No. 123
The Trusty Servant
Old Wykehamist Sporting Societies
OW Football Club
GH Baker( H, 84-89) reports on a Vets match: We had a good, feisty game against the Old Etonians on Sunday 27 th November. They have won the cup twice and been runner up twice in the past four years … and have put seven, eight and seven goals respectively past us in our past three encounters. We scored un-Wykehamically early, the first time we’ d got into their half. In about minute three we pounced with a classic training-ground corner to the back post, which I headed across goal and Ricky Hall poked in. Great celebrations. Only 87 minutes to hold on. Moments later their hairy beast of a midfielder blasted in a long-range equaliser, which fizzed past my head and Hugh’ s outstretched hand / swan dive. Annoying. Then we did it again- a beauty about half way through the half: Richard Clode ghosting past his ageing defender( as he did most of the game) down the left wing and crossing low for Tristan H to somehow control it on the run / turn, pull the ball through his legs to be left one-on-one with the keeper and slot into the side of the net. Much more celebration. But they were pressing very hard, and keeping the ball when they had it, and even with Geoff Hewitson patrolling the touchline( plus some unlucky rebounds) we were soon pegged back again.
Half time couldn’ t come soon enough and we could have been in worse shape than 2-3. With no subs to call on, the walking OW wounded hit the deep heat / ibuprofen hard and out we went again.
We battled really well across the pitch and didn’ t look like conceding again, but couldn’ t really get into them at the other end. By the end, we were pretty tired and ragged, and ended the game 2-4.
As I say, a good feisty game. The newly relaid pitch at Doggers was a pleasure to play on, and The Queen helped us to nurse our wounds afterwards. Result: OE vets 4- OW heroes 2
Hugh Green( H, 75-80) Adam Jay( I, 89-94) Thom van Every( A, 83-88) Gordon Baker( H, 83-89) Ben Donald( I, 85-90) Tristan Gervais( D, 91-96) Ed Lascelles( A, 89-94) Tristan Hanson( H, 91-96) 1 Richard Clode( E, 94-99) Richard Hall( B, 85-89) 1 Johnny Hewitson( F, 80-85)
Icena
On 18 th February, there was an Icena dinner to celebrate George Nash’ s( K, 02-07) gold-medal success in the Rio Olympics. There was a great turn out with old rowers from several generations making appearances. George Apperly gave a moving tribute and the Olympian himself gave a fine speech outlining how rowing at Win Coll set him up perfectly for international rowing!
OW Tolling Club v School
John Brooks writes: Rain, hail, galeforce winds and ankle-deep mud: perfect conditions for the cross-country match on Saturday 4 th March 2017, a fixture last held at Winchester on 21 st September 2002. Standing on the veranda of Hunter Tent to welcome the guests, clutching the Darling Caddy, I hoped the clouds would part and rain would cease long enough to spare the runners a soaking.
Slowly athletes appeared: OWs, some not having been back to the College since their school days, and others more familiar with the campus and the recent changes. The changing rooms started to fill up, the new OW kit arrived with the team manager, race numbers were issued and the course map examined in minute detail.
We were honoured by the presence of Ms Pippa Wordie, niece of Sir John Wordie, the first President of the OW Tolling Club, who presented the Darling Caddy. Pippa explained that this precious family heirloom went missing and, by a stroke of good fortune, was discovered in an antiques market in Aberdeen, and then found its way back to the Master in College’ s dining room.
In anticipation of 8.2 kilometres and two gruelling climbs up Twyford Down, the runners gathered on the start line. Unfortunately, the home team could only manage three. Some 28 minutes later, a mud-splattered figure, James Hoad, appeared through Non Licet Gate to cross the line in a fraction over 29 minutes. He was followed in quick succession by Harry Scriven and Phil Killingley. The athletes were duly applauded by the spectators. First across the line for the home team was Ben Miyano, in 32 minutes. Winchester Captain Thomas O’ Callaghan-Brown( G, 13-), unable to run due to injury, produced the cross-country shoebox, a repository of photographs, records and memorabilia dating back to the Upton legacy. It was time to catch up on the past, eat cake, take photographs, and look forward to next year’ s match.
Results- Home country-country course
1 James Hoad( Coll, 05-10) 29.05 2 Harry Scriven( K, 97-02) 30.25 3 Phil Killingley( G, 93-98) 30.37 4 Ben Miyano( I, 16-) 32.57 5 Matthew Harris( Coll, 11-16) 34.27 6 Will Fox( D, 14-) 34.37 7 Ed Perry( C, 97-02) 34.55 8 Hugh Frere-Cook( B, 00-05) 36.18 9 Ludo Rothman( A, 14-) 37.11 10 Andrew Lynch( Coll, 89-94) 37.51 11 Tom Hooley( OW guest) 38.55
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