U22 Col Smee Championships

Colin ‘Col’ Smee – an all-round athlete from Bondi, who was a happy brother and companion, was warmly respected by all who knew him.  In his all too short life, he achieved a great amount in the sporting world.

Col attended Sydney Boys High School between 1948 and 1951. He graduated in 1951 as the School Captain of Swimming, Water Polo, Rugby, and Track Running.

AQUATIC LIFE  -  After school, Col became active with the Bondi Water Polo / Swimming Club, the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, and the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club.  He was a member of the NSW Water Polo Training Squad and a member of the Bondi Club's Water Polo with NSW Championship successes.  He was a member of the North Bondi Surf Club Junior Surf Teams and R&R National Championships. Col was also the Bondi Club's and NSW State Junior 50 metre Freestyle and 150 metre Medley Champion.

RUGBY LIFE  -  As Captain of their Sydney Boys High School rugby team, Col was progressively selected as the Captain of the NSW Combined Schools as well as the Captain of the GPS Schools teams of NSW. He was accepted to play in Eastern Suburbs Grade rugby games while still in his final year at school, at 16 years of age. In his first year out of school he was selected to play in Eastern Suburbs 1st Grade games at 17 years of age in the Sydney competition. Col was selected as the Captain of a U/21 Australian Team to introduce and develop Rugby in Sri Lanka. He was inducted into the Australian 'Barbarians' Rugby Team (invited as an occasional player having been overlooked by 'Wallabies' selectors).

PERSONAL & CAREER LIFE  -  Col’s business in his corporate life was to create new offices for his Australian Insurance Company into New Guinea. He became active in his recreational time in playing, coaching, and refereeing out of a local Port Moresby Rugby Club. In his Club's presence, he was selected to Captain a New Guinea Rugby Team to participate in their International South Pacific Games. Col was a member of a 1967 ‘working-bee’ preparing the Boroko Rugby fields for their incoming season. During that working-bee (it became known) he was bitten by a Taipan snake late in a dry stack of afternoon grass. There was no treatment for Taipan snakebite was available in Port Moresby / New Guinea at that time. He died in bed that night at age 32yrs.

The Annual NSW Col Smee Water Polo Trophy was gifted to Water Polo NSW in 1967/1968, following Col’s death by his older brother, Ray Smee.

Water Polo NSW proudly honour his life with the Annual NSW U22 “Col Smee” Championships

  U22 Col Smee Info Brief                                                           Register Your Team Here        

Dates: 

• Men/Boys - 3rd - 5th May 2024
• Women/Girls - 10th - 12th May 2024

Venues:

•  Men/Boys - Sutherland Leisure centre
•  Women/Girls - Sutherland Leisure centre

Divisions:

• U22 Boys - Born 2002 - Born 2007 (maximum of 3 x Born 2007 each team)
• U22 Girls - Born 2002 - Born 2007 (maximum oif 3 x Born 2007 each team)

Team Entry Levy:

• WPNSW Team Entry Fee = $1,700.00  (includes Referee Levy per team - WPNSW will manage the Referee schedule)

Timeline:

• Registration Open - 5th April 2024
• Registration Closes - 21st April 2024