Trinity Athletes Make History – Twice!

Trinity College athletes have won both the Reid Cup (girls) and Achilles Cup (boys) for the first time in its history!

Wednesday saw a team of girls take on the best in the IGSSA competition that has been dominated in recent years by Immanuel College and St Peter’s Girls.

Last year the team fell agonisingly short and, while this year shaped as a great chance to claim our maiden title, an avalanche of withdrawals at the eleventh hour cast a grim shadow over our prospects.

Both the Reid and Achilles Cups accumulate points over every event, so even showing up and having a competitor in each event matters.

In what can only be described as a genuine team effort, given the ‘varying circumstances of student availability’, credit must be given to the many students who seized their opportunities to contribute to the historic win.

The girls who stepped in to fill gaps, some competing in older age groups, and in multiple events (as well as new events) are now a very deserved part of Trinity College history.

In the Achilles Cup, our boys team was also chasing their first victory. In similar circumstances to the girls team, the boys team had been agonisingly close in recent years as the Achilles Cup is practically considered the property St Peter’s Boys School until proven otherwise. In the 54-year history of the event, St Peter’s has won 53 times, including the last 23-in-a-row.

Trinty and Saints were neck and neck all day. Every position in every event mattered.

Going into the relays at the end of the meet, Trinity still had its nose in front with five relays to be run. Trinity and Saints split the first four and much rode on the result of the final race – the Open Boys 4 x 100m relay. 

With a sizeable lead heading into the final change, Trinity dropped the baton. As all the other teams bolted past, all we could do was finish the race and hope we had done enough.

As it turned out, we had. A historic victory in the Achilles Cup.

Footballers, soccer players, basketballers and athletes from all corners came together to do something truly unique for the College.

To all the coaches Mal Bennett, Sean Carlin, Will Houtman, Jack Gibbons, Josh Lee, Mia Devlin, Emily Ritcher, Amelie Burns and Jordan McKenna, well done. Mal’s Sunday and Thursday morning sessions deserve a special mention for helping a core group of dedicated runners.

Finally, a thank you and congratulations to Head Coach Russel Hansen, whose passion and vision have helped this day materialise, and to our incredible manager Jess Ryswyk who has worked tirelessly to find competitors in events after countless withdrawals, illnesses and other mishaps.

A true team effort for such momentous results, well done to everyone!

Source: Rupert Sapwell, Director of Sport