ANNUAL UPDATE from the Old Bristolians’ Sports Clubs

The Incorporation of Old Bristolians Sports Club

OBSC is unique in Bristol, the history of which you can read about on page 26.

Over the years written agreements between the Society and OBSC governed the management and operation of Failand. However modern times now require a lot more to be considered and regulated when running a sports club.

Sports clubs are encouraged to incorporate to protect club officers and members from liability in the event of litigation.

The Clubhouse needs redevelopment to meet the needs of a growing membership, particularly youth members where there are very specific safeguarding regulations for playing, coaching and facilities.

The Sporting Bodies can provide most of the funds through grants but security of tenure for 25 years is required.

OBSC Limited was incorporated on 22nd September 2022 with a board of three Directors nominated by the playing sections. The Directors delegate responsibility for day to day management and operations of Failand to a Management Committee made up from the playing sections and the Society.

Incorporation is a major step forward. It solves the issues of liability and security of tenure can be achieved by the Society granting OBSC a lease which will secure the future development of Failand.

Cricket Club

OBWCC is an open club full of former students as well as people keen to support and represent the School. Whether you want to play friendly or competitive cricket, come along to one of our socials or, simply, enjoy a summer stroll around the site, a very warm welcome awaits you! We have a thriving Youth section where boys and girls from U9 are given their first taste of cricket, before being nurtured and encouraged all the way through into the adult sides. Youth teams are the club’s

Hockey Club life-blood and with a burgeoning girls’ section we’re delighted to launch a new U11 girls-only side this season, with 3 girls already being selected in the Somerset U11 pathway. The long term future of Women's cricket at Failand is very promising!

OBHC is one of the largest hockey clubs in Bristol with 6 men’s and 5 women’s teams, men & women veteran sides, a mixed team, several junior sides ranging from U12s to U16s as well as 4 men’s & 4 women’s sides participating in summer league hockey.

This season 90 juniors, 50 adults and Flyerz Hockey –a grassroots disability-inclusive hockey group joined OBHC taking our membership to over 700 people looked after by 8 qualified coaches. We hope to begin to host Flyerz on our Stirratt pitch once we’re able to install accessible toilets.

The Men’s 1st XI are looking to return to the West of England Premier League & the 2nd XI continue their fine form from last season, having won 10 of 11 matches. The 3rd and 4th teams were promoted last year and can’t wait for some new opposition.

Also this season, our Ladies 2nd team was promoted after winning all their games, with our Men’s 2nd, 4th & 5th teams contending for promotion. We’re a friendly, inclusive club looking to have fun as well as win as many games as possible! With a busy social calendar throughout the year, we host quizzes, formal dinners and organise charity fundraising. Our Christmas events raised nearly £390 for the North West Bristol Food Bank as well as 70kg of donatable food and we made sure to support Movember and raise funds to support Ukraine. Visit our website to get involved –https://obhc.org.uk

Grassroots disability-inclusive hockey across England www.englandhockey.co.uk/play/flyerz

Fortnightly at Old Bristolians Hockey Club supported by

Fun, friendly and relaxed sessions where players can develop at their own pace ensuring all needs are met and most importantly, everyone has a good time.

To find out more, volunteer, support or play hockey contact lizzie.edgecombe@accesssport.org.uk

From The Rugby Club

Safeguarding in sport

Old Bristolians sporting endeavours may be a world away from the high-profile competitions that attract match fixing, drugs and organised crime, but we must be vigilant to ensure our members, especially youth members, are safeguarded and protected.

Recent ‘Safeguarding in Sport’ webinars bring together leading figures from the world of sporting intelligence and investigations to highlight the use of technology to prevent incursions into the heart of sport. The high impact content was insightful particularly with the leading figures along with survivors of abuse highlighting how effective safeguarding is critical.

Underpinning the fight against all abuses of sport is the notion of integrity. The lack of integrity results in people acting outside of the boundaries of what is right to further their own nefarious agenda. The spirit of any sport is at the heart of competition between people, teams, clubs, or individuals.

Rugby prides itself on being a sport of integrity. It doesn’t always get it right but for the very most part those who play rugby extol its virtues as an honourable sport, where the physicality and aggression on the pitch ends with the whistle, and everyone celebrates alongside each other after the game.

I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of Old Bristolians RFC for 19 years and now as Chairman it is with immense pride that I still pull on a shirt as often as possible. Rugby’s core values are at the heart of everything that the OBRFC does. The teamwork, the changing room atmosphere, the on-and off-pitch attitude and the very essence of playing a game for the love of it keeps me from throwing away my boots. The older I get the more I value rugby, because for those three hours on a Saturday afternoon your entire world exists in a grassy field at Failand and there’s absolutely nowhere I’d rather be. The ethos and attitude of the club, coupled with significant joué, all played with a smile is a thing of beauty; if you could bottle it you’d make a fortune, but instead the riches come from being a part of it, and that gets even more important as you get older.

The buzz around Failand has been amazing. The 1st and 2nd XVs had a tough season but the 3rd XV topped the league through a combination of grit and determination and playing some exciting rugby. The Mini and Junior section is flourishing with over 400 members and the club as a whole is in fine fettle.

OBRFC is a fine place to be, an incredible organisation with good fun rugby at its heart and the core values of the sport. It serves as a healthy reminder that it is the responsibility of all of us to safeguard the sport for future generations. The All Blacks mantra is that whoever is playing in a specific shirt or position is merely a steward, a current keeper of the shirt, and it is their job to improve it with their performances until they hand it onwards in a better state.

That is the job for all of us in rugby. We are the current occupiers of the game, it is up to us to safeguard the sport that we value, so that we can pass on an improved game for future generations to enjoy and learn the values within and the beauty of the game.

Tristan Fowler OB 2000 Chairman, Old Bristolians RFC

FEBRUARY 2022

Past Presidents Lunch