The Old Pocklingtonian Old Pocklingtonian 2017-18 | Page 13

DEVELOPMENT CRICKETERS BOWLED OVER BY NEW MACHINE Pocklington School’s cricketers can now practise like professionals after a new bowling machine added a whole new dimension to batting in the nets. The BOLA Junior Bowling Machine, donated by former parent Jonathan Atkinson, provides consistently accurate bowling, enabling pupils to enjoy non-stop batting practice and fun. daughter Millie (04-15), a 1st XI hockey player, left in 2015. He said: “Jonty enjoyed many hours practising in the nets, as well as playing for Pocklington School. I also very much enjoyed watching him and the Pocklington team in action. “I wanted to express my gratitude to the coaches who dedicated so much time to helping Jonty and other pupils improve as players, as well as make it easier for future generations to sharpen their skills.” A speed, swing and spin control system means it can be adjusted for use by pupils across the Pocklington School Foundation, during both cricket lessons and for team match preparation. David Byas, Director of Sport, i/c Cricket, said: “The bowling machine is an excellent addition to the equipment that we already have. It is extremely adaptable, and the fact it’s portable means we can have the benefit of using it anywhere. Mr Atkinson’s son Jonty (06-17) was 1st XI cricket captain before he left the school last year and his “Pupils from across the year groups have already been using the machine to improve their batting technique. I’d like to thank Mr Atkinson on behalf of them and future generations of pupils for his generous donation.” CITY OF SHEFFIELD YOUTH ORCHESTRA – MAKING MUSIC AT POCKLINGTON SCHOOL learning new pieces and preparing for their Spring Concert which was held in Sheffield Cathedral on 7 April. Later in the year they will also be going on tour to perform in Italy. Pocklington School hires out its facilities to a number of organisations during school holidays for conferences, events, celebrations, performances and sports activities. Andrew D’Arcy, Domestic Bursar at Pocklington School said: “It’s always a delight to welcome the CSYO students to Pocklington School and to hear them practising around the campus as they prepare for their concerts. Our boarding houses provide them with plenty of ‘quiet space’ for those students needing to revise, plus they enjoy communal evenings with Ceilidhs and quizzes and take advantage of the school’s sporting facilities including our pool for evening swims.” For enquiries about hiring facilities at Pocklington School visit www.pocklingtonschool.com/Facilities- Hire, email [email protected] or call 01759 321200. Pocklington School welcomed the City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra (CSYO) over the Easter holidays for its annual spring residential course. The Youth Orchestra has been holding the popular course at the school since 2006 and makes full use of the facilities around the 65-acre campus. The Orchestra is Sheffield’s oldest and only completely independent youth orchestra, and offers membership to students up to the age of 21. The CSYO spring course is specially designed to allow students who are preparing to take academic exams in the summer the time and space to revise, in addition to being able to practise their music. Rehearsals take place in the school’s Tom Stoppard Theatre and its Music School, as well as outside on the school grounds when the sun shines! Over the five days, the students rehearsed together, POCKLINGTON PREP SCHOOL CHEERING FOR KYLE Old Pocklingtonian Kyle Edmund (02-06) has had a big year reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open in January and becoming the No.1 British male tennis player after overtaking Andy Murray in the world ranking for the first time in March. Kyle, 23, beat third seed Grigor Dimitrov to go through to the semi-final match becoming only the sixth British man to reach the last four at a Grand Slam in the Open era. Pupils and staff closely followed Kyle’s progress through the tournament, and on the day of the semi-final itself, the media spotlight descended on the school as pupils, staff and parents cheered him on from the school Sports Hall Gemma Wareham, CSYO Director and organiser of the course commented: “We return to Pocklington School year after year because the school provides the perfect environment for the orchestra to focus, to create and to be inspired. With such great facilities and a warm welcome the orchestra members come away feeling revitalised having had fun and having achieved a great deal in a short space of time.” in the company of BBC Breakfast! The match itself was tough as expected at this level. Kyle fought on after suffering an injury in the first set and took the second set to a tie-break. He was eventually beaten by sixth seed Marin Cilic but not without showing the strength and determination, which marked him out as a great sportsman when he was a pupil at Pocklington Prep School, or Lyndhurst as it was known at the time. Prep School teacher Dave Tyrrell, who coached Kyle at cricket when he attended the school from 2002- 2006 and has followed his career ever since, said: “Kyle did brilliantly to reach the semi-final. He didn’t let himself down – it’s all part of the learning process. Tennis is a losing game and you learn as much from your losses as your victories and I’m sure he will go from strength to strength. He’s always a winner in our eyes.” Russ Parker, Kyle’s Year 6 form tutor and the Prep School’s Head of Sport, said: “Kyle was, and still is, a lovely young man. He was a natural all-rounder at sport but what really set him apart, even then, was his tenacity and will to win. “He was a tremendous cricketer and we thought he could have made it as a professional. He was also a good footballer and athlete. He still holds three of our school records for under 10s – the long jump, 80 metres and 150m sprint. And, when he started playing tennis that forehand of his was amazing even then. “At the time he was very much a raw talent – not the most elegant and controlled athlete, by any means. But what he had was a determination to come first, and a willingness to go the extra mile. He just wanted it more – and it’s that drive which has obviously helped him to get where he is today.” 13