clarke house · chess clarke house boasts some formidable chess players. zachary bowditch (uv) has...

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CLARKE HOUSE † est. MCMXXXV † Winners of Le Sueur Cup: 1999, 2001, 2013; Runners-up 2014

Headmaster: MR P.A. EDEY † Housemaster: DR D.M. PRETORIUS

Head of House: NICHOLAS ROWE † Editor: LLEWELLYN CRADDOCK

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FROM THE HOUSEMASTER’S DESK: EASTER TERM, 2015

We are pleased to present the second edition

of Clarke House Chronicle for 2015. As always,

the Chronicle endeavours to provide a record

of the activities and accomplishments of Clarke

boys, both collectively and individually.

A cursory perusal of this edition will reveal that

the first half of Easter Term has been both busy

and productive for our House. It will be

recalled from the first edition of the Chronicle,

published in January, that the year started with

the annual Inter-House Swimming Gala, in

which Clarke House achieved the second

position. Subsequently, our tennis players

ended third in the Inter-House Tennis

Competition. Most recently, our debating

team has been victorious in the quarter-final

and semi-final rounds of the Senior Inter-

House Debating Championship; our best

wishes accompany them as they prepare to

impress all and sundry with their oratorical

prowess in the final, which take places on

Monday, 9 March.

Many of our boys have represented the

College with distinction in a range of sporting

codes. Naturally, we are very proud of those

boys who have done so at the highest level,

and we encourage them to continue doing so

with the dedication and dexterity that they

have exhibited thus far.

We are equally impressed with the efforts of

those boys who do not often receive the

accolades that usually accompany the exploits

of the ‘A’ teams, but who nevertheless attend

their practices faithfully and who diligently try

their very best in the lower teams, which tend

to be overlooked when plaudits are

distributed. These boys, too, are encouraged

to persevere with purposeful commitment, not

only in pursuit of promotion to a higher team

but also because, through their tenacity and

team work, they are acquiring important life

skills that will stand them in good stead once

they have departed from the College’s

hallowed quadrangles and ivy-clad halls. Very

CLARKE

HOUSE

CHRONICLE

VOLUME II NUMBER 2

FEBRUARY 2015

ST JOHN’S COLLEGE

JOHANNESBURG

Clarke House Chronicle February 2015 2 __________________________________________________________________________________ frequently it is these boys, the proverbial

unsung heroes while at school, who later

flourish as men precisely because they have

learnt through experience never to give up and

to remain focused on their goals, even when

they do not receive the acclaim sometimes

enjoyed by their peers.

In circumstances where the vast majority of

boys make an admirable contribution to

College and House sport and cultural activities

– and, in the course of doing so, have a great

deal of fun with their friends and develop a

range of skills – it is disappointing to see that a

handful of boys do not avail themselves of the

opportunity to participate fully in the many

extramural activities offered by the College.

(In this regard, parents are reminded that it is

compulsory for all boys to participate in one

team sport in summer and one in winter.) It is

not acceptable for boys to “duck and dive” and

to do as little as they can possibly get away

with; and their parents should not be

accomplices in their evasion. Quite apart from

the fact that such a negative approach to

school life does not accord with our ethos,

these boys are depriving themselves of a

wonderful opportunity to interact with their

peers, acquire proficiency in an activity in

which they might eventually excel, and

generally to broaden their horizons.

We wish all Clarke House boys well in their

varied endeavours during the remainder of this

term. They are encouraged to use their time

productively and to ensure that, in their busy

schedules, they reserve time for ample

reading.

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THE BUFFELSPOORT MILE

On 1 February 2015, three Clarke House boys participated in the gruelling Maragon Platinum Mile

Swim at the Buffelspoort dam in the North West Province. All three of them acquitted themselves

very well. We extend our congratulations to James Shelton (LV), who finished ninth, Connor Dooley

(UIV), who finished fourteenth, and Matthew Collins (UIV), who was placed 78th.

Buffelspoort Mile participants: J Shelton (left), C Dooley (second from right) and M Collins (right)

Clarke House Chronicle February 2015 3 __________________________________________________________________________________

THE CHILVERS CUP SENIOR IMPROMPTU SPEAKING COMPETITION

On 5 February 2015, a number of Clarke House boys participated in the annual Chilvers Cup Senior

Impromptu Speaking Competition. The challenge confronting the speakers was to prepare a speech,

on a topic drawn at random, in five minutes, and then to deliver that speech to an audience comprising

parents, teachers and boys. It was a very entertaining evening, and all the participating Clarke boys

spoke with eloquence, confidence and wit. We commend all of them on their outstanding display of

public speaking talent. The participants were: Raees Patel (UV), Llewellyn Craddock (UV), Ramaano

Ramokgopa (LV) and Claude Ayo (UIV).

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ANDREW GILBERT: VIOLINIST EXTRAORDINAIRE

Andrew Gilbert (LIV) continues to make a wonderful impression in classical music circles. Last year,

he participated in the MIAGI Orchestra’s tour of Europe. The tour included performances at the royal

palace in Stockholm and at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall and the Koninklijk Concertgebaauw in

Amsterdam. Although only 14 years old, he was ranked in the top 12 positions for violinists up to the

age of 25 in the auditions for the South African National Youth Orchestra Towards the end of last

year. Andrew participated in the National Youth Orchestra’s fiftieth birthday celebration concerts in

Cape Town and Johannesburg. More recently, he has been nominated as co-leader of the

Johannesburg Youth Orchestra for the 2015 season.

Andrew’s achievements have caught the eye to the extent that he was invited to appear on M-Net’s

“Carte Blanche” programme on 1 March 2015. We commend Andrew on his prodigious music

achievements. These are all the more praiseworthy in view of the fact that he is also actively involved

not only in various College orchestral activities, but also in College cricket, hockey and soccer teams –

despite the fact that his musical career makes very significant demands on his time.

Derek Watts from “Carte Blanche” with Andrew Gilbert

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CHESS

Clarke House boasts some formidable chess

players. Zachary Bowditch (UV) has been

appointed captain of the College first chess

team, while Daniel Louw (LIV) was recently

named stand-in captain of the second team.

We are confident that they will lead our

House to great heights in the Inter-House

Chess Competition later this year.

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INTERHOUSE-TENNIS

On 16 and 17 February 2015, Clarke House participated in the Inter-House Tennis Competition.

Clarke’s junior team, consisting of Ben Kahanovitz (Rem) and Dino Iozzo (Rem), performed particularly

well and finished second in the junior competition. In the senior competition, Clarke was represented

by Colin Kinghorn (LV) and Marko Ivanovic (UIV), who came fifth. Overall, Clarke House finished in

third position. We commend our tennis players on this fine result.

Clarke tennis players (from left to right): B Kahanovitz, D Iozzo, C Kinghorn and M Ivanovic

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GROBS 2015

On the evenings of 24 and 25 February 2015, a

number of Clarke House boys participated in

the annual GROBS performance in Big School.

For the benefit of the uninitiated, GROBS is a

variety concert in which St John’s boys are

afforded an opportunity to showcase their

dramatic arts talents and to use the stage to

poke good-natured fun at each other (and

mercilessly to lampoon members of staff).

We congratulate James Henderson (LV), Afrika

Ndlovu (LV), Patrick Fitzgerald (LV) and

Connor Dooley (UIV) on their very impressive

performances.

A special mention goes to our Head of House,

Nicholas Rowe, who performed in the highly

amusing prefects’ play and in the 1st XV ballet,

complete with tutus and baby oil!

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STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL

As is customary, a member of each form in each house has been elected by his peers to be that specific

form’s Student Representative Council representative. The SRC is chaired by the Second Prefect, and

it considers suggestions submitted by form representatives with a view to improving school life. The

SRC members for Clarke House this term are Raees Patel (UV), Arnav Kapur (LV), Harry Stanley (UIV),

Lawrence Lowdon (LIV) and Gibran Sayegh (Rem).

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SENIOR INTER-HOUSE DEBATING

Rory Spiller, Liam Collins and Raees Patel (all UV) have been representing Clarke House in the Senior Inter-House Debating Competition. They defeated Hodgson in the quarter-final, with Collins being named the best speaker. In the semi-final, Clarke successfully opposed Clayton’s motion that “This House would make English the sole official language of South Africa”. Patel was named the evening’s best speaker. We commend Clarke’s senior debaters on their fine achievements to date.

We wish the team well for the final, which will take place in the Rene England Auditorium on 9 March 2015 at 18.30. All Clarke boys must come and support their House! They will find the experience both entertaining and edifying. We thank our parents for their kind assistance in providing nocturnal transportation services.

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SPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS

Basketball:

Spencer Marcinko (UV) and Ramaano Ramokgopa (LV) have been selected to play for the College 1st team.

Lukhanyo Kwini (LIV), Alex Scriba (LIV) and Trishan Moodley (LIV) have been selected to play for the College under 15A team.

Dino Iozzo (Rem) has been selected to play for the College under 14A team.

Swimming: Aidan Quinn (LV), James Shelton (LV), Simon Shelton (LIV), Michael Smith (LIV) and Jarred Boere (Rem) have all been members of the College A team.

Water polo:

James Shelton (LV) has been selected to play for the unbeaten College 1st team.

Connor Dooley (UIV), Kevin Rowe (UIV) and Justin Koevort (UIV) have all been selected to play for the College under 16A team.

Daniel Cockram (LIV), Daniel Harding (LIV), Simon Shelton (LIV) and Michael Smith (LIV) have all been selected to play for the College under 15A team.

Jarred Boere (Rem), Ben Kahanovitz (Rem), Taine Maynard (Rem) and Gibran Sayegh (Rem) have all been playing for the College under 14A team.

Cricket:

Liam Kovel (UV) is the vice-captain of the College 2nd XI. Devlin Hugo (LV) scored 21 for the 2nd XI v St Alban’s.

Nicholas Rowe (UV) is the captain of the College 3rd XI. Other members of the team include Dmitri Sayegh (LV), Julian Hayward (UV), Calum Harding and Devlin Hugo. The team recorded an exciting victory over St Stithians by 14 runs. Sayegh scored 35 and Hugo 38.

Liam Collins (UV) is the captain of the College 4th XI. Other members of the team include Mohammed Dasoo (UV), Raees Patel (UV) and Hiren Mistry (UV). Mistry scored 41 and took two wickets v St Alban’s.

Kieran Houlston (UIV) has been a member of the College under 16A team.

Shaun Jacobs (LIV) has been a member of the College under 15A team.

Michael Hoffmann and Tarun Gupta (both Rem) have been enjoying success for the College under 14C team. Hoffmann (Rem) scored 48 not out (58 balls) v Northcliff, 47 not out (62 balls) v St Stithians, and 20 not out (13 balls) v St Alban. Gupta scored 34 (46 balls) v Northcliff.

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JUNIOR PUBLIC SPEAKING

Timothy Geissler and Muhammed Moosajee (both Remove) achieved ‘A’ symbols at the South African

Guild Public Speaking Competition, which was held at Saheti on 3 March 2015.

Visit us on Facebook at SJC Clarke House

And on our website at http://www.stjohnscollege.co.za/studentHouseClarke.php

http://www.stjohnscollege.co.za/studentHouseClarke.php


IMPORTANT DATES

3 March (07h20) School begins after Half-Term

9 March (18h30) Final of Senior Inter-House Debating Competition (attendance compulsory)

22 March LIV Easter Wilderness School begins

28 March UIV Faith Exploration Camp (until 1 April)

2 April Easter Rugby Festival begins

3 April Easter Friday

7 April (17h00) Remove Parents Evening

13 April (18h30) O’Dowd Prepared Speaking Competition

16 April (18h30) Inter-House Music Festival (attendance compulsory)

17 April Easter Term ends

5 May Trinity Term begins

26 May Junior Inter-House Debating: Clarke v Alston

26 June Half-Term

7 August Trinity Term ends

8 September Michaelmas Term begins

22 October Half-Term

4 December Michaelmas Term ends

Sketch reproduced with kind permission of Ms Cathy Gatland

clarke house · chess clarke house boasts some formidable chess players. zachary bowditch (uv) has...

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