Some Sporting Highlights

1927 The girls complained that the tennis courts were surrounded by fowl yards. "We would like it understood that we do not like, and never have liked these abominations, and that for some malicious reason we are haunted by them."

1930 One game of football was played; "A Union game against Parramatta High. Our boys won 16-14, although they were playing a game entirely strange to them."

1952 "Organised sport is played on Wednesday afternoon. Winter sports are football, hockey and tennis for boys; basketball, hockey and tennis for girls. In summer, boys may take cricket, swimming or tennis, and girls softball, vigoro, tennis or swimming. Inter school matches were played against Lithgow and Penrith High schools and St. Bernards College."
At the Girls' Secondary Schools Sports held at the Sydney Cricket ground, Carolyn Pattie gained first place in the 75 yards skipping race and third place in the 16 years championship. Nine Katoomba High girls represented at the Girls' Secondary Schools Swimming Carnival held at the North Sydney Olympic pool. (This must stand as some sort of record for Katoomba. Editor's note.)

1955 The swimming carnival was held for the first time at Catalina Park "despite the lack of diving facilities and regulation starting blocks."
In the University Shield Rugby League Katoomba was knocked out in the semi final by Gosford 15-9 at Katoomba Showground. In that year there were 5 grade Rugby League teams.
Water Polo and Girls' Cricket were played for the first time.

1956 "Katoomba met Newcastle High in the semi final of the University Shield played in the Newcastle Sports Ground. Katoomba was defeated 25-5."Soccer replaced hockey in boys' sport.

1959 Six boys represented Katoomba High at the CHS Athletics Carnival. Lyndon Lockrey defended his state Hop, Step and Jump title with a winning distance of 45 feet 4 inches. He also gained 2nd place in the Open Javelin and 3rd place in the Open Broad Jump.

1962 Murray Tolbert won the 16 years Broad Jump and was 3rd in the Hop, Step and Jump at the All Schools Championships.

1970 At the State Athletics Carnival (G.S.S.A.) Pam Gordon recorded two second places in the 16 years 100m and 200m events.

1971 Kevin Walker represented N.S.W. at the Australian swimming Titles.

1972 Kevin Walker placed second at the CHS Swimming Championships in the 16 years 400m event.

1975 The Sportsmaster reported that the cost of buses for the Wednesday grade sport was a problem to be overcome.

1977 Christine Stockley (15 Years) won the State Championship in the 1500m the 3000m Cross Country Championships. Both Christine Stockley and Christine Egan (14 years) competed at the Australian Cross Country Championships in Brisbane.

1979 Again the Open Rugby League side reached the semi finals of the University Shield only to be defeated by Yanco Ag. High at Tamworth.

1981 Billy Southers (17 years) represented NSW in Cross Country and Athletics.

1988 Mark Dick won the 15 years High Jump at the CHS Carnival.

1989 Chad Fowler was a representative at the National Cross
Country Championships. Mark Dick again won the CHS High Jump and Todd Cleary won the Triple Jump at the same carnival.
The girls' K.O. Basketball team was placed fifth in the State Championships.

1992 David Thom won the CHS 16 years I 00m and competed in the Australian Titles in Perth.

1993 Girls' K.O. Basketball team reached the quarter finals in the Shell Cup State Wide Competition.

Sportsmen of Note

Reg Marsh: Reg was an Australian freestyle wrestler who represented Australia at the 1961 and 1968 Olympic Games, and the 1962, 1966 and 1974 Commonwealth Games. His most successful performance was at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth where he won a Silver Medal in the lightweight division.

Allan Cardy was Katoomba High student from 1958 to 1962 who 'displayed considerable athletic powers in every phase of sport and P.E.'(Outlook 1966). Allan played in the Australian Rugby Union team of 1966-67 and later played Rugby League for Eastern Suburbs.

Murray Tolbert When only 17 years old Murray became the youngest athlete to win a senior Australian championship when he won the Long Jumping 1962. He was declared too young to represent Australia in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Although he was the National Long Jump Champion in 1972 he as not selected for the Munich Games. He is still a keen athlete and last year won two gold medals at the Australian Athletics Veterans Championships.

Other Katoomba students who made a name for themselves in Rugby League are Geoff Selby, Brian Henderson, Chris Blair, Cameron Blair and Shane Stead