The Gala Day has come and gone and proved to be a record breaker. 

There was a very good walk up crowd who seemed to stay longer than usual. This may have been in part due to the greater range of activities and stalls this year. The introduction of a Farmer's Market certainly went down well.

It was good to see a lot of old boys paying a visit and spending a few hard earned dollars and it was also great to see a number of old boys acting as key supporters and donators to the Gala. 

In the end we have set a new takings record with something over $32,000 taken on the day and a good chance we will net over the $30,000 for the first time ever.

Well done to the PTA and all those involved.

One day to go until the FDMC Gala
Saturday March 29th  11.00 am – 2.00 pm
Bring your family and friends
Lots of exciting activities/stalls including:

Helicopter Rides  Magic Carpet     Scooby Doo Van
Zorbs                Photo Booth       Bouncy Castle
Lucky Dips         White Elephant   Used Clothing
Books                Plants               Quickfire Raffles
Raffles               Farmers Market  Silent Auction
Cakes                Plus lots of yummy food stalls

Saturday the 31st of May is shaping as key diary date. It is the Saturday of Queen's Birthday Weekend and Yarrow's Stadium will see a great rugby double header with the FDMC v NPBHS annual 1st XV match acting as the curtain raiser for the late afternoon Chiefs v Waratahs clash. 

Given that a good few old boys may be interested in this feast of rugby it has been suggested that we have a common venue where old boys, both young and old, can get together. To this end we have booked a bar at the West End Bowling Club, within easy walking distance of the stadium. What we would like is for old boys to express their interest on the form below. You will not be held to account but we do need to know how many to expect.  The facilities will be open both before and after the games.

If you have any ideas, cunning plans or questions concerning this event please email us by clicking here.

Last year a cricket honours board was crafted in the tech department by now departed teacher Peter Ingram

Mark Wales has tried in vain to find information by scouring through the year books for students of the College that could be recognised on this honours board

He has detailed information from 2004 onwards but before that there is no hard evidence about players who scored 100s or took 6 wicket bags

The criteria for the honours board is this

1. A player representing the College First XI must score 100 runs at least in a MENs grade cricket match. This could be Premier, Seniors, Second Grade or the highest mens competition that team competed in for their time at College (presently the First XI plays in the Premier Mens Cricket Grade)
N.B. This player could be an adult player (as many coaches have also played in the First XI in the mens grade competition)

2. A player representing the College First XI must score 100 runs at least in a Traditional College Fixture. 
N.B. This could be in Gillette Cup, Traditional Fixtures, tournaments attended, or played against visiting teams to Taranaki

3. A player representing the College First XI must take at least 6 wickets in a either a mens grade competition match or in a traditional college fixture
N.B. Please read above for finer points regarding fixtures

If anyone has information pertaining to this please submit it to the Old Boys Blog or contact Mark Wales (Director of Sport) 021 584 336 - scorebooks and specific evidence isn't needed but honesty calls must be made

If there is evidence out there (i.e. old score books etc) please send them in or scan them so they can be added to the archives

A good article in today's Daily News on old boy Joseph Gardinar who has overcome medical problems to get back to doing what he loves. You can read the article here.

We wish him all the best for the future.

Last Friday, 7th March we had our annual Francis Douglas Athletics sports.

Tony Robson wrote one of the best articles we have so fat read about old boy Conrad Smith, as a lead up to his 100th Super Rugby Game on friday night. Some of the article is below, the rest you can read here.

Conrad Smith's been working his unconventional angles from the start.

At Francis Douglas Memorial College Smith's mates remember him as an all-rounder, a debater of note, runner-up dux and a wily halfback with a competitive streak in everything he did.

On the cricket field he dreamed of being a lusty hitter like Chris Cairns, but former classmate Brendon Hart says a ''skinny Rod Latham'' was closer to the truth.

''As a cricketer in the first XI I would describe Conrad as slow, too enthusiastic,'' Hart said this week with a laugh. ''The late cut was his only shot. He would just sit back and play it to third man, every ball.''

Smith's father, Trevor, represented Taranaki in cricket and reminded his son recently that his favoured shot was a product of the family hallway where his go-to shot was into an adjacent room at point during marathon matches against his brother, Nathan.

It's a quirky story that says a lot about a bloke whose ability to out-think rather than outmuscle his opponents has been a feature of a storied rugby career that will chalk up another milestone at Westpac Stadium today.

Smith will become the sixth man to make 100 appearances for the Hurricanes in a journey that doesn't fit the modern rugby cliche.

Hart said Smith had always been small, a first five-eighth who ended up playing halfback in the 1999 first XV.

''These days he's deceptively big, but he wasn't in those days,'' Hart recalled of his former college team-mate. ''I always remember he wanted to play second five-eighth, centre. His flatmates and friends at Uni in Wellington, guys such as Michael Barnes and Scott Ireland, were all playing premiers straight away, but Conrad wanted to play in the midfield and I don't think he ever considered the thought of going back to halfback. 

''The thing with Conrad is he wasn't really playing rugby because he wanted to go anywhere, it was because he enjoyed it and he enjoyed that position.''

At Smith's wedding last year there were a noticeable lack of rugby stars in attendance and Hart said that was because he'd never let the sport become his sole focus.

''What's pretty cool about him is he's not a system child. He came through the ranks, he's a lawyer, a lot of his good friends aren't footy players. He puts a massive effort into catching up with all his friends and family,'' Hart said.

A ''decent sized'' group of his former classmates and close friends will make the road trip down from Taranaki for today's match and Hart said Smith wouldn't hesitate to do the same if the tables were turned.

''It's pretty awesome. He gives up a lot of his time for various things and people and he's always forthcoming. I know if Francis Douglas ever needed him for anything he would bus there to try and do it.

''He actually loves the game. That's why he does it week in week out and why he stays at the Hurricanes regardless of whether it's a losing side. He puts everything into it. I don't think he has ever had the passion to play for anyone else and he's the same with OBU.''

Some of you may have seen the news item on TV about the return home of HMNZS Te Mana. Thanks to Harvey Tutauha for the photo and comments below. Great to see another old boy out there doing his bit.

Friday saw a very successful Athletics Sports take place under clear skies and calm conditions. Not always the case! We will have photos from the event during the week but can announce the house points were once again in favour of Solomon House. It will be interesting to see whether they have what it takes when it comes to things cultural and service based.

House Points For Athletics

Solomon   1733
La Salle    1594
Benildus   1344
Loreto      1272