Director of Sport Report

BRYAN HAIN

Director of Sport

This was another action-packed GPS season catering for the Prep and Senior School students in one combined GPS program. It was exciting to see the U10 team open the day with their junior matches at the same complex and then watch the senior boys finish the GPS round against the same school opposition. In the championship sports (Swimming, Cross Country and Track and Field) there were two separate events and the Prep School were highly competitive in all these sports with some talented TSS athletes winning their events. Everyone appreciated the spectacle and especially when the Senior boys were present to cheer on the younger TSS athletes.

It is getting extremely tough to win a GPS event against the much bigger schools in Brisbane. So it is pleasing to look back at 2015 with three GPS titles in Swimming, Sailing and Cricket. I am sure the Seniors will look back at 2015 with pride, having challenged for honours in so many of the GPS Sports and Activities.

The TSS Swimming program is making a huge impression in both the school and club swimming community. The numbers of State, national and even international-level swimmers has gradually risen over the past three years. TSS competed strongly to win the GPS Swimming Championships and held off a spirited challenge from BGS and BBC who finished 41 and 49 points behind the boys in red, white and blue. The TSS Sailing program continues to grow in strength even though there has been considerable restructuring at the State organising level. The school has some very dedicated and talented sailors at the school, all successfully competing across the country (and even at international regattas) in their various class boats. TSS had two teams competing at the GPS Sailing Championships and it was great to see the school secure the trophy after a full day of races at RQ Brisbane.

The TSS Cricket program is now considered one of the strongest school coaching centres in SE Queensland. Not only is the school consistently sending players through the representative pathways, but is also winning many more games in the GPS school competition. 2015 was a very successful year for TSS cricket and it was great to see the 1st XI secure the GPS title once again.

TSS Gymnastics compete against a small number of GPS schools as not every school has a specialist gymnastics centre on site. In 2015 TSS finished second overall in the GPS Gymnastics Championship. The position points from the three age group divisions are combined to find the overall winner. TSS finished second in all three divisions, just behind a strong BGS gymnastics team.

The TSS Rugby season fired up in Term Two with the Queensland Schoolboy trials, followed by the National Championships in the mid-year break. Well done to all the boys who featured in the State and national level squads. It was great to see so many boys playing representative rugby in 2015. The seniors will remember 2015 as a very successful year with considerable success in the Open Divisions. Once again the

First XV played an exciting style of football and we were on top of the table after five rounds. Unfortunately a close defeat to Nudgee (26-29) changed the season and in the end TSS finished equal third on the GPS ladder with TGS and BBC. Nudgee finished in second position with Churchie once again taking out top honours.

TSS has always had a long association with the sport of rowing after its founder based the school on the banks of the Nerang River. Success in the early season regattas at Grafton and strong training programs in the holiday camps saw TSS start the new season in good form. TSS looked well placed to challenge Nudgee for race honours at the Head of the River, but in the end finished third in the First VIII race. All the crews in the three separate age groups raced well to secure TSS Rowing second place overall in the Old Boys Cup.

In the activities of Chess TSS had a wonderful year finishing third overall, the first time the school has finished in the top three since 2009. This was a fantastic result for the chess program and the large number of players who compete for the school across the different age groups. GPS Debating is also another exciting activity on offer at TSS and although the seniors performed well in the many debates, unfortunately wins were hard to secure in 2015. The TSS Golf team won the Junior Inter-collegiate championship and the senior team finished in the top three of all the golf schools in South East Queensland. The senior team also performed well in the GPS championships, finishing third overall. TSS continues to make good progress in both Cross Country and Athletics. This year we saw one of the closest GPS cross country championships ever. TSS finished one point off third place and only three points off a second place. The TSS U15’s and U16’s age group teams both finished in the top three positions and the Open team finished fourth. In Track and Field there has been a gradual increase in the number of athletes at TSS who have committed to a longer training and preparation program. It was pleasing to see so many TSS athletes achieve a personal best performance at the GPS Championships and a number of boys go on to represent Queensland at National Championships later in the year. TSS Basketball had a stellar season and finished equal second on the GPS ladder, just behind Ipswich Grammar School who took out the overall title. Over the years the TSS basketball program has established itself as a breeding ground for committed young basketball players who are keen to go further in the game, whether that be locally or secure a USA College Scholarship. This year the TSS squad worked extremely hard to prepare for the GPS season and that’s why it is so pleasing to see them achieve their goal of a top three finish.

In conclusion it has been a rewarding year for so many boys who have competed for TSS in the various sports and activities. Regardless of the team, age or level it was great to see the TSS sportsmanship, community spirit and the overall enthusiasm to support all activities. I would like to take this opportunity to wish the class of 2015 every success in their future endeavours.