PBHSOB ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Dear Old Boy
We would like to pay tribute to a few young “Old Boys” who are forging a path in the world of sport and flying both the School’s and the Country’s flags high!
PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOY DONOVAN O’GRADY SELECTED TO PLAY FOR SWITZERLAND RUGBY UNION
Donovan O’Grady (Class of 2011, Rissik House) was recently selected to play for the Switzerland Rugby Union Team in the Rugby European Trophy 2021/2022. He had made 12 previous appearances for the Swiss National 15’s team.
Donovan was in the Boys High first team in Form IV and in the starting 9 for the first team in his matric year, 2011. He was then invited to be part of the Sharks Rugby Academy where he played for College Rovers for a year before he went to Tuks in Pretoria and played for the Varsity Cups 7’s team.
At the age of just 20, he was selected to captain the Limpopo Blue Bulls U21 Currie Cup team.
In Donovan’s final year of studying he represented the Naka Bulls who won the Lucas Strachan Trophy in 2016.
After graduation, Donovan moved to the UK and played for Bury St Edmunds in England before landing a professional contract in Germany where he played for the Heidelberger Rugby Club which won the 2018-2019 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
O’Grady was then selected to represent Switzerland and his first cap was against Moldova in 2018. Besides representing Switzerland 13 times, he also captained the 7’s team in two European tournaments.
Donovan currently lives and works in London, playing for Eton Manor Rugby Club and flies to Switzerland for all Swiss international duties.
Keep flying the Boys High flag high Donovan, we are so proud of you!
MEL JANSE VAN RENSBURG WINS GOLD AT INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF SPORT CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Congratulations are in order for Pretoria Boys High School Old Boy Mel Janse van Rensburg who won a gold medal at the International Federation of Sport Climbing 2021 Africa Continental Championships which took place from 16 to 18 December 2021.
This competition, which was held in Gauteng, was the qualifying event for the World Games to be held in Birmingham, USA from 14 to 16 July 2022.
Mel attended Boys High from 2015 to 2019 and was a Rissik House boy. “My parents are climbers and therefore I have always been exposed to climbing, but I only started getting really into it at Pretoria Boys High,” says Mel.
He added that the climbing club at the school had always been good to him and encouraged him and since he left school he has been climbing in Europe and starts his studies this year.
We have been advised that on Saturday 22 January 2022, Mel was one of two of South Africa’s best climbers who went head to head on the endurance classic “Snapdragon” to raise money for a local climbing club.
Well done Mel, keep on excelling in your sport and making us all proud!
PRETORIA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOY RODNEY DURBACH CONTINUES TO MAKE HIS MARK AS A SPORTSMAN
According to the Squash SA November 2021’s newsletter, Rodney Durbach (Class of 1990) was selected as the coach and manager of the squash team chosen to represent South Africa at the WSF Men’s World Team Championship which was scheduled for 7-12 December 2021 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
During his school years, Rodney represented Northern Gauteng at U14, U16 and U19 level, achieving South African U16 colours in 1988 and being ranked number 1 in South African U19 in his matric year at Pretoria Boys High School.
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “Rodney Durbach … is a professional squash player from South Africa. Durbach won a bronze medal in the mixed doubles at the 1998 Commonwealth Games”.
He also helps out in coaching Boys High pupils when an opportunity arises.
THE ANNUAL SUMMER SPORTS DAY ON SATURDAY 15 JANUARY 2022 WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!
For weeks we held our breath! After Summer Sports Day 2021 was rained out and the 2020 event had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, dared we hope that all conditions would allow us to host the Summer Sports Day? The answer was a resounding YES.
Hundreds of Old Boys, some of their families, current pupils, Masters in Charge of sports and cultural activities and of course the Headmaster, Mr Greg Hassenkamp, attended the exciting events and a good time was had by all.
Full results will be posted on our website, but here are a few highlights:
TENNIS : The Old Boy doubles tournament was won by Ryan Brookshaw and Marco Matteucci.
CHESS
The battle of minds
Two rounds of Chess were played.
The first round had 11 players in total, and the second round had 10 players.
PBHS won the first round against Old Boys 6-5
Old Boys won the second round against PBHS 6.5- 3.5
CROSS COUNTRY
A crowd favourite!
Mr Stephen Koller (Class of 1962, Town House) and his grandson Jeddon Koller, participated in the 4,5 km Cross Country during Summer Sports Day. A cheer went up from the crowd as they finished the race and reported in for a sports drink at the Sommerville Pavilion, Hofmeyr Oval at the school. Other runners, the 2nd cricket team and other onlookers were motivated by the energy of the duo!
THUNDERGUNS LUNCH, 17 NOVEMBER 2021
OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION RUGBY JERSEYS SPECIAL OFFER
The Old Boys Association has partnered with Old School, one of the largest e-commerce stores in the country, to create a custom Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys rugby jersey. The rugby jersey is available on a pre-order basis on the Old School website: http://oldschoolsa.com/collections/custom-jerseys/products/pretoria-boys-high *Use the discount code PBHSOB1 to get R100 off*
ENTERTAINMENT AND SPECIALS GALORE AT THE CLUBHOUSE
Those of you living in or visiting the Pretoria area, remember to visit the Clubhouse in Queen’s Crescent, Lynnwood for various entertainment, drinks and food specials! Call 012-3481292 for more info.
Tuesdays – Quiz Night
Wednesdays – Joker’s Draw
Thursdays – Phobian’s Time Trial
Fridays – Live Music
Saturdays – Hazel Market
IN MEMORIAM
It is with deep sorrow that we remember Old Boys who are no longer with us:
Leonard Christopher Kerr Sloan
Neal Corles Halford
Louis Rapmund
Harold Cable
Our hearts go out to their families and loved ones, rest in peace. Obituaries will be uploaded on the website.