8/13/2013 0 Comments A Little Bit Of College HistoryIt was close, and it wasn't always pretty, but the 1st XV battled back from a 17 to 5 deficit to beat PNBHS by 21 to 17 and go further in to the National 1st XV competition than we have ever been before. A fantastic effort by the players and a great occasion for the spectators, so it is fitting that our photo includes both the team and the skins in their moment of glory.
Bring on Wellington College and the chance for the team to gain some much deserved TV time if they can make the Top 4.
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8/12/2013 1 Comment A Big Week For RugbyThis week is shaping as a very important one for the 1st XV and rugby at FDMC. Tomorrow (Tuesday) sees the 1st XV taking on the might of Palmerston North BHS in the National 1st XV knock out competition. The game is played at FDMC (12 noon kick off) with the winner going on to play Wellington College to decide the school to represent the Hurricanes Region in the National Top 4 tournament.
Just to add more drama to the week the boys will also play St Paul's Collegiate at FDMC (12 noon kick off) this Saturday to determine the winner of the Central North Island competition. The good news is the team have already won the Hibernian Cup competition which does not require a final. We encourage any old boys who can get along to come and show your support at these games. Win or lose your can be sure we will playing with pride. Earlier this week the annual Taranaki Science Fair was held in New Plymouth. As always we had a good variety of entries which did the College proud and won a good few awards. Standing above all others was an entry from Y11 students Alton Gondipon and Patrick Fisher-Evans which ended up taking out the top award for the Fair.
Their investigation was based on the effectiveness of different types of animal poo when it comes to generating biogas. The project was lauded as one of the best ever seen at the event - praise well deserved. The days of the Library being a home for books, and of course Tess Gaffney, have long gone. First there was the computer take over, now most of them have gone to be replaced by iPads and other mobile devices.
The latest technology has been introduced with the help of a generous grant from the TSB Community Trust. The students and library staff are still getting their head around the finer details of the new technologies and as any Librarian will tell you, there is no substitute for a good book. 8/7/2013 0 Comments End Of An EraJust to show that it is not only students and old boys who can make the back page of the Daily News, today's edition featured long serving rugby coach Steve Simpson. Simmo is ending his association with the College 1st XV (more of that in a later post) and the article (click here) is a good backgrounder the important part he has played in getting our current rugby programme to where it is.
His enthusiasm for rugby and all sports at the College will be greatly missed. 8/6/2013 0 Comments A Sweet GigWell done to old boy Finlay Neeson on securing a US College Scholarship which will help further his skiing career. We have been trying to think of other old boys who have gone the College Scholarship route but can't come up with too many. Leave us a comment if you know of any one. New Plymouth's Finlay Neeson has secured a four-year United States university scholarship that will allow him to pursue his sporting dream. 8/5/2013 1 Comment A Welcome GiftWe were surprised and delighted to receive a visit today by old boy Josh Hickford. Josh came along to make a presentation to the college of a framed photo of our two current All Blacks, on behalf of the Hickford family.
Josh's family have had a long association with the college with his grandfather Peter Bennett serving several terms on the College Board and both his uncles (Sam and Shane) gracing our sports fields, and classrooms, during the 1980s. Josh himself is currently working towards his charted accountancy qualification with Price,Cooper, Waterhouse in New Plymouth. It was a fine gesture from the whole Hickford family and will be displayed and appreciated by current and future students as a wonderful photo and something to aspire to. 8/2/2013 0 Comments Pizza Anyone?Great article early this week in the Daily News on old boy Paul Marinovich, his wife Catherine and their business journey at El Condor Restaurant in New Plymouth. You can read the full article here.
You might also see Paul's name cropping up among the lists of local artists as he has been developing more than just his talent for food. 8/1/2013 1 Comment Not Yet Cricket SeasonIt is the business end of the rugby season and the 1st XV certainly meant business against old foe St John's Hastings at the College yesterday. The score of 117 - 7 suggested more of a summer game scoreline, something that was picked up by the Daily News.
It is a far cry from the tense battles of the past between the two sides but it has to be said our boys did play very sharp, controlled and effective rugby. Daniel Bernet can be seen above scoring one of his teams 18 tries, while it was good to welcome old boy Paul Williams back to school as the referee. The theme of FDMC dominance continued through the rest of the sports exchange with the following results; 1st XI Football Won 6 - 0 Senior A Basketball Won 64 - 58 1st XI Hockey Won 13 - 0 U15 Football Drew 5 - 5 U15 Rugby Lost 22 - 20 |
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August 2020
AuthorThe FDMC Foundation exists to keep old boys aware of their old school and give them the chance to stay connected. |
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