Abingdonian 2018

83 www.abingdon.org.uk House Reports team who were looking for the overall win. Fortunately the end of term sports competitions were able to go ahead. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the house boasted six members of the 1st XI, the sixth form comfortably won the football under the leadership of Head of House and 1st XI captain Joseph Lilley. Fantastic leadership was also shown here at the other end of the age scale with third year Will Wallis unable to compete but instead prowling the touchline on his crutches to support and guide his teammates to a podium finish. The U15 swimming team that had been so successful in Michaelmas added a ball to the mix and won the U16 water polo. Not to be outdone, the third years showed huge power and fitness in winning the U14 ergo relay, and Gianluca Cau Tait potted a victory in the U18 pool. My highlight of the afternoon though was the dedication shown by Ben Hall who sprinted out of an A level language oral exam, straight onto the squash court to win his first match. This kind of dedication and commitment to wider school life is an excellent example to us all. The Summer Term is always a busy one, with public and school examinations looming, and farewells to say. We started off with a new social, The Great Border’s Bake-off, where the third years consumed their own bodyweight in competitively produced goods! Fortunately this didn’t slow down Seb Muller who went on to represent Oxfordshire on the tennis court, winning both his singles matches. The third year as a whole, under the guidance of new tutors Mrs Preiss-Chapman and Miss Drose, showed great bravery in taking to the Amey Theatre stage alongside their mentors to give presentations on the house values. Sadly, it was soon time to say goodbye to our departing Upper Sixth, who, after an emotional leavers’ day, came together one last time for dinner with their tutors and Housemaster. They were a wonderful bunch and will be greatly missed. Still, this gave the opportunity to spend lots of time interviewing and selecting new prefects and Heads of House. This is a process I always greatly enjoy and am always blown away by just how amazing so many of our young men are. They were certainly amazing on the sports pitches and river too! Tom Graham winning a medal at the National Schools’ Regatta was the first highlight of the summer but certainly not the last. Liam O’Hickey and Jamie Volak won their respective 100m competitions during inter-house athletics and were joined by Rowan Miell-Ingram (1500m), Evan Hambly (800m), Greg Lister (shot) and Nathaniel Reading (discus) as individual winners. More pleasing through was the overall team effort where we won the U18 competition and were second overall on the day. It turns out that we have some talented racquet sportsmen too, with Alexander Boorer winning U14 squash and Seb Muller winning U14 tennis, which, when combined with second place in the U15 doubles for Johnnie Welby and Henry Bury, helped us to overall victory in house tennis. Whilst the third years, fourth years and Lower Sixth may have been having fun in the sun, it was serious business for the fifth years and Upper Sixth who were facing public examinations. Fortunately they did themselves proud with some incredible results and it was a real pleasure to see such delight on the faces of these wonderfully rounded young men on results day. Sadly the end of year means we must say goodbye to many members of the House. We wish everyone all the best with their adventures beyond Abingdon. Our best wishes go especially to our three departing tutors. Mrs Mansfield, Mr Mason and Miss Drose have been wonderful members of the house and will be greatly missed. David Border