Today marks the 23rd year that the Denton Hurdle Memorial Trophy has been contested.

At the time of his passing, Hurdle was a physical education teacher at Warwick Academy and was also captain of Teachers and the Bermuda National XV.

In his memory, every year on the nearest Sunday to his birthday, Teachers play the pick of the other rugby clubs on the Island for the Memorial Trophy. However this year the match will be played on a Saturday at Warwick Academy.

The annual event features a first XV match, second XV match and since, last year, a women's match.

It has become a tradition with Teachers to attend an early morning church service at Bright Temple AME Church in Warwick. Denton would attend this service on Sunday mornings and then play rugby Sunday afternoons.

The Hurdle name is still prominent in local rugby with his brother Derek (former captain and coach of the Bermuda national team) still playing at 60 years old, his nephew Bobby, and now his great nephew Tyler carrying on the family tradition.

Denton stood 5' 10", weighed about 200 pounds and was blessed with safe hands, good speed, a good boot (all necessary and welcome attributes for his position at full back) and huge muscular thighs. Though an imposing figure on the field, he was a gentle giant off the park. His opinion of the game was that no matter what the outcome, the sun would still rise the next day.

He was a product of the Bermuda system. He played schoolboy rugby at Warwick Academy where he also participated and starred in the Whitney Sevens; Under-21 rugby, 2nd XV rugby and 2nd XV/1st XV during Friday night matches at BAA.

He made his break into the first XV in 1974 against Penguins, a touring team from the UK. He was 16 years-old at the time and not only did he have the pleasure of sharing this honour with two of his schoolmates (also making their debuts), the game was the first for big brother Derek as captain of Teachers.

Hurdle's college years were spent at the Bermuda College then at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia where he was a member of the soccer team and had the opportunity to tour both England and Bermuda with this squad.

Although he achieved the honour of captaining both his club and his country, if you asked him, the highlight of his playing days was undoubtedly being chosen the outstanding player of the 1984 Easter Classic (the predecessor to the World Rugby Classic) by the UK international players were visiting the Island.

He played his last game for Teachers on February 10, 1985, his 28th birthday.