GPS GOLD CHALLENGE  
 

The GPS Gold Challenge brings together Old Boys from the nine GPS Schools who have just, or are about to, reach the milestone of 50 years of age to compete against one another across 8 disciplines - golf, rowing, tennis, touch rugby, cricket, athletics, swimming and, during the Closing Dinner, debating.

This year marks the 9th and 10th GPS Gold Challenges with both Alumni 1975 and Alumni 1976 competing for the Aub Thomas Memorial Trophy. It will be held at Newington College on Saturday 27 September 2008, with the rowing competition being held first thing in the morning at Leichhardt Rowing Club, and the golf being conducted at the Ryde Parramatta Golf Club the day before, Friday 26 September.

The key lessons from previous years are that the greater the numbers of participants, the more enjoyment for all. It is not necessary to roll out the 1st grade teams from 30 years ago, so it is an opportunity for all to participate in a number of sports. The sports and schedule for the day and evening is set up to encourage people to participate in multiple sports regardless of numbers and physical fitness or ability. It will be entirely possible (and common) to choose a sport between tennis/rowing/cricket in the morning and then also participate in each of the touch football, athletics and swimming in the afternoon followed by dinner and drinks whilst being entertained by the debating. Many events have a policy of unlimited replacements during the matches/races.

Over the last ten years around 200 people have competed each year from the various schools, catching up with old mates during the whole day whilst also raising some very valuable dollars for the Redkite Organisation (supporting kids and their families with cancer). Double this number is expected this year.

WHEN / WHERE / WHAT / HOW MUCH ??

Date :  Friday 26th (for the Golf) and / or everything else including the dinner on Saturday 27th September.

 Venue : The event is being hosted by Newington. Most events will be held at Newington with the exception of Rowing, which will be held on the Leichardt Rowing course and the  Golf at the Ryde Parramatta Golf Club . Click here for map of Newington College.

Timing :  An early start from 7.30 AM for the breakfast/registration/rowing with all events to take place during the day somewhat in sequence so that people can participate in more than one event during the day.  Dinner/drinks from 6.45 PM.

Sports : 
Golf. (To be held at Ryde Parramatta Golf Club on Friday 26th) .........
Rowing
. (Held on the Leichardt rowing course)......... ....................................Debating . (To be held at the dinner).
Tennis   .. ................... Cricket  /................... Touch Footbal / ................./ Athletics / ............... Swimming .......(all at Newington on Saturday 27th)

Cost :$190 per head if before 12th of September or $220 thereafter.  This covers your participation fee in one or more of the 8 competitions (except Golf), the Closing Dinner food and beverages and your school competition shirt.  The cost of the Golf is an additional $100 per person and this covers the green fees and the post game snacks.  Drinks for the golf will operate on a cash bar arrangement.

Dinner : The Gold Challenge Closing Dinner will be held at Newington College in the Centenary Hall from 6.45 pm.

Registration : Registration must be completed in advance by completing the linked form REGISTRATION FORM and returning it by mail to :

GPS Gold Challenge c/- Siltech Pty Ltd
PO Box 6175 Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086

or by email to lpacker@siltech.com.au or by fax to 02 9453 0822

PLEASE NOTE
1)    
The entry fee covers participation in the 8 events, a Team Shirt and the closing dinner.  The fee assists in offsetting the operational costs – insurances, venue hire, photographer, dinner costs, stationary, postage and other administration costs.
2)     Donations and corporate sponsorship will benefit the Gold Challenge chosen charity, Redkite.  Redkite supports children with cancer. See www.redkite.org.au
and below.
3)     If you as an individual, or the company you work for, are in a position to sponsor an  event, or consider sponsoring the overall GPS Gold Challenge event, the organisers would love to have your support. Naming rights and signage can be discussed. We are aiming to raise $20,000 for Redkite. Therefore if you as an individual or company that is willing to contribute funds, the organising Secretary, Marshall White can be contacted.   Marshall White     marshallwas@hotmail.com  0434 046 196

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ON THE 26TH AND 27TH

 

Friday the 26th

The Golf

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday the 27th
7.30am Registration desk opens
8.00am Tennis / Rowing / Cricket all begin
1.00pm Tennis / Rowing / Cricket all finish
2.00pm Touch Rugby begins
3.50pm Touch Rugby concludes
4.00pm Athletics commences
4.50pm Athletics concludes
5.00pm Swimming commences
6.45pm Pre-dinner drinks
7.30pm Dinner and Debate commences
11.00pm Dinner concludes.

To download the full schedule with all event details in pdf format click here EVENT TIMETABLE

PRIMARY CONTACTS FOR EACH SCHOOL / YEAR

  1975     1976    
Shore Jamie Creer jamiecreer@optusnet.com.au 0409 669 690 David Roberts droberts@sanwa.com.au 0411 701 616
Grammar Tony Gooch tony.gooch@holmanwebb.com.au 0419 781 320      
Sydney High Paul Veltman pveltman@bigpond.net.au 0418-523-143 Richard Luxford
richardluxford@hotmail.com 0408 967 413
Joeys Rob Mcelhone robert.mcelhone@raywhite.com 0418-223-375 Mike Davis mike.davis@causewayfinancial.com.au 0439 992273
Riverview

Paul Sinclair

    Tony Ryan

tony.ryan@ryanlaw.com.au

 
Scots Andrew Excell aexcell@bigpond.net.au 0419-230-700 Alec Calcraft aleccalcraft@hotmail.com 0410 445682
Newington Stuart Smith consult@vebiz.com.au 0419- 014- 323 Peter Hedge phedge@bigpond.net.au  
Kings Peter Harvey pharvey@harveyind.com.au   Dave Winch david.winch@cba.com.au  
Tas Jake Johnstone Jake@pageharrison.com.au   Jake Johnstone Jake@pageharrison.com.au  

Captains for each School and Sport. Click HERE

THE CHARITY BEING SUPPORTED-........ REDKITE

Redkite is an Australian charity that supports children, young people and their families through cancer by providing emotional guidance, financial assistance and educational services. You can read more about Redkite's services here:

What Redkite Does

The organisation was founded in 1983 and was, until 1 August 2005, known as The Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children in Australia.

Children from all major cities, regional and remote locations across Australia are supported by Redkite services coordinated from offices in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. With the continuing support of the community, Redkite aims to further expand services in order to offer equality of care and support to all Australian children coping with childhood cancer.

PAST WINNERS OF INDIVIDUAL AND OVER ALL TROPHIES

Leaving
Year

Gold Challenge
Year

Committee
Chairman

Aub Thomas Memorial Trophy -- Overall winner on the Day

David Hutchinson Trophy
(Football)

Stuart Alfred Lee Memorial Trophy
(Rowing)

Richard Cameron Memorial Trophy
(Athletics)

             
1974
2006
Michael Samios /Scots
Shore
Shore
Newington
Shore

1973

2005

Ian Gillings / Shore

Grammar

Newington

Grammar

Riverview

1972

2004

Jamie Inglis /Kings

Scots

Scots

Scots

Scots

1971

2003

Chris Gorman /Riverview

Scots & Kings (equal)

High

Scots

.

1970

2002

Steve Newnham / Riverview

Grammar

Newington

.

.

1969

2001

Doug Wood /Grammar

Shore

.

.

.

1968

2000

John Butler /Joeys Joint Michael Shepherd / Riverview

Newington

.

.

.

1967

1999

David Hutchinson / Shore

Riverview

.

.

.

 

MEDICALS

It is common sense which dictates that as this event is intended for people perhaps slightly beyond the prime of their youth that all participants should only take part if they are 100 percent confident that they are physically able to take the strain of what ever competition they plan to participate in. The risk of a whole range of serious and even life threatening ailments is increased at our age and all people are encouraged to have full independant physicals prior to taking part. It goes without saying that the organisers of the event are not responsible for any and all injuries suffered.