CALABAR High’s journey through Champs has been a very successful one and this year they are once again expected to make their presence felt.

Formed in 1912, Calabar first entered Champs in 1913 and finished fourth with 13.5 points. That year the top three schools — Jamaica College (JC), St George’s College and Wolmer’s Boys’ — all finished with 27.5 points, however JC emerged winner based on the number of first places they had.

As encouraging as their debut was, Calabar had to wait until 1930 for the sweet taste of victory, amassing 25.5 points ahead of Cornwall College with 19 points. Debutants Titchfield High finished third with 16.5 points. A school called Beckford and Smith, now St Jago, were eighth with two points.

H A Morris was the star for Calabar, capturing the Class One sprint double by winning the 100 yards in 10.2 and the 220 yards in 23.4.

This was the beginning of a four-year winning streak for Calabar as they went on to become the first school to win four consecutive titles, under the guidance of Coach G C Foster.

The year 1932 saw the emergence of one Arthur Wint, in Class Three, winning the 100 and 220 yards and again in 1933 — both in record fashion.

The green-and-black-clad boys, located at Studley Park at the time, regained the Champs title in 1936, beating Wolmer’s Boys’ by three points, but had to wait 10 more years before tasting success in 1946 when they beat JC by one point, 28 to 27.

In 1952 Calabar relocated from Studley Park to Red Hills Road, and three years later in 1955 they won Champs for the seventh time, amassing 51 points — six ahead of Wolmer’s Boys’ and with dethroned champions KC back in third on 36 points.

Further successes came in 1958 and 1961 but Calabar and the rest of Jamaica had to witness one of the greatest winning streaks in the world after KC went on a 14-year run.

As fate would determine, it was Calabar who ended that streak in 1976, winning with 141 points to their bitter rival’s 111. Calabar’s Class Two runner Richard “Bionic” Wilson was the outstanding performer, winning the 400m in 50 seconds and placing second in both the 100m and 200m.

Calabar won three years straight then returned in 1981 with a contentious victory that saw themselves and KC in a mass brawl, ending Champs prematurely after a KC runner fell during the medley race.

Both schools were banned for the 1982 championship, which was won by Clarendon College. Five years passed before Calabar won in 1986, on the back of some outstanding running from Class One star Richard Bucknor who won four gold medals.

Further victories in 1988, 1989 and 1990 saw the emergence of another super star, Daniel England, who took the headlines after winning the Class One 200m and 400m double in 1988 and 1989.

England would win his third Class One 400m title in 46.99 but would later suffer his only defeat, losing to Donovan Powell (brother of Asafa Powell) in the 200m.

The year 1991 would deliver heartbreak for Calabar as they left the stadium as winners, parading the Mortimer Geddes Trophy on Saturday, only to learn on Monday that they had lost to JC in a recount.

Change came at Champs 1996 with a new scoring system that rewarded the top eight with points and Calabar emerged victorious, amassing 217 points, with St Jago second on 165, ahead of KC on 150.

Calabar won in 1997 but had to wait 10 years until 2007 for another victory following a six-year streak by rivals KC, winning by 73 points.

Former Manning Cup Captain Nicholas Gordon, Andrew Riley and Ramone “Batman” McKenzie led Calabar as they defended their title in 2008, winning by 44 points.

After a four-year hiatus Calabar returned victorious in 2012 and would achieve their longest winning streak until 2018, led by arguably one the greatest Champs performers, Christopher Taylor and company.

It was also an era that ushered in the retirement of Head Coach Michael Clarke, who won nine of his 17 titles with Calabar.

The boys from Red Hills Road have not tasted Champs victory in five years but this year they are expected to start their revival as they hunt their 29th title.