McEvedy Shield

The McEvedy Shield is a domestic New Zealand athletics competition held in Wellington for four of the boys' secondary schools. The shield itself was donated by Dr P.F McEvedy, an old boy of St Patrick's College, Wellington, who went on to represent England in rugby union, in 1922 to promote the spirit of athletic competition between Wellington secondary schools and has become one of the highlights of the sporting calendar for the colleges involved. The McEvedy Shield track and field competition is held annually every March in Wellington City between the top four all boys colleges in the city.

On the morning of McEvedy Shield the pupils of rival colleges congregate at Wellington central railway station and busways and perform their own school haka to one another. From around 9:30am the students from all four schools turn up en masse and pack themselves into Newtown Park. The competition itself features 14 track and field events across four age groups.

Colleges Involved

The McEvedy Shield is a wooden shield that was first competed for in 1922. Over the years there have been a number of schools that have taken part in the event, such as Hutt Valley High School, Scots College and Wairarapa High School (who actually shared the Shield in 1925 with Wellington College and won it outright in 1927), but in the early 1980s it was decided that only the four traditional boys' schools would be able to compete. Wellington College and St. Patrick's College, Wellington are the only two schools that remain from the original contest in 1922, with Rongotai College being added in the late 1920s and St. Patrick's College, Silverstream taking part in their first year of existence, 1931. Only the four traditional boys' schools now compete for the Shield - In no particular order these are:

• St. Patrick's College, Wellington

• Wellington College

• St. Patrick's College, Silverstream

• Rongotai College

History of Results

Wellington College has dominated the McEvedy Shield, winning the event on 47 occasions during the 86 years it has been contested. Recently the college has won the shield in 11 of the last 14 years (exceptions were when St. Patrick's College, Silverstream won in both 2002 and 2003 and when St. Patrick's College, Wellington won in 1998).

St. Patrick's College, Silverstream holds the record for the most consecutive wins, winning from 1968-1973.

St. Patrick's College, Wellington have won the shield 16 times since the competition began in 1922. For 11 years from 1982-1992 St. Patrick's College won the shield 9 times from 11 attempts.

Recent Results

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Venue

Each year the competition is held at Newtown Park in the suburb of Newtown, Wellington. Where the boys from the four colleges stand, rotates every year as the main stand can only support two of the four colleges. For example if Wellington College and Rongotai College are in the stands one year then St. Patrick's College, Silverstream and St. Patrick's College, Wellington will be in the stands the next. The schools that aren't in the main stand gather on the surrounding banks.