St John’s College is once again facing Michaelhouse for our traditional sports derby. Despite a brief hiatus, the relationship between the two schools spans over 90 years, dating back to 1933, and is always one of the most anticipated fixtures of the year.
Traditionally, the two schools host the sports meet every other year, and this year Michaelhouse once again travelled to St John’s to continue the historic rivalry.
The two schools, despite being 500 kilometres apart, share many qualities that make this fixture such a highlight of the winter sports calendar. Both schools were founded at similar times, Michaelhouse in 1896 and St John’s in 1898, and both are Anglican in their foundations, traditions and outlook. Both schools stand as pinnacles of holistic education for young men, and the boys of Michaelhouse share many of the values instilled at St John’s. Throughout the years, the two schools have not only challenged each other on the field, but also stood alongside each other as two of the great schools of South Africa. What defines the relationship, above all else, is a mutual regard and a deep friendship.
The first fixture in 1933 was a rugby-only event. Hockey joined later, and the first team game quickly became equally popular and competitive. Squash, tennis, golf, chess and debating have since been introduced over the last 20 years. What strikes one when scanning reports of these matches across the past century is the quality and character that Michaelhouse consistently brings to the fixture and draws from us in return.
The report following the first rugby match between the sides noted that ‘Michaelhouse played delightful rugby… we extend our thanks to Michaelhouse for entertaining us as they did.’ From this initial encounter, the relationship between the schools has definitely grown more competitive, though no less respectful. In the early years, Michaelhouse was known as our ‘Hoodoo team’, the one to beat. In 1938, just five years after their first match, The Johannian captured the mood well: ‘as the gulf between the two teams narrows, it is now probably as popular as the traditional K.E.S. match… One day, we will beat Michaelhouse. Meanwhile, we are learning a great deal from them.’
That day came in 1940, when St John’s at last defeated Michaelhouse, a result so significant it appeared not only in the rugby report but proudly found its way into the Headmaster’s annual report. The side was coached by Mr AL McKenzie, captained by I Fitzpatrick. Perhaps even more impressively, we repeated this win the following year, on Michaelhouse’s home ground, becoming the first team that season to score against them. The result has gone back and forth ever since, but the camaraderie has endured for close to a century.
The derby against Michaelhouse has always been as much about the journey as the sport itself. Stories of St John’s taking the train to Michaelhouse, and the various shenanigans of both staff and boys along the way, are still recounted today.
St John’s would book an entire train that departed from Park Station around 8 pm on the Friday evening. The train arrived at Balgowan Station, opposite Michaelhouse, at around 8 am on the Saturday morning. Matches ran from that morning until approximately 4 pm, after which the boys had dinner, walked back to the station and boarded the train back to Johannesburg. The last train trip to Michaelhouse took place over the weekend of 27 May 2006, with buses replacing the train from 2008.
This enduring fixture and the long-standing bond between St John’s College and Michaelhouse is steeped in great stories, performances and friendships, which have encapsulated the tradition, ethos and culture that both schools represent. We welcome Michaelhouse to St John’s once more.
