Annals of Excellence:  WYK Tennis

Father Finneran

From the 1960s to 1980s, over 2 decades, WYK had achieved long running success in intercollegiate tennis.  From 1971 to 1981 in open play, the tennis championship was won every year.  In the years proceeding and after this unbroken record, there were many Runners-ups and third place finishes.

The architect and coach of this successful program was Reverend Father Patrick J. Finneran.

Father Finnegan loved sports.  While he would contribute to football and track and field, his passion was tennis.  Under him, WYK tennis was developed from 1965.

Patrick Wong and Ken Fletcher

Some of the players before I joined the team were Patrick Wong, Eddie Lo and Joseph Wong, with Patrick Wong as Captain.  He and Eddie Lo anchored the team.  I watched them played exhibition matches with visiting Wimbleton champions such as the Australian Ken Fletcher on our school courts.   It was 1966.

Around June of the same year, Fr Finneran organized a “tournament”.  I entered and was chosen with Thomas Kan for the school team when we came back in September.  It was at least a year later that I realized that it was his method of recruiting. 

He would watch everyone who played, even those just hitting a ball against the backboard.   He would encourage them and then invite them for a tryout: a “tournament”, or play against others and not least, hitting the ball with him.  He would test them and make his decision.

He did this before the end of the school year and the summer vacation.  Almost all the players were from Form 4 to Form 6.  Some of those selected would not return for the new term in September, going to other schools in Hong Kong after Form 5 or abroad.  His work had to include contingency plans.

1967

1968

I joined the team in September, 1966 and played three seasons.  Patrick Wong was captain that year and we were runners-up in the colony.

In the next season, 1967-8, everyone except me had left, mostly for US and Canada.  I was captain with all 6 or 7 new players.  We had all new players again in 1968-9.  Nonetheless, we were runners-up that year again.

You can see Fr Finneran’s difficult task of rebuilding constantly, at the same time fielding a competitive team of six players plus two substitutes year after year.  But that was his strength. 

He spent a lot of time watching and thinking about the team.  He would hit balls with the prospects, some of those might still be in Form 1 or 2.  He assessed their skills and potential, not only physically but mentally: for tennis matches require toughness of mind.  Once he told me, “ … you  can beat better players at matches – just like me when I was young”.

Continue reading →

An Interview with Raymond Chan Kai-man by Tim Kwan

Tim and Raymond

Q.  What years did you attend WYK?

            I graduated in the class of the ’73.

Q.  What sports did you play?

I am too small to play basketball, and not as talented as you are in tennis, so I mainly played soccer…I played a few years for our school soccer team.                           

Q.  Which grades and years?

            During Form 2, 3 & 5; C & B grades.

C Grade

B Grade 73

Q.  What position did you play?

I guess I wasn’t particularly good at any one position, so I kind of played many positions. I played midfield and center forward for the school team.

Q.  Do you remember the Sandy Field?

Oh yes, lots of memories with the Sandy field. Got lots of hard time from my mom for playing in wet muddy conditions and got the white pant so dirty.

Q.  What about the Grass Field?

Loved the grass field… it was a privilege to have such facility in HK and was proud of that. Still have vivid memories about playing/watching friendly inter-school games, our own inter-class games or some fun game between the staff and students. Students watched from the canteen and outside the Chapel. Lots of fun and memories about the Grass Field.

Continue reading →

The Small Field

When you enter the school through the main gates at Waterloo Road, you can see a driveway rising directly in front of you.  Immediately to your left, you can go up a few steps and will see a small, rectangular field, about 40 feet wide and running east about 120 feet towards the northeast corner of the WYK campus.

This first and smallest field is obscured by the much larger Grass Field rising about another 8 steps to its south.  It was least used by the students.  Close to the entrance and thus the shortest exit, people from the neighboring community would use it regularly, especially in the mornings and at dusk.  In those hours, you can see football and badminton play, individual and small group exercises – some with Chinese swords and spears, dogs and other pets.

Lined with trees and shrubs, secured by high fences, there is an intimacy with this field.  During the 1960s and to this day, WYK allowed the public to use it – one of the many contributions made to the community.  It can be called The Community Field.

A Grade 66

B Grade 66

The Grass Field

Going up the stairs, or just continuing up the driveway, you will see the Grass Field.  This is a major feature of WYK: what we were known for.  The entire west sideline runs close and parallel to Wyliy Road.  Separated by sloped grades and fence, it was also tree lined.  You can see the traffic on Wylie Road, and people in their vehicles or pedestrians can see the green grass.  Over the years, when I told people I attended WYK, many would say, “yes, you have that football field.”

The Grass Field is actually small in size for regulation play.  But young teenagers growing up in Hong Kong, it was big.  It was also meticulously kept and vigilantly guarded by Father Cryan.  The grass felt like carpet.

Continue reading →