THE BOARDERS ’ OLYMPICS
Then there are the team events , such as the boiler suit race , where the key skill is getting dressed quickly , and finally the famous synchronised swimming event . Boarders from each house are scored on key categories , such as the entrance to the water , the number of participants , and whether in fact there was any synchronisation . ( Or swimming , given that most teams stay firmly in the shallow end .) There are compulsory elements too , a lift , a circle , and some twiddly feet , and just a single practice pool session the week before to try things out in the water .
Ask any Sevenoaks boarder to name the highlight of the boarding social calendar , and they will almost certainly reply , ‘ The Boarders ’ Olympics ’.
Back in 2012 , the country was gripped in the excitement of the London Olympics , and this series of events in the Summer term was our way of joining in . There are other interhouse events during the year – football , basketball , dodgeball and the quiz – but there is something special about the Boarders ’ Olympics . Perhaps it is just the Summer term timing after the end-of-year exams , but it has been a joy to see them return this year , after the enforced Covid break .
The events start with rounders , or perhaps they really start with the seven house captains grasping a copy of the rules and desperately explaining the intricacies of stumping to their puzzled teams . ( Few of our boarders have played before .) Amateur enthusiasm is definitely a hallmark . Aisher and GIH took an early lead .
Week two this year was the interhouse swimming , a boarding classic , loved by swimmers and deafeningly cheered on by spectators . We started with individual events such as the 50m freestyle where Aisher , GIH and the IC fielded quality athletes , scoring highly .
This year Park Grange ’ s entry was the best I have seen throughout the whole series of events , and they richly deserve their win . GIH and the IC gave slick performances with plenty of evidence of both swimming and synchronisation . School House practised hard , although mainly on the house lawn , and what they lacked in quality was balanced with enthusiasm and massive participation . Scoring was a little controversial ( I fear # theicwasrobbed is still trending ) but overall the event went to Aisher and GIH – their dominance in races proving the key .
In week three we gathered on PG lawn for the volleyball and boarders ’ BBQ . The lawn makes a superb venue . IC dominated , with Aisher close behind , while Sennocke and PG shared the top place in their half of the competition .
The final event is the athletics , again with a mix of traditional high-stakes races such as the 100m , but also the hotly contested egg and spoon race , and the newly introduced team water race ( involving a lot of spinning and a great deal of laughter ). There is something for everyone , and that is really what the Boarders ’ Olympics is about . The final scores gave Aisher their first ever win and GIH their second . Their names will duly be inscribed on the trophies : there has to be a winner , after all . But it is hard to get upset about who won the three-legged race and details are swiftly forgotten , while the camaraderie is remembered for years . That is the joy of the Boarders ’ Olympics .
Nichola Haworth , Deputy Head Boarding
126 BOARDING