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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