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THE GPS GOLD CHALLENGE - OCTOBER 7
Wednesday, 5 April 2023
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Are you a GPS Old boy who left in 1989 or 1990? The GPS Gold Challenge is the largest GPS Old Boy event. It is now held every 2 years for Old Boys of the nine NSW GPS Schools who have reached, or about to reach, the age of 50 years. The event aims to rekindle friendships among former class mates, develop new contacts among the GPS fraternity and raise money for our designated charity, Redkite, which assists children and young people with cancer and their families. The key dates are: Friday 6 October- Golf at Killara Golf Club, Killara & Rowing at Leichhardt Rowing Club. Saturday 7 October All other events plus the Closing Dinner at Newington College, Stanmore. What’s it all about? 2023 marks the 25th and 26th GPS Gold Challenges with both Alumni 1989 and Alumni 1990 competing, in separate competitions, for the Aub Thomas Memorial Trophy. This year sees a change of venue for the main event to Newington College, reprising a successful day from 14 years ago along with a new main organiser. Long time convenor, Marshall White is retiring after many years of tireless service. Ron Ross (Riverview 1977 and 1978) has stepped into this challenging but rewarding role and looks to bring renewed vigour and new ideas to the event. The Challenge, however, kicks off the day before with the golf at the Long Reef Golf Course and the rowing at Leichhardt Rowing Club. “It’s in reality a reunion”, said GPS Gold Challenge Founder David Hutchinson (Shore ’67). “The event aims to rekindle the friendships among former classmates while sharing in the spirit of friendly competition and accordingly, the sports chosen, as well as the schedule for the day and evening, are set up to encourage participation in a wide number of activities regardless of physical fitness or ability”, he said. “Previous years have proven that the greater the number of participants, the more enjoyment for all. It is absolutely not the intention to just roll out the 1st grade teams from 30 years ago,” David stressed. Participants are encouraged to choose a sport between tennis/rowing/cricket in the morning and then also participate in each of the touch rugby, athletics, swimming and basketball in the afternoon. The Challenge then culminates with the Closing Dinner where the guests are entertained by the nine debaters. In addition, many events have a policy of unlimited replacements during the matches/races. At the 2018 Gold Challenge, over 540 Old Boys took part in the Saturday competitions on top of the more than 100 in the golf the day before, catching up with old mates while also raising over $30,000 for Redkite. |