OLD SHIRBURNIAN SOCIETY / 31
Pilgrims While top-flight sport (mostly) kept going throughout the pandemic, amateur sport fared much less well. At least by the summer of 2021, Pilgrims sport could resume. Results were rather less secondary to the sheer enjoyment of being able to compete again. It is very much to be envisaged that the 2022 report will be somewhat longer and more varied, with some genuine achievement to be reported. Instead, I will allow the Shirburnian to point up the differences between attitudes to a pandemic a century apart. In 1920, the so-called Spanish flu was finishing its malign progress through Britain. The March edition of the Shirburnian that year dealt with it all with admirable economy in its opening sentences: “The new year has started badly by an epidemic of influenza, which affected more than half the School, and which in one case proved fatal. The consequence of all this illness was that the ‘Third’s’ were delayed until February 28th, when Ross’, aided by Carey’s, inflicted a crushing defeat on the School House.” Ross’s and Carey’s being, in today’s parlance, Lyon House and Abbey House. I would like to repeat a plea to the 2020 School leavers. Hardly any of that cohort were able to join the Club as in a normal summer; more have now done so but we would be delighted if others wished to become members. Please contact Jonathan Powe, the Hon Secretary, at jonathanpowe56@gmail.com if you are interested – Pilgrims sport is not just for the first-team members but the enthusiasts of all levels. There is a subsidy system for younger members, too. ROBERT HANDS (b 92)
Rugby The Pilgrims played London Business School at Regent's Park under a mix of sun and heavy rain, with the temporary COVID rules and three 'thirds' (rather than two halves) adding further intrigue to the contest. We tried to play with flair from the off, throwing caution to the wind, but unfortunately an error led to an early LBS try. Gradually, the Grims grew into the game and everything started to click, Alex Cattle hurtling in for his hattrick early in the second third off the back of a couple of sumptuous moves.
Fergus Hughes-Onslow provided precision in the back line, Henry Reynolds control at scrum half and Will Martin go-forward in the pack to build an unassailable lead by the end of the second third. Although it became scrappier towards full time as the Grims' lack of subs and lack of clarity around the temporary rules both told, a 47-12 win fully justified the performance. chARLIE LEAch (b 11)
Alumni cross country Race After a year off in 2020, it was great to be back in it (and by it, I mean the deep, deep mud) at Wimbledon Common for the 2021 Alumni Race. The Pilgrims’ team was somewhat smaller than normal, but still a very strong looking side featuring faces both regular and newer, including a running canine, and even some support from those not able to run. Due to some traffic issues, I just missed the start, but this meant I got the chance to chat briefly to many of the pilgrims present as we ran past
each other! The team put out a strong showing with our top four of Harry Lane (b 13), Tom Hole (b 12) (both top 10), Charles Pitt Ford (m 03) and me finishing in a respectable 3rd place in the overall trophy, and 3rd again in the age adjusted trophy with Pete Woodburn (b 85) nabbing my spot in that team. Pete also managed 3rd overall in the M50, only 20 seconds behind 1st place. We look forward to the Sherborne Trophy and Hyde Park Relays returning as well in the New Year.
hARRY REYNOLDS (e 16)
