The Abingdonian 2019

85 www.abingdon.org.uk House Reports The Lent Term started with a bang as the fifth years produced some mock results to be proud of, but also showed great maturity in responding to any less positive results. The academic theme continued with our first competitions of 2019 focussing on debating. It turns out that some of our boys are pretty good at arguing (who knew!) with Luca Frauenfeld and Johnnie Welby progressing well in the fifth year event, Edward Jones and Harry Witts making some strong points in the sixth form competition, and Alastair Gray and Felix Kind getting stronger each round before eventually being crowned third year debating champions! Not the only success for Felix this term as he also ended up personally scoring a fifth of all goals recorded by the entire football club across the season! After the disappointment of cancellation the previous year, the annual Road Relay competition was back on this year with strong team performance across the full age range. We also had an individual winner in Rowan Miell-Ingram who dominated the fourth year competition. The inter-house sports competitions were particularly successful at the end of the Lent Term. The U16 waterpolo team of Daniel McNamara, Tom Graham, Archie Griggs, Luca Frauenfeld and Jake Ginks defended their title to once again be crowned champions. Other successes saw James Munday and Louis Ellis both finish second in their respective squash competitions, William Cope winning house pool, and the U18 and U16 football teams finishing second and third in their competitions. The real stars though were the fourth year. Border’s were winners of U15 football, ergos, and hockey (in a mixed team with the third year). The Summer Term is always a busy one, with public and school examinations looming, and farewells to say. Saying goodbye to this crop of Upper Sixth formers was tough to do as they really were a wonderful bunch, but a lovely dinner at the White Hart at Fyfield with boys and tutors was a fitting way to end; Oliver Dickson’s speech being a particular highlight. Elsewhere the glorious sunshine allowed the focus to shift to summer pursuits. There was much success on the river with Daniel McNamara and Tom Graham winning medals in the J16 VIII at the National Schools Regatta, and Daniel Barratt winning a first medal at J14 level. Harvey Jupp led by example, scoring runs with ease as 1st XI cricket captain, and giving the younger cricketers in the house a fantastic role model. The summer also sees DofE really ramp up with dozens of boys involved at Bronze, Silver and Gold level. The end of term competitions also saw much success with Alexander Boorer securing silver in the squash, Seb Muller claiming victory in the tennis, and the tug of war team winning the inaugural competition. The highlight of the Summer Term though was undoubtedly the athletics competition, where we saw a host of victories. Billy Blomfield, Alfio Boccaccini, and both relay teams were victorious for the third year. Caleb Owusukwaah, Alexander Boorer and Rowan Miell- Ingram all picked up victories in the fourth year. James Munday was our sole individual winner in the sixth form, and, alongside Joshua Ponting, Lucas Ellse, and Ed Bury, made up half of our cross-year relay team who dominated the inaugural Golden Mile relay to cap off the day. 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. David Border