Month: November 2018
Woodbridge School riders Thea, Eloise, Haydn, Alex, Perdi, Lily, Ada and Eve all competed at the NSEA Plate Championships on 17/18 November 2018, some as individuals and others as part of our team. Better still they were all there as competitors in the National Points League Championship, as Woodbridge had already won the regional points league. This requires a team of 8 riders; with two riders competing at each height and the best six scores to count. The younger riders were joined by Eloise and Thea to ride in the top height round. And in a remarkable performance our riders finished on a combined team score of only 4 to take third place in this prestigious National School League Championship.
The School also had excellent results in both team and individual competitions: most notably the 75cms Show Jumping Team took 2nd place with Eve (Year 6 at the Abbey) being the youngest member scoring a very fast clear alongside her team mates of Alex, Perdi and Lily. In the individual events the top results went to Alex and Perdi who gained individual placings in two different height classes of Jumping with Style.
Results:-
75cms Show Jumping Plate Champs
Team of Eve, Alex, Perdi & Lily were second
75cms Jumping with Style
Alex qualified as an individual and was placed fifth in the final
85cms Jumping with Style
Perdi qualified as an individual and was placed sixth in the final
85cms Show Jumping Plate Champs
Ada qualified as an individual and completed with a fine double clear to be placed in the top fifteen.
Regional Points League National Championships
Team of Thea, Eloise, Haydn, Alex, Ada, Perdi, Lily and Eve completed on a score of 4 to take third place.
On Saturday 24 November, Woodbridge School hosted the 38th Final of the England Schools Athletic Association Cross Country Cup. This was the first time in the history of the competition that the final had been hosted in Suffolk.
The Cross Country Cup is a team competition open to athletes in Years 7 to 10 across all schools in England. To reach any of the four races at the final, each of the 27 teams have had to qualify by finishing in the top three of their County Round and then in the top three in one of nine Regional events. Years 7 and 8 compete in the Junior Category with Years 9 and 10 as Inters. With six athletes representing each school and the first four across the line scoring, each race featured 162 of the best young cross country athletes in England. And Woodbridge School qualified for the finals for the third year in succession, this time with both the Inter Girls and the Inter Boys vying for honours on their home course.
The weather, course and enthusiastic helpers and local crowd made for a spectacular day: Woodbridge Inter Girls were in the first race and our athletes ran well above expectation to finish a magnificent 13th, up from 23rd last year and 19th in 2016. In particular, April ran a brilliant race amongst the lead pack to finish an exceptional fifth. Our Inter Boys were in the fourth and final race, a race which started at a ferocious pace. As the miles unfolded it was obvious that Kit was moving through the pack, running the race of his young life and Charlie and George were fighting their way impressively into the top 20. Kit continued to progress, powering into the individual medal positions on the hills to finish an unbelievable second. With Charlie 12th, George 15th and Henry giving his all to close the team out in 67th, everyone wondered whether a podium was possible…
The final result: Woodbridge School finished an astonishing third to stand on the podium for the second time in three years. This was an outstanding achievement at a National level for this group of young athletes.
None of this is achieved without the support of a wider group of Woodbridge School athletes, as well as staff and parents, so we offer an enormous vote of thanks, and congratulations, to everyone who contributed to such a memorable day.
Full results on the day were :
Inter Girls :
April 5th
Amy 64th
Molly 74th
Jess 76th
Bea 101st
Anna 122nd
Inter Boys:
Kit 2nd
Charlie 12th
George 15th
Henry 67th
Edward 132nd
Tom 141st
The Reception children have been learning about nocturnal animals this week. After reading the story Owl Babies, they produced this beautiful art work.
Aston, Ike and Sam have represented the Woodbridge Rugby Club at various age levels, and continue to excel. They are part of the U10s team that won a place to play in the Prima Cup played at Leicester Tigers, Welford Road ground. We had won this place to play in the Prima Cup several weeks ago at a festival in Diss. Woodbridge U10s continued their winning ways by playing against several larger clubs from Norfolk and Suffolk.
On Saturday, the U10s played against Wellingborough and Oundle at the Premiership Rugby ground of Leicester Tigers, Welford Road. We won our first game 5-0, and drew the second game 3-3 having a try scored against us in the last play.
I would like to highlight these boys from your school as they have and continue to play and behave to the highest of standards, both on and off the pitch.
I would also like to thank Woodbridge School for their continued support of the minis section at Woodbridge Rugby Club. It is something, as a part time rugby coach at Woodbridge School, that I am proud to be part of.
Just to further the good news, I had an email from Leicester Tigers today. The team has now also been selected to play in the finals of the Prima Tiger Cup Celebration Day. This is a huge achievement, as over 70 clubs nationally have played in the tournament, and this is now the finals with only around 4 teams invited back.
Last Thursday Year 4 went to look at the River Deben as part of their Geography local study. The day started down at Felixstowe where we looked at the shingle bar that marks the mouth of the river, observed the sea defences and completed a 10 minute beach clean. Walking inland along the sea wall we saw how the channel narrowed and saw large rocks that had come all the way from Norway to protect the coastline. After lunch we travelled inland further to Wilford Bridge just past and then followed the river back into Woodbridge observing meanders and mud banks where the water was flowing more slowly.
We have started our Christmas crafts rather early at Art Club! The Year 3 children had a great time making these cuddly snowmen, don’t they look brilliant?
CHRISTMAS CARDS
The children at The Abbey are designing Christmas cards this week. They will be sold at the Christmas Fair so watch this space!
One of our sixth formers, Ali, is a qualified youth football referee and has had the great courage not only to undertake this often thankless task in order to allow many youngsters the opportunity to enjoy ‘the beautiful game’, but also to stand up against the abuse and unpleasantness that can be directed against him and his fellow officials. Do read this article in which he features at the end. He is to be interviewed for BBC news as part of an exposee due for release on the 6pm and 10pm national news in the near future. He hopes to talk about experiences of abuse as a referee in youth football, and how important it is for there to be respect for referees in grassroots football. We very much hope his voice will be heard.
Being an amateur referee: your stories of threats and attacks, but a love of the game
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46208857
The Woodbridge team was up and running from the word go, putting pressure on the ball right from the push back to win a short corner in the first few minutes. Clara injected the ball to Molly who drag flicked it into the bottom left hand corner: what a start! The play went on nicely with Woodbridge passing the ball round the back three of Ariane, Eleanor and Olivia B, waiting for a gap to appear. We eventually attacked down the right-hand channel with Cecily cutting inside to win a short corner which she herself converted through the goalie’s legs. The forwards of Emily W, Emily O, Julia and Ashleigh made some beautiful arching leads for the midfield to target, and soon earned another penalty corner. Clara to Molly as before, but this time she slipped it to Ella to score. But New Hall riposted with two quick goals from breakaways…. all still to play for.
The second half started with a new-found energy: the midfield of Clara, Cecily, Ruby and Molly used width brilliantly to create a gap for Clara to drive into the D: 4-2! The defenders held firm, and, with confidence growing, the team tried the new half court press we’d practised at training. We won another penalty corner and Molly Mscored again from the top of the C. Thanks also to the Year 9s of Ella S, Ella P and Maddy who played extremely well a year up. The nominations for man of the match were Eleanor, Molly, Clara and Cecily and it was narrowly won by Molly. It was fantastic game that showcased our whole team’s talents.
What a thriller! Desperate defence from our team of stalwarts… and two forays into the opposition 22… and the one goal to be scored was ours!
Our girls defended like heroes against numerous short corners and Lucy, Elise and Asmee had fantastic games. Sophia held the middle of the pitch together and there were some great attacking runs from Maddy and Alex. The highlight of the game was Charlie’s goal: she sprinted almost the length of the pitch only to be checked by the goalkeeper… but resilient to the last, she stood up and popped the ball in the back of the net. And then it was back with all hands to the defensive ramparts; gloriously done!
Once again, we will be collecting for Home-Start this Christmas (one of the UK’s leading family support charities) and would really appreciate any food staples that could be used to make a meal, for example. pasta, rice, sauces, tinned tuna. Cereals are also in high demand, and any little luxuries would be most welcome too. Home-Start will be collecting from school on Wednesday 12 December and so any donations must be received before then, but please can you ensure that they are not past their use-by dates. It would be lovely if, as a school, every child could bring in at least one item to make the Christmas of people less fortunate than ourselves something to look forward to. Donations can be given in to your child’s tutor and will be very gratefully received.