Class Notes 2026

FROM THE COMBINED EDITIONS OF 2026 REGULUS

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MAY REGULUS

Custodian Mike ‘Scrump’ Johnston (1974) represented the Grey Caps, New Zealand’s Over‑70s cricket team, at the Over‑70s World Cup, featuring eight teams from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Australia, the United States, India, England and Canada. England beat Australia in the final. Mike Johnston and Kit Chambers (1966) also competed in the Over‑70s National Cricket Championships in Timaru, following Mike’s appearance in the Australia–New Zealand Over‑65s National Tournament in Christchurch, where he teamed up with fellow Old Collegian Tony Gray (1976).

Being Yee Ting (1980), who joined the College as a boarder from Kiribati in 1979 for his final two years of schooling, visited the College. Being now works as a Fisheries Advisor for the Government of Nauru.

Salapol (Peng) Ansusinha (1998) visited St Andrew’s from Thailand in February. Peng boarded at St Andrew’s from 1994–1998 and is now a design lecturer at a university in Bangkok. He enjoyed catching up with Boarding House Manager Ian White during his visit.

Charlie Ryder (2007) and his Christchurch‑born alt‑pop band Yumi Zouma embarked on a North American and European tour. The band has released its fifth album, No Love Lost to Kindness, and continues to collaborate remotely from New Zealand, New York and London.

Logan van Beek (2008) represented the Netherlands at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

In December, Canterbury Cricket Captain Henry Nicholls (2009) smashed his highest first‑class score of 226 runs against Plunket Shield leaders Auckland. Henry was recognised at the New Zealand Cricket Awards, receiving the Redpath Cup for Men’s first‑class batting after scoring 793 runs at an average of 99, and was also named Men’s Domestic Player of the Year. He teamed up with Rhys Mariu (2019) for a massive 271‑run stand, with Rhys adding an impressive 147 runs. This was Canterbury’s highest‑ever second‑wicket partnership and the fourth‑highest partnership in the team’s history.

Two Old Collegians went head‑to‑head in the United Rugby Championship in Parma, northern Italy. Sam Gilbert (2016) took the field for Irish side Connacht, while Shilo Klein (2017) represented Zebre Parma. Both proudly captained the 1st XV during their time at the College.

Blair Currie (2018) has signed with KTP in Finland’s second‑tier football championship. Formerly a New Zealand youth team goalkeeper, Blair most recently played for Wellington United in the National League following a successful collegiate career in the United States.

Marcus Armstrong (2018) is returning to Meyer Shank Racing for the 2026 IndyCar season. After spending two seasons with Chip Ganassi Racing, Marcus rejoined MSR, where he achieved his strongest championship result to date in 2025, finishing eighth overall. Marcus was named IndyCar Rookie of the Year in 2023 and continues to build his presence in the series.

Joel Lam (OC 2020) made his Super Rugby debut for Moana Pasifika against the Chiefs, entering the match in the second half at halfback.

Tapenisa Havea (2021) recorded an outstanding performance at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lubbock, Texas, the annual championship event for Big 12 universities. Competing for the University of Arizona, Tapenisa won the Women’s shot put with a throw of 55‑0.75 (16.78m), securing the gold medal in a highly competitive field. Tapenisa has also been selected for the New Zealand team for the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland, competing in shot put.

Tom Turner (2022) and his team won the High Goal Challenge title at Urban Polo in Hagley Park. The match was decided in the final 30 seconds, with a 4–3 result sealing the win.

Finn Emslie‑Robson (2022) competed in the ITF World Tennis Tour in Timaru, which brought together some of the best emerging international players alongside New Zealand’s finest. Finn was also the warm‑up partner for Eliot Spizzirri (USA) at the 2026 ASB Classic in January. Spizzirri is currently ranked 67th in the world.

Jakarta Klebert and Hugh Nixon (both 2022) travelled to Chennai, India, to represent the New Zealand Under‑21 Men’s Squad at the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup.

Charlie Sullivan and Sam Mustchin (2024) were selected for the New Zealand Rugby Under‑20 Development Programme in Taupō.

Kavanah Lene (2023) took the field with the New Zealand Women’s Sevens Development Squad at the Fiji Coral Coast Sevens. The team went on to win the Plate Final.

At the 2026 National Pipe Band Championships, the Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band secured the Grade 1 title. Old Collegians comprise more than 65 per cent of the band, including Pipe Major Piers Dover (2013) and Drum Sergeant Michael Jenkins (2013). Other Old Collegians in the band include Kate Booker (2017), Marcella Bragg (2019), Kirby Douglas (2013), Jamie Hawke (2006), Richard Hawke (1980), Harry Justice (2024), Aaron Mitchell (2013), Dan Moir (2007), Louis Newman (2018), Lucas Paterson (2024), Josh Smith (2014), Rebekah Weir (2017) and Alex Wilson (2016).

Lauren Whittaker (2023) achieved an outstanding double honour, being named West Coast Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. The West Coast Conference is one of the major university sporting leagues in the United States. Winning Player of the Year saw Lauren recognised as the top women’s basketball player across the entire conference, while Freshman of the Year meant she was also the best first‑year player in the league.

Harry Justice (2024) competed in the Midwest Highland Arts Fund Winter Storm in Kansas City, winning the Gold Medal Tenor Drumming Championships.

Charlie Sullivan (2024) was named one of the inaugural recipients of the 2026 BCITO Scholarship, announced as part of the Crusaders’ new partnership with the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO). The scholarship recognises Charlie’s commitment to both rugby development and trade training, providing tailored support to balance on‑the‑job learning with his Crusaders Academy pathway.

Five Old Collegians were selected for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific Championships: Seb Calder (2019) – Crusaders; Will Stodart (2021) – Highlanders; Isaiah Armstrong‑Ravula (2021) – Fijian Drua; Joel Lam (2020) – Moana Pasifika; and Torian Barnes (2021) – Blues.

The first Old Collegians Canoe Polo Reunion was held on Sunday 22 February and is set to become an annual event. The highlight was the inaugural Senior A versus Old Collegians match. Current College coaches Nick Burnett (1994) and Justin Randall (1989) were joined by Sophie Burnett and Liam Randall (both 2025), who competed alongside their parents, as well as Thomas White (2025) and Riley Thomson (2023). They faced a determined Senior A team captained by Luca Rose (Year 13). After an even first half, the experience of the Old Collegians proved decisive, securing a 4–1 win and the Burnett Family Cup.

A number of Old Collegians competed at the New Zealand Rowing Championships, representing the Avon Rowing Club:
• Ben Taylor (2017) – Gold, Premier Men’s 2‑, 4‑ and 8
• Zack Rumble (2017) – Gold, Premier Men’s 4‑ and 8; Silver, 2x
• Isabella Galvan (2021), in her first year of rowing – Gold, Women’s Novice and Intermediate 4+; Silver, Novice 4x; Bronze, Intermediate 8
• Ashton Corkery (2020) – Gold, Men’s Club 4‑; Silver, Men’s Club 8
• Coby Goode (2024) – Gold, Men’s Club 4‑; Silver, Men’s Club 8
• Robbie Miller (2025), coxswain – Silver, Novice 4x
• Theo Thomas (2025) – Silver, Men’s Intermediate 4 and 8
• Jackson Evans (2025) – Silver, Men’s Intermediate 8

Old Collegians Blair Williamson (2008), Sam Calvert (2010), Andrew King (2009) and Alex Witt (2018) took to the track in a fiercely contested relay against prefects and staff at the Secondary School Athletic Sports. Although pipped at the line by the prefects, the Old Cols delivered a strong performance.

It was also very special to welcome members of the champion 1956 athletics team seventy years on. Don Davison (1956), Maurice Milliken (1957) and Eddie Oakley (1958) cheered on the latest generation of athletes and assisted with prizegiving at the end of the day.

Jimmy Rainey (2012) is touring with Symposium Brass as part of Chamber Music New Zealand’s Progression tour.

Niamh Chamberlain, Ophelia Powell and Rafferty Powell (all 2024), along with Bronson Curtis and Rylan Cliff (both 2025), have been selected for various representative basketball teams.