August 2014 - Page 2 of 3 - Woodbridge School

Here are the various age group 1-2-3s and the House Competition results. Once again, although the plaudits fall on the heads of the medallists, everyone who competed, many setting personal bests, deserves our congratulations: Senior Boys: Callum Askins (victor ludorum), second James Cherryman, third Fergus Cooney; Senior Girls: Francesca Ottley (victrix ludorum), Georgina King and Sarah Ng; Middle Girls: Victoria Williams, Laura Graham and Alex Lillywhite; Year 10 Boys: William Pilkington, Ben Kilburn and Tristan Hilger; Year 9 Boys: tied first Hugo Kelleway and Theo Lindsay-Smith, third Abraham Hew; Junior Boys: tied first Oscar Butcher and Dominic Ellice-Freeman, third Saxon Gallo; Junior Girls Georgia Harrold, Chloe Outen and Eleanor Berridge; Year 7 Girls: Amy Graham, Joanne Garnett and Emma Hendry; Year 7 Boys: tied first Leo Brook and Nathan Goddard, third Harry Regan.

And in the House Competitions: Senior and Middle Boys: Annott first ahead of Seckford, Burwell and Willard; Junior Boys: Annott, Seckford, Willard, Burwell; the Girls’ Championship: Burwell, Seckford, Willard, Annott; and so overall: Burwell (896), Seckford (879), Annott (852), Willard (838). And in the Year 7 Competition 7M triumphed ahead of 7H, P, T and B.

Our Year 7 boys and girls shone in the recent County Athletics Finals against fierce competition from the other nine schools. The girls recorded a string of individual victories to secure the title well clear of the rest. Many congratulations indeed to all on the team, and particularly gold medallists Joanne Garnett in 200m (B) and Discus (A), Poppy Fletcher 300m (A), Amy Graham 800m (A) and Javelin (A), Sarah Barker 800m (B), Emma Hendry, high jump (A) and 300m(B), Sophie Graham hurdles (B), Harriet Petley discus (B), Maud Peel shot (A) and the B relay team. The boys did nearly as well, making it into the top half of their table. For them the highlights were golds for Nathan Goddard 800m (A), George Rufford 800m (B), Oliver Juszt in shot just ahead of Harry Regan out of the total field of twenty to win first place for A and B string, likewise Alex Weir-Simmons and Brendon Bennett in discus taking A and B golds, and Daniel Norman and Oliver Buchanan completing the throwing clean sweep in javelin A and B.

The undefeated U12A team finished its season in style at the RHS U12A rounders tournament: the first two matches against St Alban’s and Farlingaye were very convincing wins (12-2 and 12½-4) and perfect preparation for the altogether more challenging game against the hosts. 6-4 sufficed! That in turn proved precursor to the semi-finals – RHS again; victory again: 6½-4 this time. The final against Ipswich High could not have been closer… it was a tie: 11½ each, with thrilling hitting and exceptional catching throughout.

Harriet Petley and Amy Graham (wonderful hitting), Sarah Barker and Freya Huxley (clever match play) led the way, inspiring a brilliant team performance from all at the tournament.

Many, many congratulations to our athletes who ended their Abbey sporting careers on a high at the Nationals at Birmingham on 2 July. Well done to Ianthe Hill who came 7th in Long Jump, Annabel Yates 3rd in Discus, Daniel Norman who became the Boys’ National Champion at Javelin and Sophie Graham who became the Girls’ National Champion at Javelin, setting a new national record.

To say ‘Congratulations’ to our superb cast, directors, costume organizers, make-up and hair artists, musicians, theatre technicians, back stage helpers and everyone else involved, just doesn’t seem enough to express what a fantastic production ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was. For three nights we laughed and gasped and sang along with our magnificent performers as they transported us into a magical wood within the Seckford Theatre.

This was yet another production our team can be very, very proud of and one none of us is ever likely to forget. Parents and staff alike described the performance as astounding, whilst theatre photographer Mike Kwasniak who came to photograph the event described it as one of the best pieces of school theatre he had seen in 25 years of school theatrical photography.

Not only have we enjoyed hearing the strains of music from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ floating through The Abbey corridors, but we have also become aware of the amazing musical talent our pupils have as they practise for lunchtime recitals, end of term service, music exams and just for pure enjoyment. More and more pupils are taking up their instruments and discovering all that music has to offer. This term alone 26 children entered the Trinity and the Associated Board music exams and the Trinity results came in with all Merits and Distinctions. We are still waiting in anticipation for the Associated Board results, but well done to everyone who entered and passed with great results. We were also lucky to welcome Ms Susan Collier from the Strings Department of the Royal Academy of Music to be our adjudicator for the wonderful Stringtastic day, ending with a fantastic Showcase provided by the soloists and ensembles. Many congratulations also to our younger players who have enjoyed the Year 3 string curriculum year which ended with a lovely orchestral performance to celebrate the end of a very successful year. I am very hopeful that many of the children will continue with their lessons next year.

Mrs Parker

Our Year 3 pupils have kept up The Abbey’s ESB tradition with yet another year of a 100 % pass rate with all Merits and Distinctions. For our pupils to achieve this level of success year in, year out, is a remarkable feat. These exams are also a very worthwhile exercise; whilst performing poems and excerpts from favourite books and giving such a varied range of interesting talks, the pupils are learning skills for life, building their confidence and boosting their natural curiosity for life and all that surrounds them.

Twenty-one Abbey pupils entered the LAMDA exams in May and for a relatively new after school activity, it has proved immensely popular and successful. The exam results were phenomenal: four Merits and fifteen Distinctions. Well done to all our entrants. Our Year 6 pupils will be able to continue with their LAMDA success next year when they move on to Year 7, as the Senior School runs a large and very successful LAMDA programme throughout the School.

The younger boys have also had a great end to their cricket season with the U9A beating Holwood House by 33 runs 151 v 184 and the U9B beating Holmwood House by 32 runs 148 v 180. Well done teams.

Our U11 chess team of Harry Rennell, Tobias Juszt, Alex Hammond, Zoe Newman and Giles Kelleway made it to the National Schools Championships at Pontins along with 36 other teams. They were on the top boards for the entire event with victories against Westminster and against Radlett Prep. Unfortunately, in the last round the team suffered a defeat to Brentwood Prep which meant they came 13th place overall, but well done for some excellent play.