Cheltonian Society Sport

Cheltonian Society sports clubs are a great way to connect with other Society members. All clubs are keen to have new members – contact details for each club are below. Our thanks to all Society members who are involved in running sports clubs. For more information about the annual grant that each club receives from College via the Development Office or about establishing a new sports club, please contact Sebastian Bullock, Cheltonian Society and Development Director, on s.bullock@cheltenhamcollege.org

Cricket

OC Cricket team

The Cricket Club aims to continue College’s strong tradition of cricket. There are a number of fixtures throughout the season and all Society members are welcome to show an interest in playing in various fixtures. If you would like to know more, please contact Kyle Willis-Stovold (OJ & S, 2006 and past staff) at kmws.willis-stovold@radley.org.uk At the top level, OCs can compete in the Cricketer Cup, which is the premium old boys’ cricket competition. After a Covid-enforced break in 2020, enthusiasm for the 2021 Cricketer Cup was high. Full match reports from the 2021 Cricketer Cup, written by Oli Thornley (NH, 2012), can be read on the Cheltonian Society website.

In the first-round draw against the Downside Wanderers, the Old Cheltonians posted a total of 251 from their 50 overs and bowled Downside out for 89, giving the OCs victory by a margin of 162 runs. Against the Haileybury Hermits, the OCs finished 157 - 8 from the allotted 35 overs and reduced the home side to 118 all out, giving the OCs victory by a margin of 23 runs and taking them to the quarter final for the first time since 2015. Unfortunately, Covid issues meant the OCs weren’t able to field a team in time for the quarter final fixture.

Football

Football Club friendly fixture in August 2021 – pinks won 3-1

The 11-a-side Football Club is newly formed in 2021. The first internal fixture was played in August 2021. We took 22 OCs – spanning nine academic years and every boys’ House – down to Ravenscourt Park to play in a friendly fixture between ourselves. The club has formally joined The Arthurian League, an official FA league of old boys, based in London. Our first competitive feature was on 4 September, against fellow newcomers St Edward’s Oxford, Teddies. We kicked off the league with an amazing 6-0 win.

We now have a roster of 60 OCs keen to play and would like to hear from any other Society members who would like to join us. While only OCs are eligible to play in the Arthurian League, all Society members are welcome to play in friendlies. If interested, please contact James Wheeler (BH, 2013) and Jock Jamieson-Black (H, 2013) at jockjblack@gmail.com

The Cheltenham 2021 Halford Hewitt team

Many of the Golfing Society fixtures have been cancelled or postponed this year due to the pandemic. However, we were able to play against the Old Marlburians and Old Shirburnians resulting in a halved match and a loss respectively. A highlight was a first ever win against the Old Decanians. We were defending holders of the Mellin Salver for senior golfers but sadly lost to Hailebury in the first round with a much-weakened team. The Halford Hewitt this year was postponed to September but this did not stop Cheltenham continuing a remarkable run of success by reaching the semi-final. The Cheltenham team was: Mark Giblin (OJ & L, 2006), Dan Shiner (OJ & L, 2009), Joss Edwards (H, 2015), Charlie Elliott (Xt, 1941), Harry Brothwood (L, 2014), James Rock (NH, 2006), Cameron McEvoy (OJ & S, 2000), Henry Keeling (OJ & Xt, 2006), Robert Macleod-Smith (Cheltondale, 1965 and President OCGS), James Tucker (NH, 1985, Captain), Ed Mason (L, 2010). A full report is available on the Cheltonian Society website.

As the fixture restrictions mean only OCs can play, membership of the Golfing Society is limited to OCs. OC golfers of all abilities and ages are welcome and we have an attractive fixture list of both individual and team events. Most meetings and informal matches against other schools are open to all members. We also enter selected teams in the leading national public schools’ tournaments being the Halford Hewitt and Grafton Morrish as well as the Mellin Salver. For membership and other information, please contact Angus Baillie (OJ & L, 1994) at angus.baillie@me.com

Women’s Hockey

Celebrating winning the Dean Close Sixes Tournament in 2019 Following our win in 2019 and the disappointment of the 2020 tournament being cancelled, we are excited to play in the Dean Close Sixes Tournament on Sunday 24 October 2021. Fingers crossed that it can go ahead this year. Any members of the Cheltonian Society can play and there isn’t a maximum number of players – the more the merrier. If you are interested in playing in future tournaments or coming along to support, check out the Hockey Facebook group for details: facebook. com/groups/ochockey

Men’s Hockey

The Men’s Hockey Club only played one game over the last year, given the disruption to the season. Nonetheless, it was a good one, with an excellent 2-0 win over Sherborne. Looking ahead, the Old Boys Cup organisers have committed to holding the tournament again this year, starting from September 2021, with games again being played in Battersea Park, London. In addition, we hope to play the College XI in March 2022, a full two years after the renewed fixture had to be cancelled. Here’s hoping for a full season of OC Hockey ahead. We would love to expand the group of active players, so if you’re interested, please email Charles Stuckey (OJ & NH, 2010) to be added to the group: cmastuckey@gmail.com

Alex Duncliffe-Vines (NH, 2013) and Richard Owen (L, 2011) playing doubles against each other at The Queen’s Club.

Rifle Shooting

Philippa Evans (A, 2012) at 2021 Schools’ Veterans Target Rifle Match at Bisley

On 15 July 2021, the Shooting Team took part in the annual Schools’ Veterans Target Rifle Match at Bisley. Seb Burden reports: ‘The team consisted of Phillipa Evans, Ed Compton, Seth Dowley, Lulu Healy, myself and Jeremy Langley as coach. The team gave a valiant performance with Jeremy coaching the shooters to scores of 48.5v, 48.5v, 49.3v, 50.6v and 46.4v respectively. We ended with a creditable score of 241.23v leaving us in the top half out of 46 First Team entries. Clearly, our lane had more gusts of wind than the others! Although not victorious, it was a great OC event, only marginally dampened by the delayed relaxation of Covid restrictions.’

There are opportunities for more OC teams to enter next year. If you are interested, please join the OC Rifle Club Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/ oldcheltoniansrifleclub or email Ed Compton (Xt, 1999) at info@bisleyhomeservices.co.uk.

There may be scope for additional shooters to join in too, for honours only, so any interested Cheltonian Society members or family are also welcome to get in touch.

Rowing

We are delighted to have got through to the semi-final of the Noel Bruce 2021, which took place in September. In October 2021, Nick James (BH, 2006) and Richard Owen (L, 2011) will face each other in the World Doubles Championship Eliminator. We are also looking forward to the Cheltenham Gold Racket weekend in 2022, which we hope will go ahead after two cancelled years.

For more information on the Cheltenham Gold Racket weekend, please contact Mark Briers at m.briers@ cheltenhamcollege.org. Anyone who would like to continue playing rackets with the Rackets Club can contact Tom Floyd (Xt, 2005) at tfloyd@winkworth.co.uk

We are in the process of relaunching the Cheltonian Society Rowing Club which will be based at the Boat House in Tewkesbury and will have the full support of the College Boat Club. The club will be open to all members of the Cheltonian Society. If you are interested in joining, please email John Barter (OJ & NH, 1989 and current parent) at john@barter.uk.net

Sailing

Sailing Club racing for the Arrow Trophy in 2019

The Sailing Club’s main annual event is the Arrow Trophy, a two-day regatta between independent schools on the Solent. The first day sees up to seven short upwind/downwind races followed by a dinner at Cowes Yacht Haven. On the second day, the top four teams go into a series of match races for the Arrow Trophy, while the remaining teams fleet race to determine the winner of the Charterhouse Bowl. Following the disappointing cancellation of the 2020 event, we are excited to take part in the 2021 Arrow Trophy, which will (hopefully) have taken place on 2-3 October 2021.

All members of the Cheltonian Society, of all levels of experience, are eligible to join the Sailing Club. The Arrow Trophy rules stipulate that crews must be made up of ‘former pupils’ with the option of having up to three ‘ringers’ (not former pupils) on the crew. If you are interested in joining us for future events, please contact the Sailing Club Secretary Paul Koch (H, 1984) at p.koch725@gmail.com.

As well as competing in the 2022 Arrow Trophy, we are also a planning to hold an OC Reunion Lunch Afloat in the Western Solent in early summer 2022, probably in Lymington. If boat owning or ‘nautically minded’ OCs would like to take part, please contact the Sailing Club Secretary at the email above.

Squash

While we have been disappointed not to be able to play for over a year, we are looking forward to taking part in the Londonderry Cup again soon. The Londonderry Cup usually takes place from October culminating in the finals in March. The finals are played at the RAC on Pall Mall and the cup presented at a post-final dinner. This competition is restricted to OCs only. We are always looking for new squash players; if you would like to get involved, please contact Angus Baillie (OJ & L, 1994) at angus.baillie@me.com