1974 - J O (Chick) Wells was NZ Harlequin president in 1974 when our club hosted the NSW Country side in mid-April. The NSW Country team featured halfback John Hipwell, loose forward Greg Cornelson, back rowers John Lambie and Tony Gelling, centre James Hindmarsh and hooker Peter Horton. Manager was Ross Turnbull and coach Daryl Harbrecht. Our team was – Trevor Irwin; Alan Clark, Cyril Anderson, Glenn Ross; Greg Kane, Ross McGlashan; Doug Phillips; Dick Myers; Ray Stafford, Kevin Reay, Bill Bartie, Ray Anderson; Dave Olsen, Pat Bennett, John O’Connor. Reserves: Joey Rogers, Des Blythe, Paul Jarrett, Peter Eggleton. Referee was Peter Logan.
Our club’s officers that year were – Patron, Bill Bourke; president, Chick Wells; vice presidents, Pat Greene, Ron Hemi; secretary, Rex Pickering; club captain, Jas Mackenzie; treasurer, Roger Loveridge; committee, Jock Ensor, Alec Gillespie, Ian Paterson, Tom Lithgow, Alex Paterson, John Storey; gear custodian, Reg Smith; auditor, Don McKenzie. Chick Wells’ contribution was not just as a very able administrator, but more as a special person of good humour and warm friendship – an ideal Harlequin.
1976 - One of our members has sent us the March 13, 1976, programme of the special match between Cantabrians v Harlequins in honour of the great Waikato and All Black hooker, Has Catley. The teams were – Harlequins: R B Litt (Waikato); J S McLachlan (Auckland), G Thomsen (Wellington); T Jackson (Auckland); J Kamizona (Bay of Plenty), M B Taylor (Waikato); D W Mullins (Waikato); B Rolfe (Wellington); G C Williams (Wellington), R J Moore (Bay of Plenty), J W Wootten (Wellington), R B Stafford (Waikato); J M O’Connor (Hawke’s Bay), P A Olsen (Waikato), S Watt (Auckland). Reserves: T Irwin, D R Carey, R G Myers, J M Chilton, R Carey, M Welsh (all Waikato). Cantabrians (from Canterbury unless othwise mentioned: W F McCormick; D McGuigan, D Heffernan. B R Ford (Marlborough); K J Gimblett, A Goddard; K Lawler; J Ross; A J Wyllie, W Anderson (South Canterbury), J Harwood, S E Cron; W K Bush. W Ryan, B Dennison (South Canterbury). Reserves: B Elder, B Davidson, M Mcewan. Referee: I J Clarke. Harlequin officials that season were – Patron, J R Fitzgerald; president, P W Greene; vice presidents, R C Hemi, T S Lithgow; secretary, P Logan; treasurer, R M Loveridge; club captain Jas Mackenzie; committee, I J Clarke, B A C Cowley, J Storey, I Paterson, P Hogan, J Hogan; hon surgeons, H Douglas, D Allen, G Campbell, R Stephens, J Gray; historian, J O Wells; gear custodian, R C Smith; auditor, D R J McKenzie.
1977 - Saturday, July 16 – day of Waikato v Lions – 1.20pm Golden Oldies Clash – Teams listed in official programme - Harlequins: Brian Cooper, Bill Birtwistle, Gaine Carrington, Jas Mackenzie, Bryce Cowley / Gordon Brunskill. Roger Dallas, ian Cathro, Rex Pickering, Gary Hayes, Brian Clarke, Ian Paterson, Ian Begbie, John Storey, Frank Peacocke, John Porima. Reserves, Joey Rogers, Keith McFarlane, Jeff Riley, Peter Hogan, Linc Quarrie. Waikato: Andy Bell, Bill Parker, Morrie Raureti, Rob Flannagan, Gary Catley, dave Wood, John Wood, Alan Hayes, Tom Johnson, Mike Hull, Graeme Clarke, Frank O’Kane, Ray Reardon, Joe Wright, John Maurd. Reserves: John Warren, Bill Aitken, Ray Kemp, Stu McCleery, John Reeves, Rob Michie, Ross Cameron. Referee, Roy Gillies; touch judges, Ken Brown, Paul Bacon.
1983 - Played Army Cadets on home and away basis. Paul McGill was Harlequin captain.
1984 – The Harlequin club again played the NZ Army Cadets on a home and away basis.
1988 - The Harlequin squad which went down 25-31 to the Wasps in the annual Easter fixture at Rotorua in 1988 included – Daryl Halligan, Jasin Goldsmith, Frank Bunce, Paul Simonsson, Kevin Cronin, John Boe, Brett Craies, Kevin Putt, Roy Connell, John Mitchell, Tom Coventry, Duane Monkley, Brent Anderson, Steve Gordon, Mark Gascoinge, Rob Gordon, Robbie McLean, Chris Kneebone, Richard Loe (captain), Warren Gatland, Wilson Tamaki.
1989 - Matches were played against Japan Under 23 and US Eagles. The young Japanese beat Harlequin Colts 22-15, but the Eagles lost to the Harlequin invitation side 44 – 6.
1990 - Midweek matches against first XV’s school games resumed. Leo Greene became club captain. Glenn Ross selected Harlequin squad to tour East Coast in March. Played at Taupo, Gisborne and Tauranga.
Bowls at Pirongia and luncheons and dinners became popular annual events during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
In 1992 Frank O’Kane was president and Bill Birtwistle took over from Tony Hansen as house manager. In that year Harlequins played as Waikato Colts as curtain raiser to Waikato v Western Samoa.
1992 – Classic Harlequins v Classis All Blacks, Saturday, October 10. Curtainraiser was NZ Army v Hamilton Police. Andy Haden brought down Ranfurly Shield which somehow got ‘lost’! Eventually turned up ‘somehow’ at Te Rapa Tavern.
In the mid-1990s Harlequins and others came to the realisation that the traditional charity games of the 50s and 60s were impossible to stage due to the unavailability of players and the diverse interests of the public at large. Midweek training matches against schools first XV’s also became fewer because of increased secondary schools programme.
* Rod Carmichael and Golden Oldies remained active. In 1993 Harlequin Golden Oldies went to festival in Dublin…
1994 – July luncheon to mark Waikato v Springbok fixture – special guests were members of 1956 and 1981 teams… venue Te Rapa Motor Hotel.
Began primary schools’ field day at Swarbrick Park in April.
1997 – Inaugural Mount Get-Together successfully held. Conducted full survey of members re future of club.
1998 - Under 17 squad included – Nathan White, Nathan Brooking, Tyler Antill, Daniel McCracken, Hamish Lockwood, Conan McGill, David Millar, Mathew Clarkin, Scott Pollard, Alan Davis, Mark Evans, Phillip Otto. Luke Bodle, Tobais Tuhakaraina, Te Wha Te Amo, Lance Tukarangi, Robert Christianson, Willy Thompson, Clinton Potter, Mark Gillespie, Jacob Katie. David Litt. Coach/managers. Ray Pattenden, John Hogan. Beat NZ Area Schools 20-6 and beat Centurions 34-19 on Athletic Park. Fairview Motors again major sponsor.
Became involved in Ohaupo jubilee match.
1999 - Hosted Pretoria Harlequins under 13s visit with the assistance of Murray East.
Executive - President, Ron Lockwood; vice president, Trevor Beer; past president, Brian Clarke; secretary, Winston Hooper; treasurer, Brett Craies; club captain, Ray Pattenden; vice captain, Rod Carmichael; house manager, Gary Hayes; committee, Bill Parker, John Maurd, John Hogan, Bernard Murphy, Murray Blackwell, Wayne Southcombe, Ross Brazier Mount get-together at new golf clubhouse – Organisers Ray Thornley, Bryce Cowley, Tony Hansen, Brian Baldwin.
2000 - NZ Area Schools 18, NZ Harlequin under 17s 10 at Rugby Park, Hamilton. Coaches Peter Gilbert, Peter Eggleton. Harlequin under 17s 34 NZ Vikings 7.
Executive – President: Ron Lockwood; vice president, Trevor Beer; past president, Brian Clarke; secretary, Winston Hooper; treasurer, Brett Craies; club captain, Peter Eggleton; vice captain, Rod Carmichael; house manager, Gary Hayes; committee, Bill Parker, John Maurd, Bernard Murphy, John Hogan, Murray Blackwell, Wayne Southcombe, Duncan Johnstone.
2001 - Executive – President, Trevor Beer; past president, Ron Lockwood; secretary, Winston Hooper; treasurer, Brett Craies; club captain, Peter Eggleton; vice captain, Rod Carmichael; house manager, Gary Hayes; committee, Brian Clarke, Keith Skipper, John Maurd, John Hogan, Bernard Murphy, Stewart Williams, Wayne Southcombe, Duncan Johnstone.
2002 - Executive – President, Trevor Beer; vice president, Brian Clarke; past president, Ron Lockwood; secretary, Winston Hooper; treasurer, Brett Craies; club captain, John Hogan; vice captain, Wayne Southcombe; house manager, Gary Hayes; committee, Keith Skipper, John Maurd, Rod Carmichael, Bernard Murphy, Stewart Williams, Duncan Johnstone, Peter Gilbert, David Enright.
2002 – Jan 16 race meeting at Te Rapa – help from Fraser-Tech, Hamilton Marist, Hamilton Old Boys, Hautapu Sports, Te Awamutu Sports, Taupiri, Te Rapa clubs / Super Liquor Te Rapa
2003 – Jan 15 race meeting at Te Rapa – help from Hamilton Marist, Hautapu, Te Awamutu Sports, Moose’s Casino and Bar, Industrial and Promotional Printing, Shamrock Club, Super Liquor Te Rapa, Te Rapa Tavern and Sports Bar.
Development Team went to Melbourne in November, 2003 – hosted by Melbourne Harlequins - Mark Burman, Tyler Leith, Richard Kahui, Brendon Leonard, Glenike Hawea, Zane Winslade, Duncan Jess, Rueben Williams, Elliott Sharpe, David van Eyk, Steven Baker, Kent Fife, Jeff Maka,Steve Setephano, Daniel McLean, Dean Devcich, Andrew White, Walter Wharawhera, Michael Delaney, Tau Moeke, Nathan White, Dwayne Sweeney, Tyron Child, Wayne McEntee
© Copyright, Historical records supplied by Winston Hooper
