We have enjoyed a busy term. Filled with our major game of football, and now rugby until Easter, but also cross-country, sailing, skiing and swimming. The men’s rugby world cup took place during September and October, and I mention this because there is always a great amount of respect in practice on display at this event, as there should be in all sports. The FA have an ongoing campaign about it, addressing spectator and player behaviour. In both games, you see play taking place at a very high intensity. At the end of matches, players congratulate one another on their efforts.
Let’s zoom in on one particular aspect of contact rugby – the tackle. Rugby is a game of close quarter physicality. When a tackle has been made, it is typical to see the tackler offering a hand to help the tackled player up. On the face of it, it is a simple sporting gesture, but it is underpinned with respect and a culture I want Pilgrims to embrace. The act of offering that hand, and indeed by the tackled player taking it, says that there is a mutual recognition of the rules of the game and that there was no malice intended. I recognise you have tackled me, and I will try and do the same for you! It says that, if the positions were reversed, I wouldn’t mind you offering me a helping hand. In this way, the players show respect towards themselves, each other and the game. I would love to see us demonstrating that kind of culture in practice.
198 football fixtures were arranged this term, more than we have ever had before. Of the twenty football fixture events which were staged this term, most provided opportunity for all boys in the prep school, with just a quarter of those occasions needing a Games group – that is, those pupils didn’t have a match. The average number of pupils in a Games group was 9% of our prep school population. In an ideal world, it would be 0% and whilst that isn’t always realistic, it is something we always work towards.
In terms of performance, our first four senior teams (bearing in mind we could field eight teams this term) have all had fairly even seasons, as have our age group A teams.
Team highlights
Football
The First XI with Mr Duncan has had an exciting and eventful season. There were a couple of epic away cup trips, both narrow losses, but they have also had some brilliant highlights, such as beating Cothill 4-3 in the first of their cup ties, making the semi-finals of the Rory McDonagh Tournament at Farleigh and reversing an earlier defeat in the season to beat Twyford 1-0 in the final match.
The Colts and Mr Greenwood got through to the semi-final of the ISFA tournament.
The Foals with Mr Buck enjoyed the Winchester College U10 tournament, losing 1-0 to the eventual winners, which is a considerable achievement given the level of football on display at that tournament.
The Under 9s have had some favourable results and have developed as a team, as have the U8s.
For the record, in the Inter-Set Football, Romans won the U9 and Foals competitions, Wrens won the Colts tournament, Saxons won the Championship and Normans won the Premier League.
It has been great to see a string of dedicated goalkeepers in our senior teams and in the age-groups.
Cross-country
Juniors competed in a Stroud meeting. We had eleven medallists in seven races. These were George B, Tristan G, Finlay N, Connor W, Patrick Bu, (all 1st), George I, Lucas L (both 2nd), Bertie L, Benjy C, Leon S, Farid A (all 3rd).
In the Eastleigh and Winchester District Cross Country event, five boys from Pilgrims’ School participated in a qualifying race for the County Championships, facing off against Year 8 and 9 competitors from 15 local schools. Fraser N’s impressive 2nd place performance qualifies him to represent the Winchester and Eastleigh district at the prestigious Hampshire County Championships. Thank you, Mr Cleaver.
Sailing & Skiing
Sailing continued from the summer term up until half-term and resumes again in the summer term. Skiing at the artificial slope in Southampton replaced it and will run until Easter. Many thanks to Mr Reid for organising these activities.
Swimming
We had junior and senior meetings with Twyford this term, with some excellent swims from our swimmers. Daniel Ma, Sasha Garside, Lucas Jia, Edward Booth, Yan Zhang and the Year 8 freestyle relay team all won their respective events. We look forward to water polo matches throughout next term, as well as the IAPS regional round.
I would like to thank all the sports staff for their commitment to Games and to Matches, to the medical, catering and grounds staff for all their support. I’d like to thank Mr Duncan, Barnaby D and Tobi O for their leadership of the 1st XI.
Furthermore, I’d like to thank Mr Buck for his leadership of football within the school. I look forward to next term – Merry Christmas!
Cross-country
In the Eastleigh and Winchester District Cross Country event, five boys from Pilgrims’ School participated in a qualifying race for the County Championships, facing off against Year 8 and 9 competitors from 15 local schools. The pre-race strategy for the Pilgrims’ team emphasised the importance of a strong start, a crucial factor in the challenging two-lap course.
Ike C exhibited eagerness with a quick start, displaying strategic prowess that would have been ideal for a shorter race. However, the two-lap format posed a challenge, highlighting the importance of pacing. The race featured a pair of Year 9 leaders, with Fraser comfortably securing third position initially. As the first lap concluded, Fraser moved up to second but faced pressure from a chasing pack that included last year's county champion.
James P, Arthur H, and Summer Y settled into the middle of the field, engaging in a constant jostle for positions amongst themselves. Meanwhile, Fraser faced a moment of concern as he was overtaken and momentarily disappeared from view, sparking fears of a fading performance. However, Fraser re-emerged with a commanding hold on the second position, strategically distancing himself from the chasing pack.
In the closing stages, Fraser faced fierce competition but timed a decisive kick at precisely the right point on the course. This move allowed him to break the will of his pursuers, securing a narrow yet comfortable second-place finish. Fraser's impressive performance qualified him to represent the Winchester and Eastleigh district at the prestigious Hampshire County Championships.
The overall team effort showcased a blend of strategic understanding and individual resilience. While Fraser's standout performance took centre stage, the collective jostling of James P, Arthur H, and Summer Y contributed to the team's solid representation in the middle of the field. AC
Andrew Short
Director of Sport