Pilgrims and OS Sport

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.

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.

s OSSS

Old Shirburnian Sailing has continued in rude health this year after a more restrained 2020 season. We have enjoyed the start of more in person events, even bringing together those who 'd only met virtually before.

As we started to leave the winter and lockdown in April there was a well-attended virtual sailing quiz to finish off the competitive virtual racing that had kept Old Shirburnian sailors entertained. The questions formed the backbone for a jolly evening of nautical trivia and catching up. We had a large group together for the summer cruise on the August bank holiday, and we certainly put the miles in, bringing boats from Gosport and Southampton across to Weymouth.

We had some excellent sailing, some gorgeous sunshine and swimming along the south Dorset coast, and met in Weymouth for curry ashore. On the Sunday we sailed west and met in Chapmans Pool where (after a walk up the cliffs to survey the beautiful views) the motley crew assembled were treated to a delicious barbeque onboard Nick Ware ' s boat. The bank holiday weekend was absolutely stunning and gave a good memory of what the summer could be like.

Old Shirburnian Sailing put in a strong team for the Arrow Trophy this year with Robert Gosling, Camilla Gosling, Will Eaton, Jenny Guy, Harry Guy, Toby Wicks, Henry Jones, Sam Talbot-Smith. They had a lot to prove following a year of no racing due to COVID and Sunsail' s brand new yachts to master. Thankfully, they had been practising their tactics online through the lockdowns in the OSS virtual racing series! They represented themselves well in the Rum party on the Friday night, almost recruiting another OS who they found in the bar to join them. Saturday brought strong winds and driving rain, so the call was made early two reefs and no spinnakers. They knew that to get through the Solent chop they 'd need weight forward and out so big hiking was in order. They checked systems and set off for the start line, while not being first off the line they banged hard to the right on the course and were running in third behind Bradfield and Cheltenham. There was an exciting downwind leg with some close action with Cheltenham followed by another exciting beat. The next run they were overtaken by Uppingham and during the gybe the gooseneck snapped and they had to retire. Unfortunately, repairs weren 't available and the team took up residence in Cowes for the rest of the weekend enjoying a fun dinner with all the other competitors.

OS Golfing Society

Wow, what a successful year the OSGS has enjoyed in 2021! Golf has really bounced back from the cOVID pandemic that decimated our fixture list in 2020 when only five matches could be played… this year we played 15 matches versus other Old Boys Golf Societies/Golf clubs (only losing five fixtures to cOVID), of these we won nine and lost six.

Our Tournament teams collectively had their best year ever since the OSGS was founded in 1929! We enter a scratch team in the following prestigious golf tournaments:

halford hewitt - we beat Winchester, Shrewsbury and Malvern, Tonbridge in the quarter-final, Rossall in the semi-final and lost to Loretto in the final. Our success in reaching the final for only our second time in 90 years was all the more remarkable because we had an incredibly tough draw. Winchester, Malvern (defending champions) and Tonbridge had all won the tournament within the last four years. We have a good young team coming through with three debutants this year blending well with our more experienced players. Team: Couzens, Curtis, Elliot-Square, Francis, Gillett, Hodges, Irving, Kelly, Martin C, Pralle, Stagnetto, Williams and Captain: Martin P. There was a great ‘buzz ’ amongst the players, Zakaria (Team Caddy) and also our small but committed band of supporters down at Royal Cinque Ports GC, Deal and Prince ’ s GC, Sandwich in September.

Grafton morrish - 1st round bye, beat Clifton, Brentwood, Eton in quarter-final losing to Malvern in the semi-final. Coming off the back of our success in the Halford Hewitt, Capt. Couzens steered this six-man team on another string of excellent wins up at Hunstanton GC in early October* .

Bunny millard Salver (Over 75) - beat Haileybury in the semi-final, lost to Oundle in the final. Brent knoll Bowl - we made an early exit.

GL mellin Salver (Over 55) - beat Loretto and Lancing, lost to Shrewsbury in the semi-final.

Peter Burles Salver (Over 65) - lost 1st round.

Royal Wimbledon Gc Schools Old Boys Putting Tournament - as the current holders it was a pity we just missed out on qualifying for finals day.

Alba Trophy - good experience for our young pair, but we did not come close to a podium finish.

We are extremely thankful that we get to play our fixtures at some of the finest golf clubs in the country including: Aldeburgh, Ashridge, The Berkshire, Burnham & Berrow, Deal, Hunstanton, New Zealand, Prince ’ s, Royal St George ’ s, Rye, Saunton, Sunningdale, West Hill, West Sussex, Woking, Woodbridge.

Most matches are 8–10-man teams playing 2x18 hole competitive, yet convivial foursomes off handicap with an excellent three-course lunch and refreshments in between. These offer a great opportunity to catch up with your friends and renew old sporting rivalries. We hold three Meetings a year: at Sherborne GC in May, The Berkshire in June and Rye GC in Sept. All great fun and popular events with sumptuous lunches, historic silver trophies and numerous other prizes. This year we had 24 players who came and enjoyed our premier event, The Berkshire Meeting on Wednesday 9 June. It was a glorious day for 36 holes and we had players ranging from 19- 81 years of age! Paddy Macintosh (Vice-Captain and a solid 18-handicapper) managed a spectacular hole-in-one in the afternoon round, a 6-iron to the 144yd 4th hole on the Blue Course. Needless to say his wallet took a hammering!! In 2022 we are aiming to increase numbers to 32 players at this event… The Society is open to all Old Shirburnians regardless of age and golfing prowess! We provide generous subsidies for young members (current levels below), which makes playing multiple fixtures highly affordable:

• Those under 27 pay a max of £30 per day for any match/meeting which includes all green fees and lunch/catering costs (which is approx 25% of the real cost).

• Those 27-U32 years of age pay a max of £60 per day (approx 50% of the real cost).

Jonathan Godfrey (d 99) was OSGS Captain for 2020/21 and Paddy Macintosh (h 80) has taken over for 2021/22.

Alistair Hatch (Master in Charge of Golf at the School) tells us that golf has really taken off at the School in 2021 with just over 50 boys joining Sherborne GC as junior members. The School has six single figure H’Cap players including a 3 and a 1. This year we had a bumper crop of 18 school leavers join the OSGS - if you are one of them please ensure you sign up to play in our 2022 fixtures and you can immediately enjoy the financial subsidies and a wide range of golfing opportunities. You will be made very welcome.

For more information and our fixture list see the OSGS Website: https://osgs.wildapricot.org or contact me tgglaw@aol.com Mob 07767 007495.

TERRY GORDON (h 78)