they can be an enigma, a kind of closed book. Over decades of interviewing boys, mostly in the middle years of Senior School, and asking them why they did certain things, the most frequent answer has been “I don’t know”. After much pondering over these decades, I have come to the view that often the truthful answer is that they don’t know.

If boys don’t entirely understand themselves, recent neuroscience casts some light on the mysteries. I am grateful to Christian Education consultant, Dr Richard Edlin, for crystallising much of the research.

What has become clear from research is that teenage boys’ reward systems (limbic systems) within their brains mature well before the inhibitory systems. The limbic system embeds instincts such as fear, lust, hunger and pleasure. Consequently, the brain’s reward system is very active in a teenage boy while the pre-frontal cortex, which is responsible for functions such as self-control, planning and self-awareness, is still developing. This is further elevated in the company of peers. Research indicates that teenagers experience music, drugs and the thrill of speed far more powerfully in the presence of peers. Research within a virtual driving experiment indicated that teenage boys responded as well as adults to risks and their mitigation, except in the company of peers, where risk increased threefold for 13 to 16 year olds. I experienced that 25 years ago in an actual driving situation with a Year 12 boy in the school I led at the time, driving very fast at night time on an unfamiliar rural road, in a borrowed car full of boys, where he had gained his licence only four days previously. Everything was wrong. It was indeed touch and go for a while in hospital after a major accident, but he survived.

A study on rodents involving alcohol consumption found that young mice consumed alcohol at the same rate as adult mice, except that in the company of other juveniles, they increased their consumption by 25 percent. Boys are not rodents, but there may be similarities across the species.

Research also shows that teenagers largely ignore warnings about the long term impact of smoking, but respond to information on the social effects (it gives you bad breath, it puts younger children in danger of passive smoking, you are being exploited by an adult industry).

Is there any good news about the teenage phase of boys? Absolutely! The teenage brain is far more receptive to learning than the brains of older people (sorry parents!). At a deep neural level, new information is written into the grey matter of the brain, expressed in structural changes to synapses, which can form durable webs of memory.

Why then do teenage boys in the middle adolescent years do what they do? It seemed a good idea at the time.

Perhaps boys may benefit from a sign across their foreheads, “Under Construction?!”. Having said that, there is much to praise and much to enjoy through the teenage years, for boys themselves and for those who are bound to observe them, lead them and teach them. I think, on the whole, our boys at Shore do very well. I hope our parents experience the blessing of Proverbs 10:1 “A wise son brings joy to his father (and mother)”.

Dr John Collier
Headmaster

Chaplain’s Chat

In the 1968 Mexico Olympics, a runner from Tanzania called John Stephen Akhwari lined up for the marathon. While not one of the favourites to win a medal, he certainly had demonstrated his capabilities in the lead-up to the Games. However, as the marathon progressed, it was clear that he was not going to figure highly in the placings. The high altitude of Mexico City did not help his breathing, as he had done the bulk of his training at sea level, and his body started to cramp. Then, after a fall with other athletes, he gashed his knee and also smashed his shoulder. Most would have assumed he would pull out of the race. But he battled on. By the time he entered the stadium over ten hours after the start, everyone had finished, the crowds had left, and only the television crews remained. So why did he push on and finish the race? His famous quote on finishing was, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race. They sent me to finish it.”

Life can be incredibly difficult and even painful at times. The Christian life is no different. We were reminded of this story above on Sunday during our annual Confirmation service. Eight Shore boys stood to declare their intent to follow Jesus for their lives. It can sometimes be hard. And yet they were reminded from Hebrews 11: 1-2: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” God wants us to persevere and continue life trusting in him, right to the end. May this be a verse that encourages all of us to look to Jesus in our lives and persevere to the end.

Rev Anthony Benn
Chaplain

Lampada: Shore News in One Place!

At Shore, we are continuing to refine the way we share information with families to make it more streamlined, relevant and easy to access. Over recent weeks, the School has been shifting its communications away from bulk email distribution to Lampada News.

Lampada allows us to consolidate all news and updates into clear, relevant categories, tailored to your family, so that you can find the information you need quickly without searching through crowded inboxes. 

From Academic notices, House news and Co-curricular updates to upcoming events, Lampada is designed to be the central hub for all things Shore.

This includes important announcements, event invitations and updates specific to your son’s House. To ensure you don’t miss anything, we encourage parents to log in regularly and check the news feed for your family.

Student Withdrawal Notice Date

Withdrawal For End of Term 4 2025

The School understands that circumstances can change within families, and there may be a need to withdraw your child from the School.

If you do need to withdraw your child, a friendly reminder that Shore’s Conditions of Enrolment state that one full Term’s notice is required. The due date for that notice is the last day of the Term preceding the withdrawal.

This year, that date is Thursday 25 September 2025. As per our Conditions of Enrolment, late withdrawals will incur a penalty of one full Term’s fees in lieu of notice.

Notice should be addressed to the Headmaster, Dr John Collier, and sent to the Enrolments office email address: registrar@shore.nsw.edu.au

Mrs Vickii Scott
Head of Admissions

Dr John Collier’s Farewell Chapel Service

Parents, students and the wider Shore community are warmly invited to attend Dr John Collier’s Farewell Chapel Service.

Date: Sunday 23 November 2025

Time: 9.00am

Venue: Shore Chapel

Speaker: Bishop Dr Glenn Davies, former Archbishop of Sydney and active member of the Old Boys Union.

Morning tea will follow the Service on the Chapel Lawn. 

Please click here to RSVP.

We hope you can join us to farewell Dr John Collier.

Term Dates 2025

Virtual Reality Incursion – Year 10

As part of Science Week, Year 10 participated in an engaging, interactive Virtual Reality (VR) experience focused on Biology and Earth Sciences. After getting set up, we jumped straight into a programme, exploring a lab on a tropical island while learning about ecosystems and biodiversity. Then, we were free to investigate the original documentaries provided on geological activity in Iceland and glaciers around the world. However, the highlight of the activity was the virtual animal experiences, both underwater and on land. We swam with blue whales through the deep ocean, travelled through coral reefs looking for sea snakes, and fed great whites from a shark cage. Back on dry land, we fed giraffes, walked among dinosaurs and saw beautiful landscapes from around the world. Everyone left happy and buzzing after this amazing experience.

Digby Wood
(Year 10)

Science Week Presentation – By Dr Samuel Boone

How Earth’s Tectonic Past Cooled The Planet – And Could Do It Again!

Global warming. This is a phrase that I’m sure you’ve heard before, and for good reason. Ever since the Industrial Revolution transformed the world in the late 18th century, the average global temperature has been going up and up, while scientists desperately come up with strategies to slow it down. But have you ever wondered why this is such a problem? Throughout history, Earth has gone through multiple warm and cold periods, fluctuating within a five-degree range, so won’t it just fix itself like normal? Well, to answer this question, we have to delve a little deeper into the natural processes that rule the Earth and create this fluctuating cycle. This is exactly what I, along with the rest of Year 8, got to learn a little more about on Monday as a part of Science Week from the esteemed geoscientist Dr Samuel Boone, an expert in the field of tectonics and thermochronology. Along with topics like how to travel back in time (metaphorically) to locate copper deposits, Dr Boone talked about the cycle of carbon on Earth, which is actually what regulates Earth’s temperature. The reason Earth has been heating up so rapidly is that we are disrupting this cycle and overloading the carbon in our atmosphere, which effectively acts like a blanket and traps heat in. So, to answer the question “Will Earth just fix global warming by itself?” the answer is no. It’s up to us humans to try and reverse the catastrophic effects we’ve had because if we don’t act soon, there’s no magical process that can save us.

Sam Holt
(Year 8)

Commerce Incursion: Panel Discussion

Year 10 Commerce students were treated to an engaging and insightful panel discussion featuring three distinguished professionals who generously shared their expertise from the worlds of taxation, accounting, and investing. The event was designed to broaden students’ understanding of how these disciplines intersect and influence both business and personal financial decisions.

The panel included Mr Ben Opie, Partner at KPMG and Chairman of KPMG’s Global Japanese Practice, Mr Doug Ferguson, NSW Chairman and Head of Asia and International Markets at KPMG, and Mr Scott Phillips, Chief Investment Officer at The Motley Fool Australia. Each brought unique perspectives from their careers advising governments, corporations, and individual investors.

Mr Ben Opie explored the role of taxation in shaping business growth and government spending priorities. He gave students a clearer sense of why tax matters and how policies can influence both inequality and investment. Mr Doug Ferguson drew on his international career, including more than a decade in China and his leadership of KPMG’s Asia practice, to highlight the importance of cultural understanding, trade relationships, and decision-making under pressure. His reflections on working through the collapse of Lehman Brothers during the Global Financial Crisis gave students a rare glimpse into business at the highest stakes. Mr Scott Phillips was excellent in making the world of investing accessible, speaking candidly about housing affordability, risk and return, and how individuals can prepare for a future shaped by technological change and global uncertainty.

Throughout the session, panellists also responded to questions that encouraged them to share views on common themes such as artificial intelligence, the housing market, globalisation, and how to make smart decisions under pressure. This allowed students to see how taxation, accounting, economics and investing connect in practice and how experts from different fields often approach the same challenges from distinct angles.

The panel concluded with reflections on the qualities and skills young people can begin developing now, from financial literacy to cultural awareness and resilience. Students left with valuable lessons about money, business, and global trends, but also with the encouragement that the choices they make in School and beyond will shape their own opportunities.

A huge thank you also goes to students Archie L and Ollie M, who hosted the event with skill and finesse, ensuring the discussion stayed engaging, relevant, and dynamic from start to finish. Their professionalism in managing the flow of the conversation added to the success of the panel.

Mr Tom Kirby
Economics and Commerce Teacher

Year 11 Career Conversations Afternoon

We are so very grateful for all the generous people who gave up their time to share their stories with Year 11 students this week. Ms Amy Moar gave an excellent presentation on the Future of Work and tips on resumes and interview techniques. Students could choose three, 20-minute sessions across a range of career areas. We extend our thanks to the following people:

Mr Phil Paris, Mr Charlie Li, Mr Ian MacIver, Dr Tim Raynor, Mr Hugo Orpin, Mr Cal Forster, Mr Will Nicholl, Mr Vito Maiurano, Mr Peter Reid, and Dr Deb Walton, Australian Defence Recruiting and UNSW.

Students could hear about Engineering, Construction, Property, Finance, Design, AI, UK Gap Years, Business, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Psychology, Medicine and even life as an FBI Agent.

Hopefully, the afternoon has sparked some interests and conversations that will continue throughout Year 12.

Ms Vanessa Shirriff
Head of Careers Education

Year 11 Gap Year Applications

Information for Year 11 students is available on Lampada. This is an opportunity that requires significant thought and reflection, as it is not for everyone. Please research schools seriously and consider the long hours and hard work involved. It can be incredibly challenging, but also rewarding and a wonderful opportunity to grow on many levels.

Lampada – 2027 UK Gap Year Information

Ms Vanessa Shirriff
Head of Careers Education

Year 12 Parent/Carer Check-in Application Webinar

It was great to see so many parents engaged in the Parent/Carer Check-in Application Webinar last week. Hopefully, we are now all feeling more confident in the processes for University entry, early entry and other schemes. Year 12 students seem to be across their applications and have taken the necessary responsibility to apply and plan for the next stage!

The presentation is available on Lampada.

Lampada – Year 12 University Application Check-In

Ms Vanessa Shirriff
Head of Careers Education

From the Music Department

Congratulations to…

…Andrew Gilchrist, Joel Gilmour and Russell Jiang (Year 12) who submitted their final HSC compositions this week to NESA and had their HSC Performance Exams. Thank you to Ms Robertson for all the support and guidance she has given to the students. Congratulations to Alexander Beattie, Daniel Becker, JJ Black, Benjamin Hocking, DJ Nagle, Kieran Old, Oliver Parrish, Jonnie Pridmore, Eddie Scougall and James Thompson (Year 12) who also had their HSC Performance/Viva Exams this week. Thank you to all the staff and students who supported and accompanied these students.

…ForeShore, Jazz Ensemble, Stage Band, Rock Bands, Buskers and String Groups for their performances at American Tea. Their performances were highly entertaining and made for a wonderful atmosphere. Thank you to Mr Massey, Ms Wentzel, and Mr Dorich for organising these performances.

…all choristers who sang at Confirmation Service last Sunday and to Mr Massey for leading the students.

Year 12 Family Service – Sunday 14 September

ForeShore choristers will be singing at the Year 12 Family Service held in the Chapel on Sunday 14 September at 9am. Students are required to meet at 8am and the service should be finished at around 10.30am. Any questions, please ask Mr Massey.

Instrumental and Choral Concert – Tuesday 16 September

Students have been rising early in the morning to rehearse repertoire for the upcoming Instrumental and Choral Concert that showcases Symphony Orchestra, Choirs, Chamber Ensembles, Guitar Ensemble and Symphonic Winds in addition to some Year 12 soloists. The concert will be held on Tuesday 16 September in the Smith Auditorium at 7pm and will be approximately two hours in length, including a short interval. The car park will be open from 6.15pm. This is a free event and all are welcome to attend.

Music Function – Thursday 18 September

The 2025 Music Function will be held in the Hawkins Foyer on Tuesday 18 September between 5.30pm – 7.30pm. This event is open to ALL Co-Curricular Music students and their parents and carers.  It is an opportunity for Music parents and carers, teachers and students to mingle and farewell the Year 12s. There will be music performances, and drinks and finger food will be served. Bookings are essential.

Book here.

We hope to see you there.

Year 7 Exhibition – Tuesday 23 September

On Tuesday 23 September from 5.30pm – 6.30pm students will be presenting these compositions to the Shore community. All Year 7 students have been composing pieces in their classes as part of their Music coursework.  The event will be in the War Memorial Hall and all Year 7 students are required from 4.40pm to begin setting up with their laptops charged. This is a compulsory event for all of Year 7, and all community members are welcome to attend. We will open the exhibition for guests at 5.30pm with a student detailing the compositional process. Guests are encouraged to ask questions to a range of students about their compositions and to listen to a variety of pieces.

Key Dates Terms 3 and 4

Student Articles Available in Lampada

In keeping with tradition, printed copies of student articles are handed out at the Senior School gates every Friday. This allows us to honour the Shore Weekly Record’s mission, ‘by the boys, for the boys,’ while making the digital version more concise for parents. A PDF of the student articles is also available each week on Lampada in the publications page.

2025 Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships

Last week, three boys from the Preparatory and 20 boys from the Senior School travelled to Mt Buller in Victoria to participate in the 2025 Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships. The Victorian Interschools system operates a little differently from that in New South Wales, as does Mt Buller to NSW resorts, so there is always an element of mild trepidation when we venture south of the border. At least from my impression and retrospection on the week, the experience was exceptional on all levels. Mt Buller is an absolutely stunning environment to ski and snowboard in; the race rules, while different, do make sense and allow for measured scheduling; the people staffing and enjoying the mountain seemed so genuinely happy and always ready to assist; our team parents revelled in the experience of watching their sons race and compete; and the boys, as usual, represented the School outstandingly in competition and in leisure at all times. It truly was a marvellous week.

Please see below for a summary of National Rankings by day and event. Where multiple names are written, the result represents a Team result. For single names, it is individual results:

Day 1 Results:

• Division 4 Alpine: Theo Karedis, Adrian Zhang, Callum Saurajen — 8th in Australia
• Division 3 Moguls: Oli Klaas — 18th

Day 2 Results:

• Division 4 Ski Cross: Adrian Zhang, Theo Karedis, Callum Saurajen — 7th

Day 3 Results:

• Division 4 Moguls: Theo Karedis — 21st
• Division 3 Alpine: Oli Klaas — 24th
• Division 1 Slopestyle: Ari Ganassin — 18th

Day 4 Results:

Cross Country Classic:

• Division 4: William Sprott — 8th
  • Division 3: Jackson Sprott, Jake Mears, Oli Klaas — 4th
  • Division 1: Alexander Yu, Taj Robertson, Max L’Orange — 5th

Cross Country Relay

• Division 1: Alexander Yu, Taj Robertson, Max L’Orange — 8th

Snowboard Slopestyle:

• Division 1 Team Silver: Noah S and George L
  • Individual Gold: Noah S – Australian National Champion Division 1 Snowboard Slopestyle.
• Division 1 Moguls: Harry Dubenec, Ari Ganassin — 5th

Day 5 Results:

• Division 2 Ski Cross: Luca Ewen, William Thompson, Benjamin Rose — 12th
• Division 2 Snowboard Cross: Asher Shepherd — 12th
• Division 1 Alpine Team: Charlie Kovacs, Taj Robertson, Nick Yates, Angus Motteram  – Team did not rank, Charlie Kovacs 27th
• Division 1 Snowboard GS: Noah S, George L, Neo P — Team Bronze (3rd)

Day 6 Results:

• Division 1 Ski Cross: Charlie Kovacs, Nicholas Yates, Angus Motteram — 4th
• Division 1 Snowboard Cross: Noah S, George L, Neo P — 4th
• Division 2 Alpine: William Thompson — 11th
• Division 2 Snowboard GS: Asher Shepherd, Cyan Couch — 4th

Overall Male Team Rankings:

• Prep School: 9th out of 11 boys’ schools
• Senior School: equal 4th in Australia out of 11 boys’ schools

It is pertinent to point out that, of the three schools that placed above us in the Secondary Male Pointscore – The Scots College (Scots) (198 points), Melbourne Grammar (161) and The King’s School (King’s) (110), we know that Scots and King’s have extensive programmes for Snowsports. From Melbourne Grammar’s results we might assume the same. Our team continues to contend exceptionally well amongst the ranks of some very fine competitors. We have ranked 4th overall in the past three National competitions.

Many thanks for the incredible effort that the parents put into supporting their son’s skiing and snowboarding, and for their assistance in managing teams and volunteering on courses. Many thanks also to the School for its ongoing support of Snowsports.

It is never easy to leave the mountains, and an especially complex set of emotions always presents when one travels back from Nationals. It is the anticipation of the 2026 Race Season that pushes us on now. Well done to all boys who competed across the three events this season and GO SHORE!!!!!!

Mr Warwick Payne
MIC Snowsports

Athletics Report

Saturday 6 September

Invitational #3

Hello Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre (SOPAC)!! The 3rd Invitational, now known as the ‘selection’ carnival, lived up to its name. Shore athletes turned up in their droves to create a buzzing atmosphere and the biggest invitational carnivals this year. In total, 95 Shore athletes turned up and competed in the events; of the 95, 18 brand new athletes were competing for the first time in an attempt to make the GPS team. This was very exciting to see as it meant the competition ramped right up. Many of those who have been training for the past three weeks were able to rely on their hard work to get them over the line. However, the coaches are always happy to see more people turning up and giving athletics a go! With only one more invitational before the big dance, most athletes can rest easy in their final invitational, knowing they have done what it takes to secure a spot in the team.

It is also very important to acknowledge the athletes who have been turning up each week, trying their best, knowing that they may potentially miss out on making the team. These athletes are just as much a part of the team as those who compete on Saturday 20, at GPS. Each competitor needs their peers to challenge and push them to their limits. By stretching one another, we ensure we are at our best. Thankfully, it has been a fun ride along the way, and the efforts of all athletes have not been wasted. It’s been a fun time, and we always look forward to working with and developing all students every season.

Middle Distance

Yay! We had three 3000m runners saddled up and ready to race at 8am last Saturday. Tom Gray, looking like an extra from The Pirates of the Caribbean with a dodgy moustache cultivated over the exam period was there, along with Jonty Jagger and James Warren all keen to record a decent time and stake a claim on a berth in the 3k at the GPS Championships. Tom went to the front of the Shore lads, although he needed to hang onto the athletes from other schools as he let them casually slide away from him, and there he remained for pretty much the whole race. Jonty was watchful from behind, no doubt focusing on the E ahead of him, and he slowly drew up on Tom and slid past, just before race end, and recorded a very pleasing sub 10min run of 9min 50secs, 5 secs ahead of Tom in 9:55. James was never far away and tenaciously crossed the line in 10min flat!

The middle-distance coaches were looking forward to the 800m, as always, and were hoping for some good results and tussles in racing. Henry ‘Ferg’ Ferguson espoused during the week that his personal best was 2:20, and having not seen it this year, we were hoping he’d close in on it on Saturday. That he did as he finished his effort in the Championship race in 2min 21:09secs. He looked strong and quite fresh, so we can’t wait for that sub-2:20 run, may as well go 2:15 in the process… Zac Robertson wasn’t far adrift, and if he can hang onto a slight increase in pace in his racing, 2:20 is certainly a possibility for him, too! Harrison Ayer rocked up to keep George Harvey honest in the 14s. That he did as he was only a yard or so behind George at race end as George finished in 2:24:17 and Harrison 2:14:39. Will Tomes looked great and will be someone to watch next season on the Track as his debut this year has been most pleasing, maybe a bit of Cross Country… We were all waiting with excitement to watch the unfolding Toby vs Tom battle in the 15s. It has been awesome this year. Toby Ward and Tom Armati both squared up, yet again, in the Championship 800 in the 15s. Toby led for pretty much the duration, yet it was Tom who found that little extra down the straight to slide past for the second week in a row. Trying not to sound like a scratched record, it is this healthy competition amongst ourselves that is essential in producing improvement and, of course, depth. They won’t have to worry about each other at GPS and will be able to dish it up to their GPS competitors. Archie Watson looks better every week, too, as he nailed a most pleasing 2:16. Fraser Pandit remains on the recovery trail and made further progress as he went 2:09 in the 17s. Henry ‘The Rock’ Roxburgh was solid also in 2:13. Hugo Stewart looked even stronger than last week, choosing to run up in the Opens and take on Shore Vice-Captain James Bestic. Lachie Warner also miraculously found his way off the Northern Beaches, as we had hoped he would all Cross Country Season (crying inside) and was in the thick of it too with Daniel ‘The Wrecker’ Becker also in the mix. It soon turned into a stoush up front with James needing to engage the injectors in his Diesel, Turbo Diesel engine down the straight to hold off the upstart. That he did as James crossed the line in 2min 02:48secs with Hugo just behind in 2mins 02:77secs. Lachie faded a little on his second lap and only just managed to hold off Daniel, who was finishing fast just behind him. They recorded 2:13:49 and 2:14:48, respectively.

Quite a few middle athletes chose to do a 400m, looking for a little extra speed, so the 1500m fields were a tad depleted. That being said, Coach Brown and I were excited for the races, in particular the little blokes in the 13s who were closing in on 5min! Henry Grieve led the charge for pretty much the duration, yet it was Zac Robertson who was the first Shore athlete to finish as he slid past Henry in the dying stages. Zac was calculated and tenacious as he went 4min 56:91secs for a huge personal best! His smile was enormous, and, no doubt, may not disappear this week! Henry was just behind in 4min 57:58secs. Jackson Harris wasn’t far adrift either in 5:17:48. Tom Gray, James Warren, and Harry Edmunds were our only other athletes to race in the 1500 on the day, and it was another internal stoush between Tom and James up front. James found something in the dying stages and just got Tom as they went 4:45:10 and 4:45:99, respectively. A shout out to Harry, who is closing in on the 5min mark, maybe next week!

Hurdles

Shore’s Junior hurdling cohort were well represented and Hugo Huang was the quickest in Under 13s age group, posting a fast 15.03. Notable runs from Tom Eaton and Sam Holt (Under 14), and Toby Cay and Ed Godfrey (Under 15) ensured their names are in the mix for AAGPS Carnival selection. Tom Kierse was our fastest Under 17, and Team Captain Charlie Mott continues to improve on his time, showing strength in the demanding Open’s high hurdles event.

High Jump

Round three of the athletics competition featured several outstanding performances in the High Jump across all age groups. Lucas Wright continued his strong form, clearing an impressive 190 cm and coming agonisingly close to equalling the Shore High Jump record. In the Opens event, Julian Harrison was the final competitor remaining and also soared to 190 cm, capping off an excellent weekend for the Shore High jumpers.

Shot Put

Shore’s shotput stocks were in full force at SOPAC this past Saturday. With some strong throws from some first-timers in competition this season, we look to the penultimate competition with confidence. Standout throwers who threw personal bests this week were Charlie Galligan (11.58m) and Hugh Trafford Jones (12.06m) in the open competition. Orlando Stewart also improved his season’s best in the Under 14s with 10.92m as he continues to impress.

Sprints

It was encouraging to see several new boys enter sprint events for the first time since our School carnival. Several personal best’s were achieved with favourable conditions especially in the 100m events.

In the 200m events, impressive runs were recorded by two newcomers in the Under 13s. Hamilton Kennedy (27.36) and Hugo Huang (27.45). Sam Courtenay, Archie Smith, Harry Smith, Josiah Thomas, and Josh Yates also recorded their quickest 200m times of the season. In the Under 14s, Angus Murdoch-Tilmouth, Elliott Copeland-Ognibene, and newcomer Oscar Riding all ran competitive races. In the Under 15s, Harry Hemming and Isaac Lo ran their fastest 200m of the season, with Toby Cay posting Shore’s quickest time of 25.49. In the Under 16s, Scott Robson recorded a season personal best of 24.24, Noah Quayle (Under 17’s) posted a quick 23.98 in his first run of the season over 200m, while in the Opens veteran Digby Hockey ran a scorching 22.71.

The 100m events were where the real excitement lay, with a favourable tailwind helping athletes. As a result, several boys recorded their season-best times. In the Under 13s Gilbert Cay (12.45) was quickest of the big Shore contingent with Sam Courtenay, Henry Ferguson, Beau Hockey, Tom Jeffreys, Josiah Thomas, and Josh Yates also posting season best times. Hugo Huang also impressed in his first 100m run of the season. In the Under 14s, Elliott Copeland-Ognibene and Angus Murdoch-Tilmouth recorded season-best times. The Under 15s were also impressive with Toby Cay, Harry Hemming, Isaac Lo, Billy Sorensen, and Will Watson running their quickest times this season. In the Under 16s, Scott Robson ran an 11.94, with strong runs also from Archie Alderson and Jacob Shih. Our Under 17 group are coming together well. Jeremy Bremner (11.23) and Oscar Lau (11.36) posted the quickest times on the day, with Will Powell and Noah Quayle also breaking the 12-second barrier. In the Opens, Charlie Mott clocked a blistering 11.02 and was well supported with strong runs from Rex Bassingthwaighte (11.27), Digby Hockey (11.37) and Jai Callaghan (11.47).

As a sign that the sprint group is gaining greater depth, Shore fielded four 4 x 100m relay teams two weeks out from the AAGPS Track and Field Championships. Next week will see Shore put out teams in every age group to build some combinations before the big day!

Long Jump

With a few new long jumpers joining the athletics squad for the first time, we were able to post competitive results in all age groups. Jai Callaghan jumped over 6 metres in Opens, placing in the top 3. Luke Maclennan challenged Noah Quayle’s leading spot in the team despite carrying an injury. Similarly, Michael Hocking arrived to challenge Will Bestic’s outstanding jumps over the past couple of weeks in the Under 16s age group. Harry Hemming and Sam Holt continued to refine their technique in the Under 15s and Under 14s age groups, respectively. It was very pleasing to see five boys from Under 13s still all having a go and trying to gain a spot in the GPS team. Gilbert Cay and Thomas Jeffreys are fighting it out for the top spot. Looking forward to further improvements in the final weeks of the season.

Reports written by the Athletics Coaches 2025.