Category: Sport

Six schools took part in the first athletics meet this season at RHS on Saturday: Gresham’s, Ipswich High, Ipswich School, Brandeston, RHS and Woodbridge. Open to girls’ teams of U12, U13 U14 and U15, it made for a busy and exciting day with so many involved. Woodbridge won overall with first places in both the two younger age groups and second in the older two.

In the U12 category we had many second places with a particularly fine run to win the relay, Katie Bellhouse and Ella Walker high amongst the many who contributed excellent results. The U13 team saw Ianthe Hill win the 300m, Annie Yates the discus, Sophie Graham the Javelin with a new PB of 35.39m, and the relay team also won. In the U14 Sarah Barker won the 300m, Amy Graham the 800m, javelin and relay, Joanne Garnett the discus. In the U15 team Chloe Outen won the triple jump with most of the rest of the team being placed second in their events.

A special mention must go to Annie Yates who in true Woodbridge fashion offered to compete in the hurdles a year up and the relay team two years up, and to Millie Buchanan whose commitment to the team despite in the end being deemed by staff too ill to compete was an example to all. These examples of enthusiasm and team spirit give a hint as to why our teams so often do so well across such a broad spectrum of activities: the camaraderie is hugely appreciated by peers and staff.
Thanks to all the parents who brought the girls to school on our Bank holiday weekend and those out supporting at RHS. Most importantly thank you girls and well done!

More success for Oliver Wroe!  In a very busy weekend he first of all represented our region impressively well in the junior 16 double sculls with Deben Rowing Club teammate Jamie Goodwyn, reaching the Junior 16 Inter-Regional final and coming an excellent fourth, not far behind the medalling crews from top flight clubs and rowing schools (and needless to say, ahead of many others).  As a wind-down he and Jamie then competed at Lea regatta, winning their doubles event and then facing off against each other in the final of the single sculls – for Oliver to triumph once again.  Brilliant work.

The successes achieved by Woodbridge School tennis teams in 2015 were rewarded at the recent Suffolk Schools Tennis Association Annual General Meeting. Woodbridge was presented with the Champion School Shield. This award is attributed to winning the Girls Y8 and below Division 1 and Division 2 competitions.

The U13A tennis team made Woodbridge history by winning the Suffolk Schools Tennis Association Division 1 county finals. The team did well during the league stages of the competition, winning the matches needed to qualify for the county finals and gaining experience in pressure situations. On finals day the girls beat Brandeston Hall in the semi-final before going on to beat Culford in the final, showing the depth of the team.

During the first round of the national knock-out competition, the team had to settle for second best against The Leys.

The county success followed hot on the heels of another tournament win for the U13A team. The team won the annual Brandeston Hall U13 girls tennis tournament, seeing off 5 other teams, winning a massive 25 rubbers and losing only 4.

The girls’ U13B tennis team remained unbeaten during the tennis season, and was crowned Suffolk Division 2 champions.

The team qualified for the county finals beating RHS, Ipswich High School and Orwell Park in the pool rounds. At the finals they beat Westley School in the semi-final and then Brandeston Hall B in the final in a very good contest. The team won 27 of the 30 rubbers played during the season, proving the dominance of the U13B team.

At the AGM, Woodbridge School was also thanked for their contribution to Mini-Tennis in the area.

Katherine Bye reports
The U14As’ last game of the season was a friendly away at Felsted.

It was a difficult match. We played well, however their attacking play was very strong. The first half was encouraging and we scored several skilful goals, but despite this, Felsted steadily pulled out in front. During the second half Felsted continued their powerful play and we struggled to keep up. It was frustrating to end the season with a defeat, friendly or not, having won the league.

The Under 14A netball team has had a great season, winning all its South Suffolk league matches. We showed confidence and, with determination, we won some difficult matches. We played superbly together as a team and showed great dedication. We developed new skills during the season, and focussed on communication, moving onto the ball to get it to the shooters – and on developing more defensive interceptions. We played seven league matches and won all of them convincingly. It has been a great season which we all enjoyed.

Nathan Goddard reports
At the end of the Lent term we set out in beautiful and sunny conditions to face St Joseph’s away from home. We started the match positively and a good piece of movement by Daniel Davies allowed him to take the ball inside the area before passing across the goal to find his forward partner George Rufford at the back post who swept the ball in. Not too long after Daniel found himself in more space on the right side of the area. This time he played a cross across the area to find Josh Graves who took a touch before reverse tomahawking the ball into the top corner leaving the keeper no chance. Later on in that half Noah Lewington made a great save to his right making sure we had the lead 2-0 at half time. However, just after the break St Joseph’s pulled one back after repeated shots on our goal and it was not long before they scored a second from a short corner after some miscommunication. Eventually we kicked our second half into life with Oli Buchanan pouncing on a misplaced pass to slot the ball home from the edge of the area. We had further chances to score more goals and put the game to bed after more good leads from the forwards. However, neither side was able to score any more goals leaving us with a hard fought 3-2 win.

Two days later we faced Framlingham away from home. After being defeated in a tournament earlier on in the year we hoped for better this time, but within the first few minutes of the match we conceded a goal to a short corner. However, for the rest of the half the teams were evenly matched, and we twice came close to equalising when first Alex Weir-Simmons hit the crossbar and then Danny Norman hit the post. As the second half started we had even more chances but we were unable to put any into the back of the net, only for Framlingham to score from another short corner. There would be two more goals from open play in the rest of the match but unfortunately both were scored by Framlingham. Special mention must go to Oliver Juszt for once again making some outstanding saves. Despite being defeated there were many positives to be taken from the match including the amount of chances created and the quality of our hockey.

Arthur Bartlett reports
I have had the most incredible opportunity this season to improve my ski racing. I qualified, somewhat to my surprise, for the ESSKIA (English Schools Ski Association) junior squad, on the basis of the dry slope races that Woodbridge took part in last September. I was invited to join the ESSKIA squad training in Pila in Italy from 13 to 20 March.

The week in Pila was a great chance to meet ski racers from other schools and parts of the country. It was a full program of race training, competition, ski preparation and fitness, and some school work too. I was really pleased with the progress I made during the week – I won the Giant Slalom competition and came third in the Slalom.

At the end of the week I took a taxi from Pila to Tignes in France to join four time Olympian Chemmy Alcott and her CDC Performance team to prepare for and compete in the British Alpine Championships. This was the biggest ski racing challenge I have ever faced and just qualifying gave me a huge sense of achievement.

The program was intense, fitness, activation, skiing, ski prep, and homework but great fun and the camaraderie of been part of a small team – just nine racers – was amazing. I was pleased with my placings, although a way off the podium, I had made real progress. The most thrilling thing I did for the first time was the Super G, a race with very long turns on very long skis, and although I crashed out in the race I cannot wait to have the chance to do it again. I am delighted that CDC performance has invited me to join the team training in New Zealand for four weeks in the summer.

The support of my teachers in providing school work and help while I missed a week and a half of school, and of the sports department in helping me to build my strength and fitness have allowed me to make the most of this amazing opportunity. Thank you.

Many congratulations to Oliver Wroe who recently won the inaugural Wilford Sculls on the River Deben, hosted by the Deben Rowing Club. The course of a little over 2km demanded both speed and expert navigation, weaving in and out of the various natural and manmade obstructions the river invariably provides. Oliver won with the fastest time of the day: 11 minutes 29 seconds, just ahead of Steve Fowler whose masters rowing adjusted time of 11 minutes 31 based on his actual time of 11:51 was not quite good enough. To put Oliver’s achievement in context, Steve rowed twice for Cambridge in the early nineties and continues to train and compete at very a high level.

1st beat Wymondham by 3 wickets in a T20.

Woodbridge won the toss and put Wymondham in to bat on a very damp pitch. The first 8 overs went extremely well, with the opening pair of Matt Sutton and Ollie Whiting bowling tightly. In the last 8 overs one of the opposition swung the bat, scoring a quick 49, which elevated their score to 90 for 6 at the end of 20 overs – a competitive total given the conditions.

Woodbridge in attempting the run chase slowly lost wickets along the way. Fortunately Callum Askins found form with the bat, scoring 55 not out, including 5 sixes, the last of which was the winning runs in the final over. Callum batted with intelligence and determination, hitting out when necessary and carefully watching and playing the variable bounce on the good balls. All in all an excellent way to start the season.

Huge crowds; hundreds of expectant children from across East Anglia; so many schools represented. Woodbridge School’s second hosting of this major regional event on the sporting calendar was if anything even more brilliantly slick than last year’s triumph. Mr Lubbock, Mr Goddard, Miss Sanders, Mrs Richardson and their wonderful team of staff, parent and pupil volunteers spirited up a glorious day of endeavour and achievement, making light of the relatively grey skies, and the attempt at drizzle –nothing was going to dampen proceedings!

Each race went off at blistering pace, the thunder of the feet rolling down the initial slopes into the valley. And then the woodland hill… but even here the attack of the athletes was great to behold. No quarter given to mere gradient. One lap, two laps, Tollers or not depending on age or gender… everyone had a course perfectly matched to their experience and strength, and the challenges posed gave the fastest just the right amount of time to demonstrate their skill. Medallists were almost invariably medallists by a good few metres and not by heartbreaking widths-of-singlets; and teams won their honours thanks to consistently outstanding performance and not through the agony of others’ distress.

After over two hours of racing, one event seamlessly proceeding to the next, it was time to regroup in the Dome for delicious cakes, sandwiches and hot drinks (very welcome indeed!). Mr Brett welcomed and thanked, Mr Lubbock and Miss Sanders praised and distributed: and it was a great day for Woodbridge School: overall team champions! Overall boys’ champions! Overall girls’ champions! Under 11 boys’ champions! Under 12 boys’ champions! Second in under 12 girls, under 13 girls and under 10 boys! Ruby Vinton won U10 girls’, Henry Dinwiddy won U11 boys’, Kit Evans-Lombe won silver in U12 boys’, and Will Frankin (U12B), Edward Rufford (U11B) and Bea Thomas (U12G) all won bronzes. Brilliant stuff. Many congratulations to all the athletes, wherever you placed – everyone counted in the team event – and what a team we were!

Woodbridge School organised the 20th NSEA Inter Schools Annual ODE at Poplar Park on Sunday 20th March over the Poplar Park BE XC courses for 80cm, 90cm & 1m classes. As ever, the day was a great success, and our sincere thanks go to Ms Theobald and her brilliant team of helpers.

The 80cms class was run as a Hunter Trial for children 13yrs and under. This was won by the Woodbridge School Junior Team of Ada Marson (4th individually) riding Rolly Rascal, Neve Walker (9th individually) riding Heritage Zena and Fleur Ludgrove (10th individually) riding Aston My Time of Warleigh. This was a very fine performance as all three riders were making their Cross Country debuts on new mounts.

The 90cms was very well supported with eleven school teams competing with 41 individuals. Woodbridge’s team of Tabitha Wilson-Smith riding Ruby Queen of Diamonds, Lydia Sida-Page riding Corrin Hill Clover (6th individually)) & Georgie Warren riding Autumn Gold (7th individually) took seventh place overall.

The 1m class saw a brilliant double for Woodbridge’s Lye sisters; Zara Lye won her section riding Jana de Cavaignac & Tessa Lye won her section riding Dawns Glen. Bella Regis riding Forever Unique secured a fine second place in her section, to round things off in excellent style, helping the team to a convincing win overall.