Sport

The aim of the Athletics Club is to produce excellent athletes, providing an opportunity for all those with an interest to learn and to develop new skills. The club achieves this through a structured programme of coaching by a committed staff team and through regular competition.

Competition takes place in the summer term against a large number of schools, at a local, regional and national level.

Coaching is provided in the full range of events on the track and field.

Training takes place at Tilsley Park with superb athletic facilities including an eight lane, floodlit track with steeplechase, pole vault, high jump and long jump facilities, a throws area for javelin, shot put and discus as well as a 300 seat covered grandstand.

Middle School and Sixth Form badminton operates within the core sports and Other Half programme, with Lower School provision covered by the Other Half. Both match players and learners are accepted, although there is often a trial. We have a professional coach who supports the students in every session. Our record against other schools is enviable and we consistently win our fixtures against other independent schools. As the club moves forward, we are looking to develop greater opportunities for our younger players by becoming more engaged in several national competitions.

We are looking to build on our existing squad for the future so any aspiring Kobe Bryants or Michael Jordans are welcome. Spaces are limited to squad players only although if you are a keen basketball player and would like to trial for the squad do come along to practice.

The Boat Club has been in existence at Abingdon School for 184 years and goes from strength to strength and never has it been more successful. Students can row from the Third and Fourth Year, in the Lent and Summer terms, and all three terms by invitation in Fifth Year and Sixth Form. Students are expected to commit themselves for both terms since most of the regattas are in the summer. We have around 170 rowers in the Club. Training takes place both in the school gym and at the Boathouse, on Wilsham Road – about a mile from the School. In the Lent term there would be 2/3 rowing sessions and 2 gym sessions per week. Students are expected to participate on Saturdays.

We have a number of aims for the Club, at different levels. The Third Year (J14) is an introductory year where we try to give everybody a fair chance to improve and to see if they like it. We compete in a number of ‘friendlies’ against other schools and later on in the year we compete at some regattas, including The National Schools Championships. The next few years through J15 and J16 are spent developing 1st and 2nd VIIIs, which will compete at external regattas and National Schools championships. The 1st VIII competes at Henley Royal Regatta. The School also participates in the Junior International scheme and pupils have represented Great Britain most years since 1992.

We try to accommodate all abilities and levels of commitment to foster enjoyment of a great team sport. We have an excellent timber boathouse, initiated and driven by parental support. We hope to maintain, and build on, our reputation as one of the most successful school boat clubs in the UK. There is a very active parents/friends supporters club, FASBC.

Subs are paid termly to cover the cost of race fees, repairs to equipment and upkeep of the coaching launches. Subs are currently charged per term, and are £85 for each year group. In addition there is an annual £40 affiliation fee for British Rowing. There is also an annual £35 charge for parents to become members of the FASBC parent volunteer group which helps contribute to catering at regattas, annual events such as the Boat Club Quiz and Dinner.

The Canoe Club aims to introduce students to various paddlesports and currently allows them to specialise in whitewater kayaking, open canoeing and racing. Although most paddlesport sessions take place from the boathouse on the River Thames we also run sessions in the school swimming pool where we can develop key skills, such as rolling, or play canoe polo. We are affiliated to the British Canoe Union and students can obtain various qualifications during training sessions.

Students can also complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions at all levels in open canoes. In the past this has involved expeditions to various parts of the UK as well as overseas expeditions.

The Cricket Club continues to grow at Abingdon. We currently play block fixtures against a wide range of top cricket schools including Radley, St Edward’s, Berkhamsted, Bloxham, Haberdashers’ and Winchester College as well as entering local county tournaments. Our squads tour regularly at home and abroad. A large number of students are selected for county or regional representation every year.

Following its re-introduction the club has gone from strength to strength. Students from throughout the school tackle the application of the tactics of chess and the physics of snooker. Senior students organise the external fixtures combining the social and competitive elements of the game.

Cross-country running is open to all. Training assumes a motivation for good health, commitment to the values and competition schedule of the club. Competition takes place in both Michaelmas and Lent terms in many prestigious and long standing events.

We start our training in September with very short distances and build gradually and carefully to longer distances of 20k. The season ends in March. Training is a mixture of long slow distances, threshold and speed workouts as well as the introduction of strength and conditioning sessions to help avoid injury.

Runs take in most of rural Oxfordshire and beyond. Past pupils have captained their own club at University and some have competed on the international stage. One of the aims of the club is to build a life-long affinity for running and competition.

Fencing is available throughout the year. All year groups are welcome to come and try this Olympic sport, from beginners to experienced fencers. Full coaching will be given and the School provides fencing kit and weapons for students. A minimum commitment of one session per week for one full term is required, although in practice many students enjoy doing much more fencing than this. Matches are arranged with other schools throughout the calendar year, and keen fencers from our club have competed in and won many national and international competitions in the recent past. There has never a better time to try this popular Olympic sport. En garde!

The Football Club is now well established at Abingdon, with over 19 teams representing the School. The club plays regular fixtures during the Lent term against St John’s Leatherhead , Berkhamsted, St Edward’s, Bedford Modern, Oratory and Radley in addition to other local schools. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd XI, U15A and U14 A all compete in the Thames Valley League that comprises of schools in the Oxfordshire and Berkshire area. Players have also gone on to represent the ISFA side, as well as county and academy squads.

A recent addition to the Abingdon School Football Club is the Futsal Club. This form of the game, originating in South America, aids the developments of the player’s close control, dribbling and game awareness, utilising a smaller weighted ball whilst playing in 5-a-side environment.

The golf team meets for coaching from a PGA professional at Drayton Golf Club. The team consists of players with, or aspiring to have, single-figure handicaps. During these sessions we work on all aspects of the game including course management, shot shaping and the short game, and there is the opportunity to computer-analyse players’ swings.

The Golf team plays in competitions including the Oxfordshire County Championships and the Independent Schools’ Golf Association knock-out, as well as various friendly fixtures against other school sides. There is a House Golf competition in the summer term.

There are also opportunities for a broader range of players to play and to receive expert coaching. Golf lessons take place as a group on the driving range, but there are opportunities for specialised putting practice as well as visits to the ‘par 3’ course (weather permitting). Places are limited, and are allocated term by term, depending on students’ sports options.

Hockey is a major sport in the Lent term. The Hockey Club fields teams throughout the age groups, with every team from U14D to 1st XI competing in the Independent Schools Hockey League. Abingdon competes against Radley, Bradfield, Wellington, Cheltenham, Marlborough, Eton and St Edward’s and Abingdon teams will play against all the seven other schools over the course of the season.

The Hockey Club has enjoyed a great deal of success in recent years, with a large number of students representing the county and regional squads and some selected to play at a national level.

It is recognised that there is growing evidence to suggest that a strong core and improved flexibility is key to sporting success. The classes focus on delivering a programme which seeks to improve pupils’ core strength in order to assist in keeping them injury free and stronger through their core.

Pupils may sign up for Rifle Club at the start of the year and are expected to commit themselves to one afternoon weekly. No experience is necessary since training is provided. Those who wear glasses are at no disadvantage (some of our best shots do). There is a trophy for the best beginner. Once at a reasonable standard, pupils are formed into teams and entered for postal competitions against other schools. We now have the opportunity to shoot in international matches against European schools. There is also an opportunity to participate in our annual exchange with the Stade team in Germany during the Easter holidays.

Lower School pupils may sign up for the eight-week Air Rifle Youth Proficiency Scheme. Successful completion of this course allows Lower School pupils to move on to .22 rifle shooting.

Recently, members of the Rifle Club have won County titles, and some have taken part in GB development training.

Rugby Sevens takes place for all age groups in the Lent Term. It is a Core Sport and Other Half activity in the Sixth Form. For U12 to U16 age groups, Rugby Sevens is run as an Other Half activity.

The objective of Rugby Sevens is to offer pupils who enjoy their rugby an opportunity to further develop their individual rugby skills through regular training sessions and progressive competition. Rugby Sevens at Abingdon is a true development pathway with an emphasis in training on core skill development combined with tactical decision-making and game understanding. The training and competition help assist senior elite players in their preparation and participation for representative rugby and national representation.

Most major competitions for all age grades fall after the Lent half-term with our U14 VII, U16 VII and 1st VII competing at the Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens every year. In 2022 the 1st VI reached the last 16 of the Rosslyn Park U18 Vase competition.

In 2024, Abingdon School Rugby had over 350 pupils from U12-18 across 20 teams and a dedicated staff of 29. The 2024 season marked our 7th-best performance in the last 27 years.
The 1st XV had an outstanding year, achieving the highest win percentage since 2003, scoring the most tries since 1998, and advancing to the U18 National Cup last 16. Undefeated seasons for the U13 B, U15 C, and 4th XV reflect the depth and strength of the club.

Abingdon competes with top schools such as Radley, Eton, and Bedford, consistently excelling on the national stage. Notable achievements include the U15s reaching the National Plate final in 2022, while the 1st XV has reached the last 16 and quarter-finals twice in the past six seasons. Our U14, U16, and 1st VII also shine at the prestigious Rosslyn Park tournament.

Tours are integral to the club’s ethos, with our Middle School teams embarking on annual UK tours. Highlights from 2024 included the U14s’ tour of Surrey and Kent, as well as the U15s’ best-ever finish at the Langley Festival. Looking ahead, 56 Sixth Formers will head on tour to South Africa in 2025.

Talent development is a key priority, with 17 pupils currently on academy pathways, three trialling for the U18 England Lambs, and for the third consecutive year, an Upper Sixth leaver securing a rugby university scholarship.

Our parent group, The Touchliners, plays a vital role in energising the program through social events and memorable trips, including visits to Twickenham for the England vs Japan match.

We mainly sail at Farmoor Reservoir, with beginners using boats owned by the Oxford Sail Training Trust and more advanced sailors making use of our extensive school fleet, which includes eight Standard Lasers, four RS500s, two 29ers and two SB20 keelboats.

Opportunities for sailors at Abingdon are varied and include learning to sail from scratch, developing racing skills in single handed, double handed and multi-crew boats and working towards RYA qualifications.

Abingdon’s sailing club has an active DofE program with expeditions offered under sail at Bronze, Silver and Gold Level. As an RYA recognised training centre we supplement the yachting side by offering and delivering RYA theory courses up to and including yachtmaster theory as well as the Diesel Engine course and RYA VHF radio course.

Highlights for the sailing club over the past few years include competing at Cowes week, competing in the SB20 World Championships and students passing their Day Skipper, Dinghy Instructor and Yachtmaster Qualifications (run in association with partner organisations).

The superb courts in the sports centre provide a focus for home matches and training. We have a highly promising squad of talented players throughout the school, trained by a Squash England coach.

Squash is available as a sports option to selected squad players in the Third Year and above, but other students will have opportunities to play at various times as an activity. Senior students and boarders are also able to play in their free time when the courts are not being used.

We had successful fixtures last year against Radley, St Edward’s and Stowe, and we will be selecting teams for more matches this year.

Our 8 lane 25m swimming pool provides the ideal environment to develop swimming technique throughout the year. The squad train at allocated times within the sessions above and cover up to 10000m a week, with the possibility of dry land training during the Wednesday session. The majority of the galas are held in the Lent term, but we also enter swimmers for the English Schools National Championships in both the individual and relay events. It is recommended that the serious swimmers join the local club which uses the Abingdon School pool. For those that wish to swim recreationally there is space to swim within the allocated sessions and a program to improve fitness is provided.

An opportunity for players of all abilities, but numbers are limited to about 20, so places are based on a first-come-first-served basis. At the top end the standard is very high and this year we aim to further develop our limited fixture list. To qualify for this sport you must be prepared to play every week.

The Tennis Club runs teams across the age groups, with coaching sessions and matches being held on the school hard courts, the MUSA, and the courts at Tilsley Park. Each age group has a significant number of coaching sessions per week in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms if they would like it and in the Summer Term tennis is offered as a core sport option for all Middle and /sixth Form students. All sessions are with Martin Butler, our tennis professional, and academic staff.

We hold block fixtures on Saturdays in the Summer Term and this can often see 60-70 students out playing tennis. Parents are warmly invited to attend fixtures, which are well supported, and this invitation comes with the added bonus of a match tea. We also have a number of fixtures during the week and these are mostly part of national competitions. The Club takes part in the Independent Schools League, Oxfordshire Independent Schools Competition, the Aegon Cup and the Independent Schools Tennis Association Tournaments held at Eton at the end of the Summer Term. There have been a number of unbeaten teams over the last few years and many players go on to gain county and even National honours.

All players in the club are eligible to sign up for a free British Tennis Membership, offering them a rating, free entry to the Wimbledon ticket ballot and other LTA membership offers.

Touch Rugby is a fast paced and energetic game that removes the physical nature of the 15-a-side game, focusing on skills and game awareness. Four small sided games are played on Upper Field outside the front of Big School each team being led by an older student from either the U16A XV or one of the Senior XVs. With between seven and ten on a team there is much more time on the ball and the removal of the contact allows a more level playing field. It provides an excellent opportunity for students of all years to mix and for younger pupils to learn vital skills from those older than themselves.

Water Polo is a fast-paced and physically demanding hybrid of swimming, basketball and rugby. The students train together on Fridays. The teams compete against Eton and Stowe (for example) and often as part of a ‘double-bill’ with swimming competitions. Matches and training with the Oxford University Men’s team takes place on an ad hoc basis. New players are always welcome to come along for a trial. No previous experience is necessary but being a confident swimmer is essential.

Yoga is all about bringing greater attention and appreciation to the present moment, to give you “brain space” if you like, as well as time to get away from, and take control of, the stresses and strains of everyday modern, sedentary living. With practice it can also help you to cope with challenges to both your physical and mental health and wellbeing in a proactive and pragmatic way. Yoga teaches this by focusing your mind and body on the practice in the present moment itself, holding and relaxing into poses, and recognising the physical stresses and strains on the body as you strengthen your core and limbs, as well as increase flexibility along the way.

The Other Half activity looks at four main yoga focus threads throughout the term:

The breath, and focus on the present moment
The poses (asanas)
The transition between asanas
The concept of bandhas and incorporation of other ancient, Eastern philosophies