Caption SHS visit 1: Will Frost (TAS) looks to unload.
Caption SHS visit 2: Matt Maunder accepts the Hannon Harris Trophy from TAS co-curricular director Jason Lincoln, left, while Sam Phillis from Sydney High, TAS Headmaster Murray Guest and Sydney High sportsmaster Mark Pavone look on.
IT was a close country win against the city when The Armidale School (TAS) took out the Hannon Harris Trophy against Sydney Boys’ High School in a range of competitions held recently at the school.
More than 250 boys and staff from Sydney High took part in the annual visit, which has become a highlight on the TAS sporting calendar.
Under lights at Doody Park on Friday night, sprinters from TAS won the majority of 4x100m relays while High won both games of basketball.
Saturday’s competitions included the Tank Shell smallbore target rifle shooting match which Sydney High took out against teams from TAS and New England Girls’ School.
High won the tennis, but TAS took out nine of the 11 games of rugby, with the TAS First XV defeating High 10-5 in an exciting encounter that was the first game for both schools in this year’s GPS competition.
To wrap up the day were junior and senior debates, on a range of topics. Wit, repartee and school spirit were in abundance, with High in front before the final senior debate in which TAS boys successfully argued that Australia’s future lies in the city, closely defeating the Sydney boys’ case that in fact cities owe their survival to the productivity of the country.
With only one point separating the two schools after the rugby, the debate delivered TAS the Hannon Harris Shield, named after two long-serving staff members from each school.
“Debating has added a wonderful new dynamic to what is regarded as a very special weekend on the TAS calendar, and brings together two historic schools with a shared sense of sportsmanship,” TAS co-curricular director Jason Lincoln said.
