Sports Captains
The 2020 Captain of Archery is B. Khuankham 6G
His first exposure to Archery was whilst attending an “Introduction to Archery Course” here at Grammar in January 2019. Khuankham since qualified as a Recurve archer, before moving across into the Compound division.
He has gone on to represent the school at the Interschool competitions over the last two years and has also taken part in the St Peter’s Invitational.
He has been a committed member of the team and has developed into a talented Compound Archer. He has also assisted newer members, in training shoots.
The 2020 Captain of Athletics is J. W. M. Chambers-Steward 7C
Chambers-Steward has been proud to represent the School throughout his secondary school athletics career.
Chambers-Steward specialty events are the 100 and Long Jump. He is also a 4x100m relay specialist. In 2019, he was selected as a member of the New Zealand Under 18 relay team aiming to compete at the Junior World Relay Championships in Kenya later this year.
He is the current School Intermediate 100m and Long Jump Champion. His 2019 jump of 6.45m was 1cm short of the school record set by lasts years Athletics Captain Dominic Overend in 2018. He is also the current Intermediate Auckland Champion recording a 6.55m jump and a personal best in 2019.
Chambers-Steward has been an integral member of many podium finishing 4x100m relay teams since starting at Grammar as a Form 3 student in 2016.
Chambers-Steward was Nationally ranked third, winning the bronze medal in the junior long jump in 2018 and was unable to compete in the 2019 Nationals due to injury.
Chambers-Steward has some clear personal goals he wants to achieve this year. In his leadership role as Captain of Athletics, he has a lot to offer the sport and he is determined to take Grammar athletics to the next level.\
The 2020 Captain of Badminton is J.Y Chen 7D
Chen has played for the Premier team for the last 2 years.
He was a member of the 2019 Premier Team that placed second at the Auckland Secondary School Championships and the New Zealand Secondary School Championships.
Chen is a dedicated and enthusiastic player who always gives his best. He has a proactive and inclusive leadership style, actively engaging and training younger players.
The 2020 Captain of Basketball is C.B Ngan 7C1
Ngan is a hardworking point guard who debuted for the Premier team in his 5th form.
He has continued to develop leadership skills to complement his on-court ability. His attitude alongside his tireless work ethic saw him earn national selection in the U17 New Zealand Team.
Leading this young team will test his leadership skills but this is a challenge he is prepared for and will assist his growth as a leader.
The 2020 Captain of Captain of Chess is D.H Gong 7A
Gong has been captain of chess since he began at the school in Form 3. He holds a FIDE Master (FM) title and is ranked number 1 in the U18age grade and is 8th overall in New Zealand, and 308th U18 in the world.
In 2018 he represented New Zealand at the World Chess Olympiad in Georgia, and will again at this year’s Olympiad in Moscow. I
In 2017 Gong led the Grammar team to victory in the National Secondary Schools Championship. Since then they have placed runners-up in the national competition and along with fellow team members he looks forward to reclaiming the title in his 7th Form year.
The 2020 Captain of Cricket is J. R. Irwin 7E
Irwin is a talented sportsman who has to date represented the School in both the 1st XI Cricket and 1st XI Hockey teams. He is also a National age group representative for Hockey.
Irwin is a quiet and hardworking sportsman who has led from the front as a batsman.
As a Senior Prefect, he will draw on this leadership experience to not only lead the team but focus on his own game batting in the higher order.
The 2020 Captain of Cycling is J. S. Rackham 7D
Rackham has been a member of the cycling team since Form 3. He rode Junior A for two years and won the National and North Island title in his second year, and the Auckland title both years. As a member of the Senior A team last year he won the Auckland and North Island titles.
Rackham has placed top 3 in Nationals and North Island criterium for four years. He has represented Auckland at the Track Nationals and New Zealand in Canberra in a 4-day Tour.
Rackham's experience and leadership will be vital to the team this year as his commitment and dedication training and the tenacity he demonstrates when representing the School.
The 2020 Captain of Disc Ultimate is J.Z Lewis 6A
Lewis has displayed the requisite individual characteristics of skill, athleticism and game knowledge, alongside a passion for the game, strong leadership under pressure, and a genuine willingness to help others learn the sport.
He is a clear role-model on the field, and a driving-force off the field.
Lewis has been involved in Disc Ultimate since debuting for the Premier I team in his third form, and the team has been National Champions in each of those years. He was selected for the New Zealand Under 20s team, which competed in the Asia-Pacific Championships in December last year, and, if not for the outbreak of Covid-19, would have just returned from representing New Zealand at the World Youth Championships in Malmo, Sweden.
He is a player who will make a large contribution to make to Disc Ultimate in the years ahead.
The 2020 Captain of the Distance Squad is R. A. Dawson 7C
Dawson has been a member of the Distance Squad at Auckland Grammar School since his third form and has represented the squad at numerous events including National Cross Country, Auckland Championships and New Zealand Secondary Schools Road Race.
He has had several successes as part of 6-man team with medal placings at national events.
He is a committed squad member who leads by example in his approach to his training. He has gone from strength to strength and continues to improve as a result of his commitment to training, both midweek and at weekends.
His positive attitude and enjoyment of the sport along with his humility and integrity are attributes that will benefit the wider squad.
The 2020 Captain of Fencing is D.J.Z. Evans
Evans is in his sixth year of the sport, and since the beginning of 2015 has steadily climbed the youth rankings to be eleventh in the country in sabre league competitions.
Evans’ development is particularly impressive because most other fencers in his class have been involved in the sport for 2-3 years longer than him.
Evans has represented the School in Brisbane where his team placed fifth among Australian and New Zealand entries, and in the New Zealand Nationals where his team placed fourth, making him a deft and experienced swordsman to lead the Auckland Grammar School Fencing Club.
The 2020 Captain of Football is D. Thomas 6E1
Thomas has been a member of the 1st XI Football team since Form 5 and soon proved himself invaluable, starting every game in his debut year. He is a gifted footballer, who has represented Auckland at age group levels.
He is a versatile player who is able to fulfil both defensive and midfield responsibilities; however, it is as an uncompromising centre back that he leads the team. On the field Thomas is combative and fiercely competitive, whilst off the field he is humble and a keen student of the game.
Since 1928, only 6 captains have led the 1st XI in their Form 6 year, and Thomas is the first to have this honour in 20 years. He is highly respected by his peers and by all coaching and teaching staff he is involved with. Above all, he displays all of the leadership attributes and the character to support such aspirations.
The 2020 Captain of Golf is M. S. Griffiths 5A
Griffiths has been a member of the Grammar golf team since Form 3.
Through hard work and dedication he has reduced his handicap to single figures and moved to the number 4 position in the Premier team.
Griffiths is a mature head who applies the disciplines established in his academic life to the challenge of leading a young and talented golf team.
The 2020 Captain of Hockey is J. R. Irwin 7E
Irwin is a vastly experienced and highly skillful mid-fielder who has played for the 1st XI team since Form 3.
He is respected for his strong work ethic on the field. He is a key playmaker who leads by example both on and off the field. He has excellent potential to lead the 1st XI to a strong season this year.
Having played in a number of Auckland and Supercity finals and Rankin Cup knock out games, he understands what it takes to be successful at this level.
Irwin was an Under 18 Auckland representative player in 2019 and an Under 18 New Zealand squad member in 2019.
The 2020 Captain of Lacrosse is S.G Clark 7F1
Clark has been a member of the Premier Lacrosse Team since his 3rd form. He has captained the team for the last two seasons. He has a thorough understanding of the game as well as a high skill level. He has represented New Zealand at Under 18 level and has been selected in the Auckland Men’s Team for 2019/2020 Nationals.
Spencer has excellent on field vision and communicates well with the ability to set the pace of the game.
The 2020 Captain of Mountain Biking is: O.R Malpass 7E1
Malpass has been an active member of the School’s Mountain Biking programme since his 3rd form. He has been a dedicated competitor who has continually improved.
In 2019 he was 9th overall in the U20 division of the Auckland Champs
His experience in the Duke of Edinburgh - Gold programme have helped him hone his leadership skills as he aims to help the club grow and see its membership achieve to their potential.
The 2020 Captain of Multisport is C. M. J. Dalton 7C.
Dalton has been in the triathlon squad for 5 years and has achieved podium results in both Auckland Secondary Schools and New Zealand Secondary Schools Triathlon events throughout this time.
He was the Auckland Secondary School's Intermediate Champion in the Aquathon, Triathlon, and Duathlon in 2019. Along with these accolades he was fourth at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Triathlon Championship last year.
This year he has already won the Auckland Secondary Schools Senior Aquathon title and tomorrow will try to secure the Auckland Secondary School Triathlon title for the second year in a row.
The 2020 Captain of Orienteering is L. W. James 7C
James has been a member of the Grammar Orienteering team since Form 4. He has developed into an able contributor within the code.
In 2019, he placed 11th in the Auckland Sprint Series for his grade and was part of the senior relay team who were fifth at Nationals.
He is determined to help lead Grammar Orienteering into a dominant position in the sport and to help younger students to develop in the sport.
The 2020 Captain of Rowing is M. J. Hiddleston 7D
Hiddleston has been a member of the Rowing squad since Form 3 and has developed into an outstanding oarsman during this time. He has represented the school and the Auckland region with distinction.
He is currently in the Senior eight, and Under 18 Pair and four. In 2019, he represented Auckland in the Regional Performance Centre team that travelled to Australia, where his crews won a gold medal in the eight and four and silver in the pair. He has also won numerous medals at North Island Championships and Maadi Cup.
Hiddleston leads by example, and has a selfless attitude. He has an excellent work ethic and is a clear communicator. He has the respect of his peers and is managing the large team of 60 athletes in a composed manner as they prepare for the next four regattas of the season.
The 2020 Captain of Rugby is F. S. Halafihi 7H1
Halafihi is in his third year in the 1st XV where he plays the position of hooker.
He is a powerful ball carrier with the ability to break tackles and get over the gain line. He is an accurate lineout thrower and a strong scrummager.
He was a member of the Blues Under 18 team and New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2019.
Halafihi is a 2020 Prefect who leads by example.
The 2020 Captain of Squash is L. A. Fatialofa 7D1
This is Fatialofa's third year in the Premier 1 Squash Team.
He is a skilled player with an elite grading of A1, only the third Grammar student to attain this grading while still at School.
On court, Fatialofa brings a powerful physical presence and backs this up with speed and endurance. His singular drive to improve all aspects of his game and his determination to win is inspirational to his teammates and a model for younger players to follow.
Fatialofa won the New Zealand, Australian and Oceania Under 15 titles in 2017. He represented New Zealand at the World Junior Championships in 2018 and 2019, as well as the Auckland Senior Men's Team in 2018.
He has also competed in international tournaments including the Canadian and U.S. Junior Open tournaments.
The 2020 Captain of Swimming is M. J. E. Clark 7E
Clark has been an outstanding competitor representing the Grammar swim team since Form 3.
He was the Intermediate Swimming Champion in 2018 and the Senior Champion in 2019 and 2020. He has won numerous medals at Regional and National Championships, particularly in backstroke.
Clark also anchored the Grammar relay teams who won first place overall at the 2019 Nationals. His time of 23.4 seconds in the 8 x 50 Freestyle relay was the key to winning the gold medal.
He is a member of the New Zealand Under 18 Talent ID Squad and was selected in the New Zealand training squad. Clark is a focused and dedicated young man who has consistently performed at the highest level for his age-group.
In 2020 his talent, experience and leadership will be vital to a team of younger swimmers as they look to win the national title after finishing 3rd last year.
The 2020 Captain of Tennis is J. S. Loomb 7F
Loomb joined the school last year as a Form 6 student and earned selection in the Premier team that won the Quadrangular tournament.
He has played tennis at a representative level and this experience is an asset to the team.
Loomb's leadership by example will help the team consolidate their performances firstly in the Auckland Premier competition, but also with key traditional exchanges.
The 2020 Captain of Touch Rugby is C.S.R.B. Maddigan 7H1
Maddigan has been in the Auckland Grammar Premier Touch team since his fourth form.
He has also represented Auckland in age group representative teams and higher honours consist of representing New Zealand in the under 16 mixed team, and is currently a member of the under 18 mixed training squad.
As a player he is uncompromising on defence, vocal and leads from the front, setting a good example for his peers.
In 2019 he coached the Junior A and B touch teams, gaining their respect by demonstrating expert knowledge and commitment to the game.
The 2020 Captain of Volleyball is M. T .J. Lokeni 7C1
Lokeni has played volleyball at the School since Form 3 when he was a member of the Junior Premier team.
He has been a committed and valued member of the Senior Premier team the last two years and is a versatile player who can cover multiple positions.
Having been a setter and an opposite hitter the last few years he has cemented his spot in the starting line up as an outside passer and hitter.
In a leadership capacity he brings enthusiasm and energy to the team whilst also holding the team accountable for high standards on and off the court.
The 2020 Captain of Water Polo is G. H. Falconer 7G
Falconer is in his third year as a member of the Premier Water Polo team.
He has been an integral part of the team ever since making his appearance as a Form 5 student in 2018
He is an attacking threat on the right wing. His approach to water polo is one of determination and dedication and he will lead by example.
His skills and training ethos have seen him selected for national representation training camps
The 2020 Captain of Weightlifting is G. B. J. Brown 7E1
Brown is in his third year of the sport, and since the beginning of 2018 has steadily climbed the youth rankings to be fourth in the country in the 81kg weight class.
It is particularly impressive because most of the other top lifters in his class have been involved in the sport for two to three years longer than him and are several kilograms heavier.
He has a personal best snatch of 80kgs and a clean amd jerk of 111kgs, making him the best lifter in the school based on Sinclair score, which is the figure that takes into account a lifter's body weight relative to what he or she can lift.
He also ranks in the top ten most-improved youth lifters in the country across all weight categories.
The 2020 Captain of Yachting is H.W.H Angus 7H
Angus has established himself as an experienced sailor for both the school team and New Zealand age group teams. His achievements include helping lead the school to the top placed team in the 2018 National Championship for Team Racing and 2nd in New Zealand for the 2019 Open Teams Regatta.
He has represented New Zealand in sailing events around the world, most notably in Japan for the Tokyo Friendship Cup and in Sydney for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.