Senior School News Archives - Page 73 of 78

…And virtually no idea about what was going on, and why, or between whom. But it hardly mattered, because the beauty of farce is that a tightly wrought plot, though essential, is also, counterintuitively, almost irrelevant. I think it all made sense; I even think I worked out how the miraculously beguiling Francis (Henshall – can’t be dealing with first names) came to have two such eminently captivating guvnors in Rachel and Stanley and why it mattered they each in their own turn didn’t know; I know that I sat there laughing and sniggering, and occasionally worrying for Alfie’s wellbeing. Brighton in 1963 was clearly quite a complicated place, and gangsters and their molls, being often more interested in brawn than a brainier alternative struggled with … higher order skills. Unless they’d been to boarding school. Or were budding ACTORS.

Our cast captured their confusions, pretensions and delusions with a wonderful lightness of touch, and delivery so slick it was truly professional. It’s a fantastic script, laced with running gags that get funnier through repetition, and visual gags that take the breath away – and to deliver them so well, while maintaining a ferocious pace, and yet give the plot the space to breath at least some semblance of a reality over its audience was masterful. The players gave their all, having earned every second of the rapturous response as the curtain fell.

So what actually happened? Well, in a nutshell… um… Charlie and Harry wanted Pauline to marry Alan, despite Stanley killing Rachel’s brother meaning that Rachel had to dress as the man Pauline had to marry, despite Lloyd spotting the deception from the start. This in turn meant there was money owed, and Dolly needed to make sure it got paid, but not before she and Francis (the ham in the sandwich, as served by Gareth, obviously) had their holiday thanks to Alfie’s trip to Thomas Cook’s. Not forgetting the Mashed Potatoes. Got it?

Our thanks, admiration, and lengthy applause go to the extremely fine cast, crew and directors on a wonderful, wonderful tour de ‘farce’.

‘Peace is not simply the absence of war’
It is fragile. It needs work and constant tending. And the agony of our School’s contribution, and of the contribution made by so many was poignantly and thoughtfully brought home to us by Padre Cook’s reflections. It had never occurred to me before that the soldiers of the Second World War would have struggled past the huge French graveyards of those from the First, and that some of those soldiers may even have been walking the same ground they trod as youngsters. The war to end all wars was nothing like, and the naivety of the generation that hoped as much should not be repeated, though the hope for peace is still our best hope.

This year’s service was also marked by the display of a remarkable Standard laid between those of our School’s at the altar: OWs Chris, Lucy and Anna Silovsky’s great grandfather, their mother Lucy’s grandfather, Lt Col LS Henshall DSO and Bar was one of the tank pioneers in WW1 and specifically at the first battle ever fought with tanks, at Cambrai, which started on 20 November 1917 (almost 100 years to the day). He it was who a few days prior bought up some of the last silk in the area to stitch together standards to be borne by his ‘B’ Battalion of the Regiment (it was so new it had no history and no traditions): brown (for the mud), red (for the blood) and green (for the future fields). And here was one of those standards, wearied by conflict and a century, fragile like the peace we must fight to maintain, but still with us and recognisable in its faded delicacy.

We honoured the memories of so many fallen (every family will have its own history), and we thought of the lives affected. With this tangible reminder of the First War to focus our reflections, and with Ianthe Hill’s trumpet call and the laying of wreaths (the salute given by Gabby Zins, representing this generation’s CCF, to those honoured at the Memorial quite the most potent symbol of our shared responsibility), we remembered.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.

Well done to the 55 runners who competed in the South Suffolk Cross Country championships at RHS on Thursday 12 October. With unsurprisingly warm temperatures and a slight breeze, these were some of the best conditions this race has ever seen, and ideal for those running this course for the first time.

Our team performed magnificently across all categories and against hundreds of other runners: the minors in particular had around 200 competitors (if not more) in their race. It was great to see so many participate and a special mention to the 39 athletes who made it through to the County round on Saturday 2nd December at Culford. A superb effort – well done!

Congratulations to Ruby Vinton, Charlie Turner and Nathan Goddard who gained 1st place and April Hill 2nd and Kit Evans Lombe 3rd. An astonishing nine runners gained a top 10 place, and well done to the Inter girls’ team who all came in the top 30. Overall results meant that amongst Mid-Suffolk schools we came first in Inter Boys, Junior Girls and Junior Boys, and second in Inter Girls and Minor Boys: amazing!

Thank you to all the parents for their continued support and Mark Goddard for his excellent leadership and coaching of the runners both in their preparation and on the day.

Results:

Minor girls: Ruby Vinton 1st, Esme Ball 29th, Ada Marson 59th, Libbie Brightey 113th & Kitty Frith 114th.
Minor boys: Edward Buckingham 10th, Moses McBride 20th, George Na Nakhorn 25th, Tommy Burrow 35th, Jonny Evans Lombe 47th, Erwan Gouedo 66th, Albie Smith 105th & Thomas Blackmore 168th.
Junior girls: April Hill 2nd, Amy Goddard 4th, Isabelle Eaton 16th, Emily Whyte 18th, Jess Elmer 22nd, Cecily Royal-Dawson 23rd, Anna Jackson 28th, Ashleigh Wildbore 34th, Willa Cole 55th, Ella Pitt 65th, Ella Reynard 66th, Iris Morton 69th , Isabella Hyde 88th, & Charlotte Gibbon 116th.
Junior boys: Charlie Turner 1st, Kit Evans Lombe 3rd, George Wharam 10th, Edward Rufford 20th, Mauricio Corfe 26th, Ruben Kill 38th, Tom Turner 39th, Tom Harper 49th, Archie Sjoberg 54th & Tom Martin 83rd.
Inter girls: Sarah Barker 4th, Sophie Graham 16th, Milly Buckingham 17th, Victoria Burrows 23rd, Poppy Fletcher 27th & Grace Childs 29th.
Inter boys: Nathan Goddard 1st, Alex Evans Lombe 4th, Daniel Davies 11th, George Rufford 17th, Nathaniel Gunn 19th, Hal Ottley 50th, Hugo Thomas 51st & Miles Fry 55th.
Seniors: Olly Wroe 21st, Georgina Fulcher 23rd & Rachel Prowse 35th.

A third of grades in all subjects awarded at A*
6 candidates secured 10 or more A*
over half candidates secured the equivalent of straight A grades in their best 8 subjects
Out of 86 GCSE pupils in total, 95.3% achieved at least a Grade C in English and Maths

Ella achieved an astounding 12 A* and an A (the top grade) in further maths. Ella will stay on at Woodbridge for Sixth Form to study English, Spanish, French and Maths with a view to studying languages or law at Cambridge University.

James also achieved fantastic results, gaining 11 A* grades at GCSE. James will also stay on at Woodbridge where he will take English, History and Latin at A Level. James said:

“I’m very pleased with my results. After I leave Woodbridge School I’m aiming to study History or Classics at Cambridge University.

Neil Tetley, Headteacher of Woodbridge School, said:

“We are thrilled to achieve our best results ever this year with one third of grades in all subjects being awarded A*. Well done to pupils and teachers for all their hard work and dedication.”

The Y6 Team travelled in high excitement with Year 7 and Year 8 to compete at Bedford Stadium. When they arrived they marvelled at the size of the stadium and the number of competitors. Over fifty schools had entered, so competition was high. Notable results are as follows:

1^st – 1500m – Ruby V
1^st – 200m – Lara
1^st – Discus – Beau
3^rd – Girls’ Relay – Beau, Ruby V, Maddie, Chloe
4^th – Shot – Beau

We congratulate all competitors and wish Ruby and Beau all the best of luck when they compete in the Nationals at Birmingham Stadium on Tuesday 4 July.

A great way to finish the team athletics this season. The year 9 boys and girls having qualified at Northgate earlier this term, went onto competed at the Suffolk Schools Athletics County Finals at Bury yesterday. Both teams were crowned County Champions!

Points were awarded for placing’s and the girls finished on 111 points, ahead of second place Northgate on 104, County Upper 3rd, RHS 4th St Benedict 5th and Thurleston 6th. The Boys scored 95 points with Westborne second on 90 points, County Upper 3rd, Farlingaye 4th, King Edward 5th and Castlehill Manor 6th.

A special mention must go to those who stepped into an event they were not expecting following absence or injury, without you we would not have won. Too many firsts to mention but all looks good for a few records to be broken at this year’s Sports Day.

Played 5
Won 4
Lost 1

V Hartismere won 7½ – 2½
V KEGS won 6½ – 5
V Chantry lost 5½ – 6
V Ormiston Academy, Sudbury won 8½ – 5
V Thomas Mills won 6 – 5

We travelled to Sudbury feeling confident but knowing that anything can happen during a tournament! We knew we had to try and score on every ball as there were only 20 good balls per innings. It was a very hot day but the girls were concentrating well and understood the tactics involved. Olivia Buchanan’s bowling was exceptional, the ball had very little pace and came in at a steep angle so the competition had real problems connecting with the ball so they were unable to hit the ball any distance. Clara Simpson made some excellent catches and was quick to cover 3^rd post. On second post Molly Marshall was superb, flinging herself at every ball so she could stump multiple people out at second. At fourth post Ariane had good catches and managed to stop rounders being scored. As backstop Jess Elmer threw accurately and closed the game down quickly. In the deeps the girls covered any decent hits effectively, fielding the ball into second post or third post to prevent rounders being scored. Once in bat the girls were ferocious. Olivia, Clara, Ella Walker, Molly, Olivia Bedford and Emily White sending the ball miles. It was a very exciting competition with some interesting moments, but the girls deserved their victory.

Tremendous congratulations to the athletics team who participated in the Y7-10 Athletics Championships at Bedford over the weekend, and who achieved stunning results. An incredible 14 pupils will now go on to represent the School in 12 different events at the National final in Birmingham in July.

Superb and inspiring results from all who participated. The 14 pupils who have qualified are as follows;

Henry Dinwiddy: 1500m
George Wharam: 1500m
Amy Goddard: 1500m
Ruby Vinton: 1500m
Issy Eaton: 200m
John Hendry: 200m
Olivia Buchanan: Javelin
Ella Walker: High Jump
Beau Barrington-Hibbert: Discus
Ella Smith: Discus
U14 Girls’ relay team
U14 Boys’ relay team

The boys came a glorious first, well ahead of Kesgrave, RHS, Ipswich, Northgate, East Bergholt, Copleston, Farlingaye and St Joseph’s, and the girls a fine fourth, to qualify for the next round of the Schools’ athletics competition.

With nine schools taking part in the Year 8 A-grade event, each race had two heats, and so the evening couldn’t have started better when Tom Turner and Mauricio Corfe won the A and B hurdles races in 12.28 and 12.79 respectively. John Hendry followed up with a personal best of 24.62 in the 200m with Mak Zie winning the B string with 27.16. George Wharam made the 800m race look like a sprint, clear in front, with Charlie Turner finishing second (and therefore also first in the B string). Both relay teams won convincingly too: Mak, Ruben Kill, John and Mauricio, and the other team of George, Tom, Charlie, and a fast leg by new comer Tom Yarrow. The field events were just as extraordinary: John second in long jump and Tom first for the B string; Mauricio first in triple jump; new recruit Taye Sutton second in discus with over 21m and Jack Ward close on his heels with 20.40m.All looks set fair for the Regional finals in June.

Meanwhile, wIth some of the squad involved in a tennis fixture, the girls fielded some new recruits alongside seasoned campaigners. Ella Walker came first in her 200m heat; Molly Marshall came second with 4.20m in long jump just 1cm behind the winner; Rebecca Yardy also finished second, in long jump B string; Lakisha Charema came third in the A discus and Jess Elmer was first in the B string. Olivia Buchanan was first in Javelin and Emily Whyte first in the B string (and third overall). In the final reckoning the girls came a very respectable fourth, enjoying the chance to hone their competitive instincts in time for the Regional finals.

The next day was the turn of the Year 9s: victory for the girls and second place for the boys, with both qualifying for the Regional round.

With nine schools taking part in the Year 9A event, competition was tough across the two-heats-per-event format. Sophie Graham started the evening winning her heat in hurdles (second overall) and also winning the javelin with a throw of 37.6m. Flora Pitt was second in the 200m A race and Laura Golding first in the B race. Both Ianthe Hill and Vicky Burrows were second in their 300m A and B races respectively. Nell Pilkington came first in shot, Annie Yates and Saffron Holliday both first in discus in A and B string. Flora Pitt was second in Long Jump with Ianthe Hill jumping well too. The High jump was won by Vicky Burrows…. I’m exhausted just writing it! All in all no wonder the girls triumphed ahead of Northgate, RHS, Ipswich High, Farlingaye, Ipswich, kesgrave, Hadleigh and Holbrook. The Year 9s will be joined by the best of our Year 10s at Watford on Friday 9 June for the Regional Finals of the girls’ Inter team event, looking to repeat their victory in an equivalent event earlier in the season.

Meanwhile the boys also excelled, coming second from seven schools. Leading the way was Hugo Thomas, second in high jump; Hal Ottley, third in triple jump with Charlie Eaton second in the B string; Nathaniel Gunn third in discus and Anthony Doggett winning the B string; Daniel Norman third in javelin and Sam Betteridge first in the B string; and Josh Ralph third in the shot. Well done to all!

And it doesn’t end there…

For the third consecutive afternoon our athletes went to Northgate to compete. This time it was the turn of the Year 7 boys and girls, with the girls prevailing to qualify for the next round to be held on 13^th June back at Northgate. Highlight performances: Anna Jackson was second in the B string 100m; Ella Pitt won her heat and was placed third overall in the 200m A race, and also won the long jump; Lucy Clare won the 300m A; Olivia Lubbock won her heat in the 75m and finished second overall; Olivia Brown second in the B string discus; and Tess Walker third in the A javelin event. In the 800m the girls were clear of the field with Bea Thomas winning with 2.34 and Amy Goddard close on her heels with 2.38 to finish second, and therefore first in the B string. With nine schools taking part competition was intense with the girls finishing tied for third just three points from first and over forty ahead of the rest of the field… Here’s to a reversal in the top of the order come the next round! For the boys the outstanding performances came from Tom Martin who won both the Javelin with 27.53m and the 300m A race, James Holliday who won the high jump with 1.35m and the 300m B race, and Henry Dinwiddy who won the discus with 21.98m and came third in the 800m A race. Woodbridge finished sixth, but only about ten points from qualifying – a worthy effort on a very busy day.

The next day was the turn of the Year 9s: victory for the girls and second place for the boys, with both qualifying for the Regional round.

And it doesn’t end there…

For the third consecutive afternoon our athletes went to Northgate to compete. This time it was the turn of the Year 7 boys and girls, with the girls prevailing to qualify for the next round to be held on 13^th June back at Northgate. Highlight performances: Anna Jackson was second in the B string 100m; Ella Pitt won her heat and was placed third overall in the 200m A race, and also won the long jump; Lucy Clare won the 300m A; Olivia Lubbock won her heat in the 75m and finished second overall; Olivia Brown second in the B string discus; and Tess Walker third in the A javelin event. In the 800m the girls were clear of the field with Bea Thomas winning with 2.34 and Amy Goddard close on her heels with 2.38 to finish second, and therefore first in the B string. With nine schools taking part competition was intense with the girls finishing tied for third just three points from first and over forty ahead of the rest of the field… Here’s to a reversal in the top of the order come the next round! For the boys the outstanding performances came from James Martin who won both the Javelin with 27.53m and the 300m A race, James Holliday who won the high jump with 1.35m and the 300m B race, and Henry Dinwiddy who won the discus with 21.98m and came third in the 800m A race. Woodbridge finished sixth, but only about ten points from qualifying – a worthy effort on a very busy day.

3 out of 4 athletic teams make it to the A regional finals in the ESAA English Schools’ Track and Field Cup!!

Our junior (Years 7/8) and intermediate (Years 9/10) athletics teams went to compete in the ESAA English Schools’ Track and Field Cup at Bury St Edmunds on 11^th May. Woodbridge School dominated the day. With ten schools competing on the Wednesday and the same number again on the Thursday competition was tough. Our best 13 girls and 15 boys in each group were selected for two events each, covering all the events between them. Distances and times gained points and the team scoring the most points qualify.

Our strong unbeaten junior girls’ team won with a total 346 points, exceeding the previous day’s winners RHS (309), thereby earning a place in the A regional finals as the top school. Olivia Buchanan was our top girl scoring 48 points, her javelin throw taking her off the scoring system! Emily Whyte was second top with 44 points from 800m and javelin. Bea Thomas next on 38, closely followed by Issy Eaton 37 and Ella Walker 36. Issy came second in her 100m race to the UK’s number two runner. Arianne Bilgen did well in high jump to win with 1.35m.

The intermediate girls also won, with 343 points, again exceeding previous day’s winners RHS (324), to take them to the A regional final as top qualifiers. Top scorer was Sophie Graham on 46 points from a javelin throw that took her off the scoring system, combined with her hurdles points. Next was Nell Pilkington (42) whose shot throw also took her off the points system and she also did the relay. Sarah Barker scored 35 points with a strong 1500m, Maud Peel 31 and Victoria Burrows 30. Many thanks to Annie Yates, who stepped in to cover Amy Graham who was absent on the day, and pocketed a good number of points.

The Junior boys’ team also won scoring 342 points. Ipswich School had won the day before on 307 so again we finished first overall. Top scorer was John Hendry with 40; we are hoping to add detail to this report soon.