History
Saints Athletics Club - 71 YEARS - 1946-2017
The club formally known as The St Peter’s Collegians Athletics Club was founded in October 1946 in the master’s common room at St Peters College.
It was the brainchild of our first iconic school coach Bob (Trunk) Vollugi. Another club legend Alistair (Scotchy) Gordon was also present as a schoolboy and subsequently gave many years of support as both athlete and sprint coach. The then Headmaster and ex British Ghanaian Olympian Colin Gordon was a strong supporter for the formation of this great club which has continuously been a force in athletics in South Australia.
Bob realised the underlying strength of this new club would be the schoolboys in conjunction with old scholars, hence the original name of St Peter’s Collegians Athletics Club. Times have changed and in order to thrive, the club since 2000, chose to known as the Saints Athletics Club as it reflected its desire and need to be more inclusive and to meet expectation of the sporting community.
Since its beginnings, the club has produced 8 Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes: Bill Bruce, Ian Bruce, Scotchy Gordon, Leon Gregory, Nick Birks, Bruce Frayne, Simon Arkell and Henry Frayne.
There have also been several other athletes from the club who have represented us internationally as well as dozens of state champions and state representatives in national and special competitions.
The club has always encouraged and appreciated participation from associated schools both as participants and volunteers. The Club camaraderie has helped us to gain a fine reputation in the athletics community and beyond. In latter years, additional athletes of all abilities plus coaches from the wider community have joined the club to make it stronger than ever.
Saints has won 20 Senior Men’s A Grade Premierships double any other club plus many more B,C D,E grade, Over 35, U/20 U/18 and U/16 premierships.
In 2002 our first female athlete joined the club, which has now grown to more than 30. In the summer season 2016/7, Saints was the largest summer club in the Athletics SA Interclub competition with 142 registered athletes.
Our schoolboys remain an important component of the Club’s membership. Their interest in the sport has often been motivated by them representing St Peters College in the Independent schools competition - the Achilles Cup - originally under Bob Vollugi, followed by Chris Taylor for 38 years, Annette van Rensburg and now organised by Sue Dickinson. The school’s athletes have amassed 45 out of 46 Achilles Cup Victory’s since 1972.
We are fortunate to have wonderful grounds to train on, and also now have a list of experienced and passionate coaches, to look after our growing club.
