Wahey – it’s the Summer term!
Will someone please tell the weather? It’s great to see all the boys back today and everyone seems to be ready to get stuck in to the main themes of athletics and PE and cricket in Games. Senior pupils also generally have a little more choice with fly-fishing, sailing, tennis and, hopefully, rowing options.
Tomorrow we have a mixture of internal cricket matches but the Foals (Year 5) are straight into it, entertaining Farleigh at home.
The 1st and 2nd XIs, 3rd and 4th XIs are playing in practice internal matches on Gater Field, one of Winchester College’s playing areas just off Garnier Road. Collection time should be from 1730 back at school.
Colts cricketers (Year 6) will be in the Nets and on the Grid for skills work with collection from 1530.
As mentioned, playing at home on Bailey, Wolvesey and New Piece, will be Foals A, B and C (Year 5). We’re aiming for a 1415 start and play is expected to finish around 1700. Match tea takes place on the pitches in the summer, in between innings at around 1530. At the end of the matches, the players will be walked back to school by staff, where they may be signed out.
Under 9 (Year 4) will have a Games session comprising a swim followed by alternative activity with collection from 1530.
Also underway will be senior athletics (collection from 1530), fly-fishing (collection from 1630) and tennis (collection from 1530).
On Friday, Osamede A and Sebastian N compete at our local track at Bar End in athletics.
On Saturday, more cricket is scheduled with matches for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th XIs, Colts A, B and C at Horris Hill with Foals A, B and C at home once more, this time against Papplewick.
There will be Games groups for Under 9 and Foals not playing cricket with a 1415 collection and a senior athletics group with collection from 1530.
All details are on SOCS via My School Portal.
As an overview:
- We have four senior cricket XIs. The 1sts are coached by Mr Greenwood, who is also the Head of Cricket. The 2nds are with Mr Duncan and together they train together in Games sessions (Senior 1, or S1 for short).
- The 3rds are run by Mr Darlow and I have the pleasure of taking the 4th XI. Together we form an S2 group for Games.
- In Year 6, Mr Armstrong takes Colts A, Mr Cuyler Colts B and Mr Buck Colts C. With athletics and extra activities having been decided, three teams covers the cricket capacity in Year 6 and I expect all those Colts who are playing cricket will all play when all three teams are scheduled.
- In Year 5, Mr Lingard will take the Foals A, Mr Halliday takes Foals B and Mr Rainer Foals C. I will also be taking Games sessions in this year group, along with Mr Power. The pool of players at Year 5 is a little larger. As in other year groups, selection is on merit and the door is never closed for movement between teams. Nevertheless, the groups of players per team is larger which will require some rotation within the squads. Most of this is accounted for by the fact that some of the year group are sailing or fishing on Wednesday, whilst Saturdays are less suitable for choristers. Having drafted the first couple of match days, everyone available for cricket selection tomorrow has been picked to play with others occupied by other activity. On Saturday, those who missed out on Wednesday are first on the team sheets for their respective squads. Mr Lingard will be keeping a careful eye on section and rotation to seek equity amongst the group.
- At Under 9 (Year 4), Mr Greenwood, Mr Gough and Mr Guild take Games sessions. Many of the matches are on other days of the week to traditional Wednesday/Saturday slots. All boys will play all matches with Mr Buck, Mr Collyer and myself adding to match day staffing.
- Under 8 (Year 3) is along similar lines to Year 4 but with Mr Buck, Mr Rainer and Miss Duggan taking Games. Again, all boys will play all matches with Mr Greenwood, Mr Collyer and myself adding to match day staffing.
- For interschool matches, players should wear their cricket whites and their formal green jacket which they will put on for match tea. When we’re in cricket practice during Games sessions, boys should wear tracksuit bottoms/white shorts and save their whites (trousers) for match day.
- On the athletics front, Mr Cleaver is Head of Athletics, assisted by Mr Leslie, Miss Duggan and Miss Skeels with regular assistance from Mr Orr, Mr Bryant and Mr Collyer. Mike Marchant also assists with throwing being his area of expertise.
I appreciate there’s a lot of information to digest. If you have any questions, please let me know. I’m looking forward to a summer season of sport and especially long, hot, sunny days in front of Wolvesey Castle enjoying watching a good game of cricket.
Sorry, hang on, it just feels like this at the moment– I meant this one….
Finally, congratulations to David L who, before the Easter break, gained silver in the Southern Region Fencing Championships in the U12 Foil. Well done David!
Also, best wishes to Olly P who travels to Wolverhampton as the Hampshire representative at the National Table Tennis Championships this weekend!
Andrew Short
Director of Sport