Sport Archives - Page 30 of 53

JUNIOR 1ST V LANGLEY
Score: Won 6-0

The junior first team had a great first run out in a friendly fixture against Langley. The match was played in a very good spirit with both teams trying to put practice into a competitive match and develop their tactical and technical play. For Woodbridge Henry Dinwiddy dominated the midfield in the first half. Good positional play, passing and decision making saw Woodbridge create a number of chances. Both Henry and Thomas Childs played great through balls to Fazil Akyol whose leading was causing some trouble for Langley. This also created space for the midfield to run into and Henry confidently put two goals away to make it 2-0 at half time. Archie Cartwright and Oliver Doole were strong in defence and Max Hutchinson made strong tackles to stop Langley outside the D. Edward Buckingham made a great impact at left midfield and was difficult for Langley to contain. Samuel Bolus continued the good forward work up front to never let any pressure off Langley.

Early in the second half Henry completed his hat trick and the team grew in confidence with Tom Martin also starting to find more space, using his speed well to attack around the outside. A great strike forced a save but Ed Buckingham scored the sharpest of rebound goals… impressive! Toms Martin and Childs scored a goal each to make it 6 goals to Woodbridge. It wasn’t all plain sailing though and Edward Rufford in goal for Woodbridge had to be at his very best to keep the clean sheet – one he can be very proud of. A good start for the boys, with Henry player of the match just ahead of Archie and Edward Buckingham. Next awaits RHS and the U13 County Cup, both of which will be the toughest of challenges.

JUNIOR 3 V LANGLEY
Score: Won 4-0

The first fixture of the term, against Langley, saw the Junior third team play with surprising composure, putting their experience to good use. Woodbridge dominated possession during the first half, with James Holliday distributing well and stretching the play in order to create gaps in the Langley defence; he also scored the first goal of the season to take Woodbridge ahead. At the other end of the pitch James Yardy marshalled the defence well, especially when under lots of pressure in the second half when the skilful Langley team built more attacking momentum. Good support came from Malin Wijesinghe and Will Turner, who made good debuts for the team and did the job in defence and attack. Kai Hoang and Moses McBride also played their first competitive match for Woodbridge, and together with James Laxton and goalkeepers Cameron Hood and Harry Ward completed the team effort to set Archie Bacon up for his great hat trick in this game. Woodbridge took nearly every scoring chance and built up a comfortable lead which made for a calm final few minutes and a 4-0 victory. A great start by the boys who now look ahead to the next match against RHS

We have excellent news to report from the Suffolk County Trials for the UK Inter Counties to be held at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough in March.

Nine Woodbridge School athletes competed for Ipswich Harriers across the day and all were rewarded with top 10 finishes, making the tough December training seem all the more worthwhile! Even more impressively, five gained individual medals and six team medals. Suffolk will take eight runners in each age group to Prestwold: with those who finished in the top four already guaranteed a place, and within a day Bea subsequently included for the girls, this means that seven of our nine are already in their respective teams. Amazing!

Full results as follows:

U13G – Ruby Vinton 1st Gold Medal
U13G – Amy Goddard 3rd Bronze Medal

U13B – Edward Rufford 9th

U15G April Hill 2nd Silver Medal
U15G Bea Thomas 6th

U15B Charlie Turner 2nd Silver Medal
U15B Kit Evans Lombe 4th

U17M Nathan Goddard 1st Gold Medal
U17M Alex Evans Lombe 7th

The news does not end there: two of our Abbey Students took part in the non-Championship U11 race. James Hattan had a fine run to finish fourth in the boys’ race and Georgina Phillips also ran excellently to finish a strong ninth in the girls’ race. Nearing the other end of the age spectrum [Ed: I’m teasing you, Mr Garvie], Mr Garvie competed in the Senior Men’s race finishing 68th overall and 15th in his age category.

A fantastic day, congratulations to all and good luck in March.

On Thursday 11 January, Woodbridge School hosted the Suffolk Schools’ Series B County Championships, which was also the final trial for the Anglian Schools’ race in February and the English Schools’ event in March. The weather may not have been at its best, but the athletes weren’t to be deterred despite a muddy course and difficult footing from trying their best.

Twenty five runners from The Abbey and Senior School raced, having already gained top 40 places at the Series A championships at Culford in December and there were some outstanding results. In particular, six won medals for top-three finishes and are hoping to be selected to represent Suffolk.

Full results:
Minor Girls – Ruby Vinton 1st
Minor Boys – Ed Buckingham 8th, Moses McBride 9th, Henry Vincent 20th, Tommy Burrows 34th, John Evans Lombe 39th, Jonjo Walker 44th & George Na Nakhorn 49th
Junior Girls – April Hill 1st, Amy Goddard 5th, Bea Thomas 9th, Jess Elmer 10th, Anna Jackson 19th, Emily Whyte 20th and Ashleigh Wildbore 37th.
Junior Boys – Charlie Turner 2nd, Kit Evans Lombe 3rd, Edward Rufford 18th & Mauricio Corfe 30th
Inter Girls – Sophie Graham 22nd & Victoria Burrows 35th
Inter Boys – Nathan Goddard 1st, Alex Evans Lombe 3rd, Daniel Davies 12th, George Rufford 23rd & Chris Long 25th.

Thank you to all the members of staff and parents who volunteered and supported the event, whether marshalling, warming up, or supervising the athletes. We would not be able to host such events without all your support. Also, many thanks again to Mr Goddard for his dedication and for the time he gives.

Many, many congratulations to Emily Barker who gained a distinction in the recent extremely demanding BMO paper 1. She completed three perfect solutions out of the six questions set, and 9 out of 10 for a fourth – and exceptional performance. Congratulations also to Jason Li who scored 25 marks including one perfect and one excellent response. The BMO is an invitation exam set for the best few percent of candidates from the National Mathematics Competition earlier in the year.

Forty enthusiastic and confident Woodbridge and Abbey boys and girls travelled to compete in this huge event… over 250 running from over 30 schools in each of the six races on the day. Our team was a credit to the school and further enhanced our reputation as an excellent cross country school.

For the senior school races, the Year 7 girls started impressively with Ruby Vinton continuing her recent run of victories with a confident performance to win by some 100m. But these races were as much about teamwork, and so six had to score well: Madeline Buchanan (29), Ada Marson (58), Esme Ball (63), Chloe Macmillan (70), and Kitty Frith (101), Maggie Nicholson (103) and Libbie Brightey(107) running together to push each other, all fought through the pack and the cold to give themselves a chance of glory. Eight place overall was a fine reward.

The Year 7 boys were also on fine form: Ed Buckingham (4) chased down the initial leader and worked hard in the front group, while Moses McBride (11) and Tommy Burrows (17) forged their way up the field into the second group. Jonny Evans Lombe (33) and George Na Nakhorn (39) showed excellent support for the front runners and with Erwan Gouedo (67) and Albie Smith (102) working exceptionally hard right to the finish, the boys took a deserved third place overall.

The Year 8 girls feared they would be a runner short, but Isobel Mitchell agreed to run a year up to ensure that the team would be able to gain a score. The team was ably led by Amy Goddard (3) who ran with the front runners from the start and worked extremely hard throughout the race and she was well supported by her entire team of Ann Jackson (10), Willa Cole (19), and Isobel Mitchell (37), Iris Morton (40) and Ella Pitt (41) whose triumvirate approach brought the very best result out of them. The girls won as a team – a brilliant performance.

The Year 8 boys now knew we were in with a shout for the overall competition. Ed Rufford (14) and Tom Martin (26) set the pace with Tom cleverly biding his time and slowly moving through the field throughout the race; Samuel Bolus (47) worked as hard as he ever had, digging impressively deep, as did Oliver Doole (64) and the pair of Archie Sjoberg (83) and Max Hutchinson (85) who pushed and pushed right to the end. Seventh for the team: another great result.

In the end in the overall results our girls’ team and our boys’ team both finished third (the only school to feature on both podiums). It meant the grand total would be close… and so it proved as we were pipped into second behind Lincroft Academy by 1462 to 1476 points, and well over 100 points clear of third placed Bedford Modern. A brilliant day! Many congratulations to all the runners who performed admirably in freezing cold and windy conditions.

Congratulations to the U14A netball team for an excellent match on Monday after school! They showed real resilience, guts and determination. East Bergholt came with a strong team of club players and who were quick to challenge every ball. In the first quarter Ella Walker and Emily Whyte shot well and the teams were level. In the second quarter East Bergholt pulled away by 4 goals thanks to some excellent shooting and despite Jess Elmer’s fierce defending mid court for which she took some hard hits. The Woodbridge girls had a change of positions and battled hard in the third quarter to turn the game around. Ariane Bilgen and Issy Eaton dominated their players in the circle, not allowing them any space near the post. Further down court Molly Marshall and April Hill used the turned-over balls quickly to turn the defence into attack. Both teams were not going to let the game slip away from them and in the final quarter the match was very physical and exciting. The standard of netball was very pleasing and the result even more so! To win the game by one goal, 15-14 was well deserved. Well done, girls, on an excellent whole team performance.

The Netball season got under way for the U15B team with an away league match against Westbourne. Luckily, we were playing indoors (which makes all the difference, particularly this time of year), so the girls were happy! Although the first quarter was slow to get going, especially as most of the team hadn’t played netball since last season, we managed to end with a 4 – 4 draw. Our passing was quick, but unfortunately not accurate, and we were panicking, therefore not converting our interceptions. During the second half, the team slowed their play down and managed to convert their interceptions into goals. Maddie Cheshire and Libby Martin worked brilliantly in the shooting circle; moving effectively and ensuring passes was received under the post. Sophie Harper, Amber Harrell and Tori McCarroll worked tirelessly in defence, putting the shooters under pressure and turning the ball over. Charlotte Bowers and Laura Golding kept the momentum going in Centre, ensuring passes into our attacking circle were accurate and Maisie Watts and Lily Craig backed up on our defending line and around our attacking circle. A good team performance – well done girls!

The Woodbridge School Junior Riders travelled to the Easton & Otley College Easton Campus to contest the NSEA Grass Roots Show Jumping Regional Final on Saturday 6 January 2018.

Sasha Reid started the day off by taking 2nd place in the 40cms Championship.

This was then followed by the Team of Isla Appleby (Yr 8), Lily Waterer (Yr 8), Sophia Waterer (Yr6) and Eve Marson (Yr5) winning the 60cms Championships with Lily, Eve and Sophia taking 2nd, 3rd and 4th place as individuals respectively.

The same team then went on to contest the 70cms Championship class and completed the double by winning. Lily Waterer finished the day in Style taking the win as the individual with Sophia taking 4th, Eve taking 5th and Isla taking 6th place.

This was the first time this team had competed at any Championships level.

The riders had qualified for the Championship in September 2017 by winning the qualifying classes at the Tendring Hundred Riding Club hosted show.

Mr Goddard reports:

Last Saturday five Woodbridge School Athletes represented Suffolk County (as opposed to Suffolk Schools) at the South of England Inter County Cross Country in Oxford.

Amy Goddard finished mid field in the U13 girls race, and as fourth home of the eight Suffolk athletes, counted towards the Suffolk A Team result with the team finishing a highly creditable ninth.

Charlie Turner competed a year up in the U15 boys. Charlie was tumbled to the ground at the ferocious start, but despite blood from a few spike wounds, picked himself up and worked through the field to finish in the top third. As second Suffolk runner home he helped the team to a 15th place finish.

April Hill showed a glimpse of her old self, running a year up in the U15 girls as she continues to gain fitness after missing most of 2016 and early 2017 with injury. April was competitive throughout the race finishing second for Suffolk in 23rd place, and only about 20 seconds (over the 4km course0) off a top ten finish. The team again did well to finish ninth.

Nathan Goddard followed his recent Suffolk Schools victory at Culford this time finishing first Suffolk home in 26th place despite running a year up in the U17 men. Nathan was 57 seconds behind the winner over 5km and the first few are the same names that dominate the Nationals. The Suffolk team finished 12th.

And Ruby Vinton: wow! Ruby has entered her first senior school cross country season by competing a year up and blazing an unprecedented trail. Fresh from her win at the England Schools’ XC Cup Final two weeks ago, this race seemed likely to provide a sterner test. Or so we thought… Under orders to follow the lead pack, Ruby soon realised that two athletes were getting away and so with adults holding their breath, she set off in pursuit. Surely on catching the leaders Ruby would settle… Not a chance, she ran past the leaders and eased away to become Champion of the South by 7 seconds, all a year young. An outstanding effort and achievement! Congratulations to Ruby from all at Woodbridge School.

It’s also worth mention that the Suffolk U13 Boys’ team won the South of England team title (despite no Woodbridge School athletes this time!), to indicate just what a bright future there is for our Suffolk youngsters. All part of an impressive end to the first half of the cross country season, with a long awaited Christmas break to recharge ahead of some major races between January and March.

Despite freezing conditions at The Jays, Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 9 December; the Woodbridge School riders excelled at all levels to land three County Titles in Show Jumping.
The younger team of Sophia, Eve (9) (both still at the Abbey) with team mates Lily and Alex did faultless rounds to be narrowly beaten into 2^nd place in the 70cms Show Jumping NSEA Suffolk County Qualifier. Lily, however, produced a super round to win the class and be crowned Suffolk Champion and qualify to represent the school and Suffolk at the NSEA County Show Jumping Championships. Eve was also placed 3^rd individually.

The next level caused problems with no single School finishing on a zero score; but the Woodbridge School team of Ada, Perdi, Lily and Alex completed on a score of 4 to win, be crowned Suffolk Champions and qualify for the NSEA County SJ Champs next April. Alex was also placed 4^th individually.

Woodbridge had one team to compete in the 90cms competition of Ada (11), Alex (12), Perdi (11) and Olivia (12). This is a new height for this team and they all rode with excellent skill to produce 3 out of 4 immaculate clear rounds. The Class finished with Woodbridge taking the win on a zero score and again be crowned Suffolk Champions and qualify for the NSEA County SJ Champs in April 2018. Ada was also placed 5^th individually.

The children are very lucky to receive two training sessions a week provided through the School. This gives the opportunity for every child to train at least once a week if they have other school commitments. The training is geared around practice for competing as well as technical improvement. The children work really hard and this is really paying off, producing such consistent results. They also have a lot of fun.

The NSEA County Championships are held at Bury Farm, Bedfordshire in April 2018. The Woodbridge riders will be representing the School and Suffolk at the Championships.

Full results:

70cms
Individual winner Lily on Annabelle;
Eve on Big Ben was 3^rd;
Team of Lily, Eve, Sophia and Alex were 2^nd.

80cms
Team of Ada, Lily, Alex & Perdi won and qualified;
Team of Eve, Lily, Sophia and Lolly were 5^th;
Alex riding Faith the Third was 4^th.

90cms
Team of Ada, Alex , Perdi and Lolly won and qualified;
Ada was 5^th individually.