Bowling over the Opposition

The Senior cricket season has been a busy one, with a total of 204 matches being played. Pleasingly, it has also been a very successful one, with no fewer than eight hundreds, 29 half-centuries and four five-wicket hauls.

After a disruptive season last year, the 1st and 2nd XIs have played some excellent cricket, winning the vast majority of their matches. A highlight of the season for the 1st XI was their extended run in the National T20, making it to the regional semi-finals after wins against Dean Close, RGS Worcester and King’s Warwick. Their victory over RGS in their annual 50-over match was also as complete a performance as anyone could hope for. The 3rd XI have also thoroughly enjoyed their season, playing a record seven matches and bringing enthusiasm and energy to all their fixtures.

The 1st team also managed to finish the season by winning silverware at the KES Stratford 6s tournament. After a shaky start and a loss to the hosts, we had impressive wins against QMGS Walsall and Bablake in the group and the semi-final and faced Wycliffe in the final. A solid batting performance allowed us to reach an insurmountable target and we eventually ran out comfortable winners.

There has also been lots of success throughout the age groups. The U15 girls made it through to the last 16 of the National Cup and to the regional finals of the Lady Taverners Indoor Competition. A highlight of their National Cup run was the 128* scored by Bryony G (LR) against Bromsgrove. Girls’ cricket continues to go from strength to strength and there has been a significant increase in numbers at training and involved in matches. The introduction of a second hardball team has been wonderful to see, and the development is set to accelerate next year.

Our U15 and U13 boys’ teams made it to the County Cup final, although unfortunately both lost narrowly. The U14s were able to go one better and defeat Bromsgrove, qualifying for the National Competition as U15s next year.

The U17s have been exceptional and have now progressed through to the semi-final of the National Plate competition after superb victories against Queen Mary’s Walsall, Wirral Grammar School and Queen Ethelburga’s.

The biggest success is the number of pupils who are playing and enjoying their cricket. To be able regularly to field 13 teams on a Saturday and have 30 pupils train in some year groups each week is a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm that is put in each week by all the age group coaches.

International Rowing Success

British Championship

There has been a fine tradition of rowing at King’s Worcester since 1877, with the Boat Club able to celebrate four Olympic oarsmen to date; the most recent is Zac Purchase, who won Olympic Gold and Silver in the Lightweight Double Sculls in 2008 and 2012 respectively. Many other pupils and OVs have represented the Home Countries and Great Britain at international events, along with extensive and regular regional representation. In recent years, boys and girls have won national championships, and medals at many major events.

This summer two Sixth Form students, Alice B and Luke B, were celebrating after being called up to represent Great Britain U19 Rowing squads, where they raced in some of the most prestigious international regattas.

Following on from her golden GB rowing debut at the Munich International Regatta earlier this year, 17-year-old Alice was selected for the Great Britain U19 Junior World Championship squad. Alice spent five gruelling days going through the selection process at The National Water Sports Centre before heading to the World Championships in Varese, Italy at the end of July. Alice’s hard work paid off when she and her U19 Women’s Eight claimed the silver medal at the event. Alice said, “I am thrilled to have been selected to represent GB rowing after such a long and challenging trials process. Winning a silver medal was a great conclusion to my time rowing at King’s. It has been fantastic to work alongside and learn from such skilled athletes and coaches and this experience has put me in a good position for my future rowing. I am so grateful to the Boathouse community at school for supporting me through this process, especially Will and Jim, my coaches, and my fellow crew mates.”

This was 18-year-old Luke’s first cap for Great Britain after he was selected for the Boy’s U19 Quad Sculls at the prestigious Coupe de la Jeunesse International Regatta, which took place in Castrelo de Mino, Spain in August. 15 European nations entered a team at the Regatta, where Luke and his crew won their first heat in the quad with an exciting finish, coming from behind. The quad eventually finished fifth in the final after an incredibly close race for second to fifth places.

Luke commented, “It was thrilling to be racing against some of the fastest crews in Europe. I feel so lucky to have been part of the rowing programme at King’s and owe everything to the coaching team that has supported me from my first wobbly attempts in Lower Remove to encouraging me through the final gruelling steps of the GB rowing crew formation.’

Head of Rowing, Jim Chalmers commented, “Luke and Alice, our Captains, have been an inspiration to all in the Boat Club and to see them represent Great Britain at the very pinnacle of junior rowing was magnificent. They have worked incredibly hard throughout the gruelling selection process and balanced this with their academic pursuits, serving as terrific role models. The coaching team are thrilled with their success and proudly look forward to following their careers in the sport.”