2017 WINNERS HUTTON HOUSE
All teams raise the bar in House Drama challenge
Equestrian Team heading for the Royal Windsor Horse Show
For the 6th formers in Hutton House , this was their last chance to win the House Drama trophy which had evaded them for the past seven years . Gruggen had won twice in a row and had best actor four times in a row . Clearly they were unbeatable …
So the stage was set for some fierce competition as each House ’ s Sixth Form-led team prepared for our annual inter-House Drama competition .
Each house had 20 minutes to dramatise a well-known production , bringing out a theme which this year was Journeys . With minimal teacher guidance and Sixth Formers as directors , pupils decided which production to perform and who would take on the various parts and responsibility for costumes , set design and lighting .
All four House teams , made up of pupils from across the year groups , excelled themselves in terms of time and effort as they rehearsed their performances in limited time , ahead of public performances across two consecutive nights .
Curtain up … and first on was Gruggen . Emma Hamilton ’ s colourful production of Alice in Wonderland certainly looked like it would be a winner .
Then Dolman ’ s take on The Wizard of Oz also
looked certain to win . Charlotte Tucker-Lowe invested it with energy , wit and super munchkins .
Next came Wilberforce , with a version of The Princess Bride directed with panache by Livy Aitchison . Another sure-fire winner . It had sword fights , a great boulder-breaking scene and the best giant ever .
Katherine Tilsed had to flex her dramatic muscles and set to work with a spectacular version of James and the Giant Peach if Hutton were to win . She did it brilliantly . The peach was made of umbrellas , the Aunts were terrifically cruel and funny , but the insects … they were fantastic .
Hutton deserved to win – and win they did . Finally ! In the running for Best Actor ( now the Sam Hird Award for Best Actor after his record-breaking four wins in succession ) were James Harrison ( Gruggen : The Mad Hatter ), Ben Marson ( Hutton : James and only in the 1st year !) Tom Brown ( Hutton : Earthworm ), Iona Kaye ( Dolman : Scarecrow ) and Hannah East ( Wilberforce : Inigo ). James Harrison ’ s victory ensures the Gruggen run remains unbroken .
The event was a real tribute to leadership , enthusiasm and co-operation across all years , enjoyed by participants , judges Helen , Beth and Natalie Binks , and by packed audiences .
Pocklington School ’ s equestrian team has qualified for the Royal Windsor Horse Show next May , a huge achievement in the face of tough competition from schools across the north . This prestigious event is held annually in Windsor Home Park , beside Windsor Castle .
The qualifying event at Epworth , Lincolnshire , attracted a large competitive field , as it was one of the few which were accessible for northern-based schools .
The 90cm team of Georgina Elliott , Hattie Thompson , Bea Nicholson and Amelia Jackson really felt the pressure as they entered the ring , especially as Amelia and Bea are in relatively new partnerships with their horses .
They all rode magnificently to secure a final team score of zero faults with only the time being the barrier between qualification or not ! Pocklington were in the lead right up to the last few schools ; there really could not have been a more nail-biting finish to the end of the class .
Miss Bracken , Deputy Head and teacher i / c equestrian said : “ This is a huge accomplishment for the girls and we are all very proud of their achievement . We wish them all the very best as they begin to prepare both horse and rider for such a grand stage .”
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2017 WINNERS HUTTON HOUSE
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