Category: Sport
ROWING
It’s another pot for Oliver Wroe! This time at Peterborough Spring Regatta: with Deben Rowing Club teammate Jamie Goodwyn he won the J16 double sculls by some 13 seconds (a good three lengths or more), and then followed this up with a fine second place in the J16 single sculls. Impressive work.
OLLIE ON THE WATER…
Many congratulations to Oliver Wroe, who with his doubles partner Jamie Goodwyn, competed recently at Eton Dorney (home to the 2012 Olympics) in the National Schools Rowing Regatta. His event was the championship doubles for the best under 18 scullers in the country, so competition was intense. The 63 crews first raced a time trial to separate them into a series of mini-finals; Oliver and Jamie’s 7-lane final later in the day was a thrilling race which they led from the start to win by a length. Their finishing time put them 29th overall, a magnificent effort for boys with two more years to improve.
AND MINNIE IN THE WATER…
And many congratulations to Minnie Wayman who competed at the East Region swimming championships in Luton last weekend. She qualified 6th fastest for the 200 back final, eventually finishing 8th, and followed this up with 11th in the 200 fly, 12th in the 100 back and 12th in the 50 back narrowly missing the final in all these events. More impressively still, she achieved good personal bests in all her swims and made real progress from last year. Now keener than ever, she is already looking forward to next year.
REGIONAL ATHLETICS
Good luck to the following athletes who have been selected to represent Suffolk at the Anglian Schools’ athletics competition on 19 June at UEA, Norwich:
800m – Amy Graham
1500m – Sarah Barker & Nathan Goddard
Shot – Oliver Juszt
Discus – Alex Weir-Simmons, Sophie Graham, Joanne Garnett & Laura Graham
Javelin – Sophie Graham & Laura Graham
High Jump – Rosa McInerney
300m Hurdles – Maddie Craig
3000m – Connor Grant
400m & Long Jump – William Joannès
COUNTY ATHLETICS
There was all to play for in the second round of the Year 7 Athletics County Competition, with the top two of the schools participating qualifying for the county finals. every point mattered boys finished second in the first round so knew they had to work hard. They had some excellent wins from Mauricio Corfe in the A hurdles race, John Hendry 200m A , and both relay teams, Tom and Charles Turner, Mauricio and John (A team), and William Franklin, Chester Wigzell, Thomas Harper and Mak Zie (B team). Frustratingly, though, it all proved in vain, the team’s 79 points leaving them in third place by just four points.
The girls gained impressive revenge, however, winning with 106 points ahead of Kesgrave in second on 101 (both qualifying for the County Finals). Issy Eaton won the A 100m in 13.6s (one to look out for on Sports Day!) and also won the B long jump, Olivia Buchanan won the A javelin, Ella Walker the A high jump, Jo Dunmore the B 100m, and the B relay team of Jessica Elmer, Eleanor Wright, Olivia, and Molly Marshall also won.
We wait to find out when the Year 7 county finals will be held as the proposed dates clash with the ESSA Track and Field Regional Finals in Allianz Park. We do know, though, that the Year 9 County finals are 27 June, the Year 9/10 team are at the Regionals on 20 June, and the Year 7/8 are at the Regionals on 22 June. Busy times!
YEARS 5, 6, 7 & 8 ATHLETICS REPORT
Sophie Graham set a new event record at the Bedford Preparatory Schools Athletics, throwing the javelin 37.25m in the girls U14 event and qualifying for the Nationals in Birmingham on the 4 July. She went on to win the discus as well with Annabel Yates placed second (first and second placed competitors all go to the nationals). Most events had about thirty competitors with fifty schools present. Olivia Buchanan won the U13 javelin to also qualify. Archie Shelley-Taylor came second in the discus. Ella Walker had a great day and jumped a personal best in high jump of 1.35 which was the winning height and she was placed second on count back.
On the track it was just as exciting. With three heat races to reach the finals in the sprint races, Isabelle Eaton won her heat in 100m and went on to be placed second in the final. John Hendry won his heat in 200m and then went on to win the final. Our boys relay team of Daniel Norman, Hugo Thomas, John Hendry (unfortunately Nathaniel Gunn was unable to come on the day) and Tom Turner who stepped in, came second in the finals. Both Amy Goddard and Henry Dinwiddy had to settle for third place in their 1500m races, where excellent PB’s were achieved in a very large competitive field.
So ten pupils qualifying for the Nationals and as always a special thanks goes to Mr Graham and Mr Goddard for their super coaching.
Congratulations to Mollie Biddle, Joshua Graves, Georgia Harrold, Oliver Juszt, Sophie Little, Hugo Thomas and Alex Weir-Simmons and who have all been selected into their respective final Suffolk JRPC age group teams, and to Mia and Myles King for selection into their final Norfolk JRPC teams.
U15 Girls
The U15A girls’ team may have been beaten by Framlingham but was by no means outplayed. Harriet Petley won her singles conformably, after also playing a two-hour match earlier in the day. Amy Graham battled in a long set but one service break saw her lose it 3-6, and both Flora Johnston and Julia Schwab rallied well but had to submit to more experience opponents. The young U15B team, featuring Saffron Holliday, Annabel Yates and Minnie Wayman, also had a tough yet very entertaining fixture against Framlingham’s B team, playing some outstanding points and close games.
U15A Boys
The U15A boys played a very exciting and nail-biting league fixture against St Joseph’s College, winning 7-6. All was level after the 6 rubbers; both teams winning three each, thanks to a singles win by Oriol Valsells, and doubles victories by pairs Eden Wigzell / Oliver Bacon and Charlie Garnham / Oriol Valsells. Oliver and Charlie set out in the doubles shoot-out tie-break in an attempt to seal the tie for Woodbridge, and provide entertainment for the spectators. They did not disappoint and won the shoot-out 10-7.
U15B Boys
U15B Boys lost narrowly by 8-4 to Hartismere in the AEGON league. James Martin and Seb Lamb played good tennis in their singles, despite losing to higher rated players. Charlie Mayhew and Sam Bryant started well for Woodbridge, winning their doubles 6-3, and Sam then went on to win his singles 6-0.
A few days earlier, Woodbridge played some of the most fun and entertaining tennis of the term, taking on St Felix on their grass courts. The players did remarkably, playing on slightly slippery surface with inconsistent, and at times surprising, bounce. This meant there were plenty of slippery and sliding shots and diving returns. Despite not being able to make a dent into the final score line, the Woodbridge boys enjoyed the experience, having loads of fun in their matches. James Martin and Seb Lamb played one of the most entertaining sets of the term, losing 6-7 in a tie-break, and providing much to applaud to those watching.
U13A Boys
The U13A team finished a busy term of tennis in the AEGON league with a tough fixture against St Joseph’s College. The players competed well but could not match the power and accuracy from their opponents. Some fantastic tennis was on show, as the high rated St Joseph’s players pushed our players to perform at their best.
U13B Girls
The girls’ U13B team outplayed their opponents from Hartismere, winning the tie 12-0. Clara Simpson and Molly Marshall started off well, winning their doubles 6-0, while Ella Walker (6-3) and Olivia Buchanan (6-1) both won their singles. Molly and Clara continued the good run by winning their singles 6-0 and 6-3 respectively. Ella and Olivia finished off a clean sweep, winning their doubles 6-4.
U13B Boys
The U13B boys played a very competitive fixture against Hartismere, but had to settle for defeat in the end. The doubles matches provided the highlights of the day, with the boys showing good teamwork and playing some quality games. Hugo Anderson and Freddie Simpson teamed up, just losing 4-6. Jack Christey and Kit Evans Lombe also had to settle for the same score-line playing some quality shots along the way. Freddie Simpson showed good endurance wearing down his opponent in his singles match, and he finally won 6-4.
Won 27-11
The under thirteens played a fine game of rounders in which the whole team scored at least half a rounder against Thomas Mills recently. The girls were always in control of the game with Saffron Holliday scoring every time she batted to finish as the game’s top scorer with 6 rounders, and Laura Golding also batting particularly well. Victoria Burrows bowled consistently, and there was a steady stream of players from Thomas Mills succumbing to our excellent fielding exemplified by Neve Walker. Well done all!
Many congratulations to our Dressage Team of Francesca Aitchison, Zara Lye and Tessa Lye. In the Easter holidays the girls won the Inter Schools Dressage Qualifier, thus qualifying for the National Schools Championships in October, with Zara and Tessa winning their individual classes and qualifying as Individuals as well as within the team.
Zara deserves double congratulations as she was recently fourth in the U18 class at Belton International Horse Trials and went on to win the U18 class at Chilham Castle Horse Trials in Kent last weekend, despite being only 15.
All praise to both the Year 7 boys and girls who recently sailed through to the next round in the county athletics competition, to be held at Northgate on 8 June. In a fiercely fought competition, the boys qualified in third place out of nine by one point scoring 114 points. John Hendry won his 200m long jump and was instrumental in the last leg of the relay victory, Charlie Turner won the B javelin, Mak Zie the B 200m, and Prem Pohl the B discus. The girls meanwhile won their section outright with 138 points. Both Ella Walker and Katie Bellhouse won their 300m races with very similar times. Olivia Buchanan won the A javelin with a personal best score and Molly Marshall won the 75m sprint, which replaces the hurdles in the first round. Both relay teams won with Issy Eaton running particularly well, having already registered an impressive 13.7s in her 100m race.
Many congratulations to everyone who competed: it is a team competition so every point earned is equally precious!
There was further exceptional competition at Northgate recently, this time in the Year 8 schools athletics. Some excellent scores were recorded, in particular Nell Pilkington winning the A string shot, Sophie Graham the javelin with 35.71m, Sophie Harper the B string javelin, Ianthe Hill the A 300m with a new PB of 47.22s, and Sophie Graham coming second in the hurdles with a time of 13.34s. Technical hitches meant that the team results were not announced on the night, so although we suspect we were not the overall winners the girls did really well, especially those new to the squad.
With nine schools sending girls’ teams, and with seven boys’ teams, competition was high at Northgate in the schools’ athletics. Alex Weir-Simmons had another good meet with first place in the A 200m race and discus. Nathan Goddard ran an excellent 800m race to win his A event, and Oliver Juszt and Gabriel Newland won the A and B Shot respectively to dominate that particular competition. Overall the boys were placed a very creditable fifth.
For the girls Maud Peel won A shot, Joanne Garnett A discus, Emma Hendry A high jump, Amy Graham won the 800m closely followed by Sarah Barker, Freya Nyberg won the B javelin while Amy Graham with a throw of over 30m came second in the A event, and Sophie Weston, Millie Buchanan, Emma Hendry and Tessa Lye won the B relay. With the top two places qualifying for the county competition we were pleased to finish second, ahead of Ipswich High and behind RHS. A particular well done to those who stepped into events they did not think they would be doing, to cover for absent friends, and to all those new to the team – they did very well!
‘So, Mr Streat, how was the day for you?’
‘An awful lot better thanks to the fantastic lift I got from listening to the Swing Band before the start. It was on top form and brought broad smiles to everyone’s face – as it always does – no mean feat considering what lay ahead for the hundreds of participants…’
Absolutely true: The members of the Swing Band gave up their morning (as they so generously, and brilliantly, gave up an evening not so long ago to grace the WSPA Downton Ball) to open proceedings with the best of flourishes. They brought calm to furrowed brows, and made the prospect of 10k seem like nothing more than a stroll in a Royal Park to the beat of the Band of the Coldstream Guards. Brilliant – I send a hearty thanks to Mr Shepherd and all our wonderful musicians (many of whom even stayed to support the runners) on behalf of the hundreds there on the day.
As for the racing, and what racing it was, there are some stunning highlights to report, top amongst them being the victories in the junior races for Sarah Barker (G14-15), Nathan Goddard (B12-13), Amy Goddard (G10-11), Teddie Buckingham (B10-11), Ruby Winton (G9), Jonjo Walker (B9) and Arthur Na Nakhorn (B7-8); close behind them were other top-10 finishers Daniel Davies (B14-15), Molly Marshall, Ella Walker and Ianthe Hill (G12-13), George Rufford (3rd) and Mak Zie (B12-13), Anna Jackson and Clara Simpson (G10-11), Thomas Liddy (3rd), Edward Rufford and George Na Nakhorn (B10-11), Jimmy Glendinning (2nd) and James Hattan (B9), and Ruby Lubbock (2nd), Rose Jackson, Lara Zie and Mihi Forbes Ballard (G7-8). So many great performances from our boys and girls of all ages (as well as some gallant members of staff – for example Mr Smith (an excellent 27th), with Mr Garvie not far behind (50th) , a host of parents (Mr Rufford first of them to finish, in 20th place), and a healthy smattering of OWs – Tom Wake in 49th the first in, I think). Save to say, the Woodbridge Shufflers’ slick organisation and the brilliant atmosphere created by the thousands out supporting all around the course made for a great day, and everyone who ran, performed, helped or volunteered on the day deserves our congratulations.