Sports & Societies

Radley Wildebloods

As the world starts opening up the Wildebloods are coming out once again. We started with an amazing garden drinks with our sister societies from Eton, Harrow, Sherbourne and Bedales.

The evening began in the gardens of the St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden where the prosecco and wine were flowing freely before finally stumbling over to an underground bar in Soho to finish the night.

Following on from these very successful drinks we organised a small table for the OR Dinner in November as well as a Christmas drinks at the start of December.

Adam Lambert (2007)

Members of the Radley Wildebloods join forces with four other schools’ societies for a Drinks party in September.

Radleian Society Racing Syndicate

We’ve been lucky enough to train College Oak for three seasons now, and he has turned out to be a cracking racehorse. Having won a bumper the previous season, College Oak took well to hurdling last season and won on his seasonal debut at Uttoxeter. He followed up in a competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot on the first big jumps Saturday of the season. It was a wonderful day in the pouring rain, which was only dampened by the fact that only six people could attend owing to the Covid protocols. However, those that were lucky enough to go celebrated in the Royal Box.

He was placed on another two occasions last season, and we looked forward to this coming season when we planned to send him novice chasing. Being out of a winning sister to the threetime Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Best Mate, and the Grade 1 winner Cornish Rebel, as well as the multiple winner Inca Trail, we thought he’d improve further for a fence.

He was 3rd on his chasing debut this season, and he will improve on that as the season progresses, but it was on pretty soft ground and we think he’ll prefer some genuine good to soft ground. So, we’ll take our time and find the right opening for him once again. I am sure we’ll go up in trip with him and he will develop into a staying handicap chaser, and we might look to qualify him for the £50,000 Challenger Series Final at Haydock in April.

After the success of College Oak, we will endeavour to set up another RadSoc Racing Syndicate in the coming years, and would hope to attract a few more Old Radleians and their families to join.

Jamie Snowden (1992)

College Oak wins a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter

OR Golf Society

Despite all that has been thrown at us over the last 18 months the Old Radleian Golfing Society is in very good heart. The addition of our website www.orgs.org.uk has been a big step forward in the organisation of the society. We have 269 members registered and welcome any ORs who want to play OR golf or follow the society.

It was a year of ‘firsts’. Following the cancellation of the Halford Hewitt in 2020 the committee were determined to host a competition in 2021. Halford Hewitt 2021 was postponed and played in September. We played our first round at Princes Golf Club for the first time. The team stayed in Sandwich Bay and swam in the sea – also definitely a first. We were dealt the toughest of draws and we had the talent to win, but lost in the first round – not a first. The rough was fearsome, where accuracy was more important than length – try telling that to the youngsters! The team combined handicaps added up to one, but from deep rough handicaps are irrelevant. Our next campaign is in April 2022 and we have a trial at Royal St George’s at the end of February 2022. If you are a low single figure handicap golfer, please email the secretary.

In the Senior Darwin (over 65) we won one round, and in the Darwin (over 55) we lost in the first round in extra holes. Having qualified at the top of our region for The Grafton Morrish finals at Royal West Norfolk, we again had the toughest of draws and lost in the first round to Malvern. Who beat Malvern in the Halford Hewitt final in 1996?

The golfing gods gave us a hard time in 2021 so we can look forward to 2022 with great relish. The Society’s main meetings, The Spring (The Berkshire) and Autumn (Royal St George’s) were very well supported with all ages represented and everyone was so relieved to be back together. Onwards and upwards for the ORGS.

William Bailey (1968) honsecorgs@gmail.com

Spring Meeting David Turner Scratch Cup

1st Tom Wright 68 2nd Freddie Horler 71

Charles Jeffreys Silver Bowl (Stableford)

1st Tom Wright 43 2nd Anthony Maxwell-Jones 40 points

J H Mobbs Salver (Veterans)

Duncan Ritchie 36 points

The Bruce Cup (Under 35)

Tom Wright 43 points

Paul Cooper Cup (Past Captains)

Christopher Clarke 35 points

Autumn Meeting Scratch

Simon Curtis 77 shots

Stableford

1st Jo Oram 36 2nd Robert Shotton 36 points

Ken Bristow Memorial Trophy (Veterans)

1st Jo Oram 36 2nd Robert Shotton 36 points

James Rogers Memorial Trophy

Andrew Laing & George Foxall 35 points

Birkmyre Salver

Adam Leetham 155 shots (Spring and Autumn)

Above: Fred Campion, Adam Leetham, Tom Beasley, Arthur Tapner, Tom Wright and Harry Douglass (captain). Above right: Dr Jo Oram (left) and Tim Rowntree (vice captain). Right: Hardy souls braving the water of the English Channel at Sandwich Bay!

ORFC Football

The Old Radleian Football Club had a rather tumultuous season which was made all the more difficult by the pandemic. Some football was played throughout last season but it was difficult to maintain any continuity due to the nationwide lockdowns in November and again for the first 4 months of 2021.

A difficult 2019-20 season was cut short and this saw the OR’s be re-allocated from Division One to Division Two in the Arthurian League despite the season not officially ending.

Having spent the majority of 2020 indoors it was great that the government allowed the restarting of grass roots football in August. Which in turn led to the restarting of the Arthurian League for the 2020-21 season and everyone was excited to be back playing again. We started the season brightly with an away 1-1 draw to Old Columbans in St Albans, a team that was recently promoted to Division Two. Despite the game being played in the shadows of St Albans Cathedral, the godly presence was not enough to claim a victory. One would assume that the groundsman was still on furlough or a re-wilding project had been established due to the length of the grass.

The Keys then proceeded to go on a cracking run of form starting with away wins against Chigwell, winning 3-1, and a 3-2 win over Aldenham in midSeptember. Having taken seven points from a possible nine, the Keys were dreaming of promotion and a future life in Division One as we topped the league table going into October.

The Keys imitated Doves in flight as they took another scalp in the shape of Old Merchant Taylors with a 3-0 win away from home and another week at the top of the table. Our unbeaten run was ended however in a turgid yet feisty affair against Old Cholmeleians in the Arthur Dunn Cup losing two goals to one. However, our sole focus was now placed on the league as we still remained unbeaten.

The final game before the November Lockdown saw the Keys draw 2-2 against Charterhouse in our first home game of the season, this did force us to slip off the top of the table but spirits were still very high. The November lockdown was an unwelcome break as we were all sadly ordered back into our homes and all grass roots football was halted across the country.

In the small window at the start of December and before London was catapulted into tier 4, the Keys played against our old foe, Old Etonians. However, with many of the team members nestled into the country establishments of their parents, a makeshift 11 was put together and the OR’s were dealt a crushing 5-2 defeat. We were then plunged once again back into a dark and dingy lockdown over the winter and early spring, and the Keys were not seen again for five months.

The disruption caused by the lockdowns forced the Arthurian League into cancelling the league competition for the 2020-2021 season, which was a great shame given the strong position we were in in the league table. However, as the world began to open back up the Arthurian League organised for a knockout cup to be played by teams from Division Two and Three. The Keys were back and raring to go after a rather bleak four months of lockdown.

We were drawn against Old Merchant Taylors and delivered a fine performance of which St Peter himself would have been proud. The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors were trounced 5-1 and the Keys looked like they were picking up from where they left off at the end of October.

In the ‘Last 16’ we were drawn again against Lord Kinnaird’s Old Etonians of Windsor. In an enthralling encounter at Fortress Whitton the Keys were able to pull off an incredible 4-3 victory which saw us leap into the quarter finals and dreams of silverware were very much in the minds of the locksmiths. ORFC - 'The Keys'.

We were drawn against Old Kimboltians, a team from the league below and a massive opportunity was there for the taking to proceed to the semi-finals. Sadly it was not to be as were unfairly beaten 2-1 with a rather soft penalty being awarded to Kimbolton in the final 10 minutes. One would have assumed a sniper had caught the Kimbolton player as they fell to the floor in a manner more commonly seen at the Grand Palladium.

Our season ended rather sourly as the world began to open back up, we were drawn against Old Berkhamstedians in the semi-finals of the plate competition losing the game two goals to nil.

Some great performances and notable mentions throughout the season go to Archie Hewlett who was the Captain’s Player of the Year. There were some great performances from Danny Brownlee and Wilf Marriott over the course of the season. Young Player of the Year went to Thor Winkler and it is great to see a younger OR getting involved with the club.

Based on results alone you could argue that this was a great season for the ORs, playing 11 games, winning 5, drawing 2 and losing 4. Had the pandemic not struck again in November who knows of the success that could have been achieved? I would undoubtedly be executed if I failed to mention that a very impressive milestone was achieved throughout this season. Henry Taylour, formerly of E and K Social was the first and only player to reach 100 caps for the Old Radleian Football Club. A fantastic achievement by him and we thank him for the service he has given to the Club. Lastly, we must also give thanks to Andrew Barrie who has served as Club Treasurer and Club Secretary for 5 years and has decided to step down from his role. There is no doubt that the club would have folded long ago had it not been for your work going on behind the scenes, so from all of us at the Club: We thank you for your service. Alex Kelly, an Old Radleian stalwart, has very kindly agreed to take on his role.

We are now a few games into the 2021-22 season and things have not gone as well as we would have hoped. The combination of weddings, holidays and the birds now being in flight has resulted in it being a struggle to field a consistent squad so far this season. However, there is still plenty of football left to be played this season. We are always looking for new players to add to the squad and particularly we are looking for that injection of youth into the team. So if you are interested in representing the College against some of our old foes then please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at the email address below.

Cameron Barrie (2008)

oldradleainsfc@outlook.com

Real Tennis - CJR: Marking 50 years

The title of this piece is also the title of Chris Ronaldson’s latest book concerning the game to which he has dedicated fifty years of his career (with no thought of retirement). He has written about many aspects of the game (equipment, rules, tournaments and governing associations), about some of the people who have played it during his lengthy careers and about some of the changes in society and culture that have had a direct and indirect impact upon tennis.

However, there is extraordinarily little in those pages directly about Chris (known throughout the game as ‘CJR’). He is famously selfeffacing, but this absence is a considerable oversight, as there is no one who has made a more profound contribution to the game in the past fifty years. It certainly was in a sorry state in 1971, when he stumbled into it.

The fact that the game has survived and is in good heart wherever it is played, is in large part due to Chris’s outstanding work and extraordinary dedication. His determination to do everything possible to ensure the continuation and good health of real tennis has been unwavering and continues undimmed. Chris’s continuous efforts to expand the player-profile beyond its traditional boundaries, by encouraging anyone interested in learning the game, including women and juniors. Schools are the right places to build courts, he believes, and the success of the court, club and boys who have learnt to play at Radley underlines this view. CJR is the world’s longest-serving professional currently plying the trade. But that, though impressive, is simply a quantitative measure, like the 70,000 balls he estimates that he has sewn, the close to a quarter of a million of hours that I calculate that he has worked or the more than 20,000 lessons he has delivered. As most people work about 80,000 hours in a career of 44 years, he has worked the equivalent of at least two normal people already which, looked at another way, means he has been working for more like one hundred years than fifty. But leaving numbers aside, the more remarkable measure is that of the quality of CJR’s contributions. He is a man who has excelled in every facet of the game. He was World Champion for six years, during which period he dominated the game and built a fearsome reputation for his training regimen off court, his steely temperament on it and his deep thinking about tactics and technique. He was the first man to hold the Grand Slam of titles, winning the Australian, British, French and US Opens in the same year. In all, he won fifty-one level singles tournaments, retiring from competitive play in 1993.

As a professional, Chris broke the mould, being much taller (as well as much smarter) than the norm. He improved the status of UK pros in many ways and has been responsible for developing the role from one of being the servant at a club to being its manager. Chris has built a reputation as a player, coach, and club professional, for being the best. It has been achieved through considerable self-sacrifice, the application of an intense and relentless work ethic and a refusal to accept anything less than full commitment from himself. His record as a club pro is extraordinary. Apart from his first two years in tennis, spent at the Oxford University club, CJR has either started clubs from scratch or breathed life back into moribund ones.

With Radley College’s generous backing, he has in the past two years rejuvenated the court at The Oratory School in early 2020, opened the new Bordeaux court in the summer of 2020 and is now on secondment to the Bristol Real Tennis Club, in addition to running the Radley court and club. He has never failed - and who of us can say that?

Each of the clubs where he has been Head Professional has, in the shortest possible time, had a fully utilised court, a happy and expanding membership, buoyant finances, and the hum of purposeful and positive activity.

Len Trievnor/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Chris on the stands of an indoor tennis court, 9th July 1984.

Notwithstanding the hours required to achieve success of this nature (typically a working day that starts before 8am and ends after 10pm and often seven days a week), Chris has managed to cram in impressive additional achievements. Amongst the other things he has done are: inventing the handicapping system, which is still in use worldwide; devising the player-ranking system, also in use today; changing the format and management of the World Championship Challenge into that which now prevails; writing the first comprehensive coaching manual for a century, ‘A Cut Above the Rest’, that became the best-selling book on the subject of tennis; setting up, with his father, Ronaldson Publications, which became the most prolific publishing house on the subject of tennis; putting together a small consortium of which he was the largest shareholder that bought a court (Holyport, in 1985) when it looked as if it would be lost to the game; rescuing the bankrupt Bordeaux club in 1982, for no financial reward; working for a year, on top of his job in tennis, as a City trader, in an office environment he loathed and with people whose ethics he generally despised, to enable him to pay for the education of his sons; taking part-time degrees in his beloved subject of history, achieving a First followed by a Master’s degree, and then teaching twentieth century history to adults in evening classes; and serving on countless tennis-related committees. These are some of Chris’s direct contributions to the game, but it is through the indirect ones that his tremendous influence has spread throughout the tennis world and through generations of players. He has trained many assistants, some of whom have gone on to be great players. Through his own example and, indirectly, through those he has trained or worked with, CJR has instilled a deep love of the game in hundreds and hundreds of people, be they professionals or amateurs, club members or new arrivals, elite players or those who just dream of being able to play a decent game.

His instruction, demonstrations, suggestions, hints and comments have helped countless players of all standards to develop their skills. He has tirelessly given of his time, energy and intelligence to the various representative bodies that make up the game and has done so for neither financial gain nor glory. He still manages, on top of everything else, to dispense help, guidance, advice and support to anyone who approaches him from anywhere in the tennis world. CJR is a legend in the world of Real Tennis.

Maggie Henderson-Tew Real Tennis Club Captain

Radley Mariners

TOKYO OLYMPIC GAMES

Tom George, Charlie Elwes and Ollie Wynne-Griffith all featured in the GB Men’s VIII that won a Bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020+1 Olympics. They were the first Radleians to be selected for Team GB and to win medals since Richard Budgett won gold in the Coxed Four at the LA Olympics in 1984.

In the run up to the rescheduled games, the GB men’s eight had twice won bronze medals at the World Championships and so were setting their sights higher at Tokyo. The crew made its way into the final through the repechage after weather conditions disrupted the schedule. Keeping pace with reigning world champions Germany, the Team GB boat was in a good second spot at the 1,000m halfway mark. At this point, New Zealand kicked in with a powerful push that saw them take the lead, one they would hold for the rest of the race. A three-boat sprint to the line tried to haul the Kiwis in, with the German crew finishing strongly and pipping Team GB to silver by one-tenth of a second, earning Tom, Charlie and Ollie their bronze Olympic medals.

The three ORs receive their Olympic medals with the rest of the VIII. The GB VIII on the water in Tokyo. Ollie: “It was a huge honour to represent Team GB at the Olympics this summer and to come away with a medal makes it even more special. It has been a long road to Tokyo with countless twists and turns so to finally realise my dream of competing at the pinnacle of sport gave me enormous satisfaction.”

Tom: “It was a hell of a week of racing. We didn’t start how we would have wanted in the heat but built well through the regatta. These were the moments that we had trained for and we left it all out there on the day.”

Charlie: “Winning an Olympic medal of any colour is a special achievement. We are conscious that we fell short of our goal of winning but nonetheless very proud of how we raced and worked together as a unit.”

All three are now currently preparing to race in the 2022 Boat Race in April next year – Tom and Ollie are at Cambridge studying for an MPhil in Real Estate finance and for an MBA respectively. Charlie is doing a masters research at Oxford in the Women & Gender Studies department. Radley will be well represented on both sides of the dark blue/light blue divide. Charlie joins fellow ORs, Josh Bowesman-Jones and James Innes Kerr at Oxford.

JOSH BOWESMAN-JONES

Josh has had a great 2021 - he raced in the 7 seat of the Oxford Blue boat that narrowly fell to Cambridge in a unique boatrace, raced in Ely, Cambridgeshire, instead of on the Tideway as is traditional.

Having already won the u23 European title, he went on to win the u23 World Rowing Championships in the Mens 8+ category in one of the tightest races in recent memory. The final margin was 0.11 seconds between Great Britain and the USA. The Americans led for almost the entirety of the race before the Brits chased them down in the dying strokes to clinch the title. Josh follows in the footsteps of Charlie Elwes to become the second OR in the modern era to win an under 23 World title.

Josh (third from right) celebreates with the victorious u23s Mens VIII.

JOHN GEARING

A final word must be said about John Gearing. John joined up with the GB Olympic senior team this year to coach the men’s pair in their bid to qualify for the Olympics at the final Olympic qualification regatta in Lucerne.

Unfortunately, they narrowly missed out on qualification in a packed field that included the eventual Bronze medallists in Denmark. Nonetheless John’s coaching experience was a great addition to have in the programme in such a turbulent and crucial year.

Tom, Charlie and Ollie certainly enjoyed rolling back the years by having John’s presence around the national training centre at Caversham.

Radley Rangers

Won 5, Lost 4, Drew 1, Rain 5

The rain was the main winner in this, one of the wettest summers that I, personally, can remember. Five matches were called off without a ball being bowled, causing serious frustration for all who had put so much time and effort into organising teams, scorers, umpires and caterers. On behalf of the club, thank you for all your efforts throughout the season.

A highlight of the year was a very strong victory in the first round of the Cricketer Cup as we travelled to Rugby. On a tricky deck we did well to restrict the hosts to 190-9 from their 50 overs and were then treated to an exhibition put on by Nick Gubbins and Wilf Marriot who cantered to the total with a minimum of fuss. Sadly, we were undone by a very strong opening partnership against Tonbridge in the next round, but there is plenty to look forward to for the Rangers in the cup over the next few years. Watch this space. There were also good wins against Eton, The Gauchoes and the Hampshire Hogs, while another victory at Escrick against the Yorkshire Gents on the annual tour was enjoyed by all who attended. Certainly, a weekend to do if one has never been before. A tight match against the Guards went down to the final ball with fielders crowded round the bat as we searched for the final wicket, but in the end a draw was shared.

Finally, another thank you, to all who have put themselves forward to play, manage, umpire and score this season – the club quite literally would not work without you. Hopefully the weather plays ball with us better next year and the uncertainty of Covid will no longer hang over us, making the organising of and playing Rangers fixtures that much easier. Winter well and I very much look forward to next season.

Johnny Wright, Hon Sec. Radley Rangers

Rangers vs. Ampleforth

Great game at Radley on Secondside - we were narrowly beaten in 30 overs by Ampleforth. We kept them to around par 214 bowling first. Os Miller, Freddie Horler and especially Rupert Grace took us very close but when Grace was caught on the boundary edge in the penultimate over it was all but done. We”ll have them next year. Lose by 9 (this time).

Rangers vs. Rugby (Cricketer Cup)

The Rangers emerged victorious at Rugby with a big 8 wicket win. Having lost the toss and sent out to field first, the lack of movement for the seamers resulted in an early switch to the spin of Christian Hollingsworth. When a ball early on in his spell did not get above ankle height from back of a length the idea of batting second felt ominous. However, the leg spin of Nick Gubbins and Mungo Fawcett caused havoc, with the two of them sharing 8 of the 9 wickets to fall, Gubbs picking up 5-32 off ten and Mungo 3-45. Having restricted Rugby to 190-9 off their 50 (their opener scored 105 of them) it was over to the batsmen. Wilf Marriot once again looked a class above the opposition, anchoring the innings brilliantly, especially after the loss of Jamie. Wilf and Gubbs combined as they have done so many times in the past to put on 132 in no time to break the back of the chase. Nick fell with 20 required with a magnificent 81, but victory came in just the 28th over with Wilf 64 not out and Alex Hearne 4* at the end. A comprehensive victory.

Rangers vs. Eton

Whilst the weather appeared a little gloomy before the start of play, Jack Folkestone was keen to stress that he had organised a burger van for lunch and we would have to play irrespective of what the clouds had install for us. Whilst there were some short spells of rain, it was never too heavy and fortunately it rained mostly on the Etonians. In the field the bandits from Slough took a wicket with the second ball of the game, George Greville Williams bowled (a jaffer!), 0-1. Whilst panic filled the Radleian’s on the boundary the two on the field were up to the task. Sam Hoddinott slowly and carefully saw off the openers and then the first change bowlers with Rupert Grace. This was before Rupert took a leaf out of God’s book and started with some rain of his own. It rained sixes for hours in his brutal assault where he scored a magnificent 100. Partnered by Charlie Williams, Kit Moreland, and Jack Folkestone who all made stylish 20s, we declared on 197. Time for that burger van...

With Eton walking out to bat, we were keen to attack. At 0-1 after 8 balls with a ripper from Ned Greville Williams, Radley were right on top. Ned bowled aggressively and accurately picking up 3 important wickets. Jack Folkestone was also deadly taking 3 wickets at crucial times. Kit Morland took 2 and Dom Anwyl-Jones took 1. This was all supported by Theo Spreckley who kept extremely well. The Rangers were too good for the Ramblers.

In the end, with every Ranger swarming around the batsman Eton managed to block out the final ball at 145-9 and we didn’t get the win. Cricket was the winner I suppose. A brilliant day. A huge thank you must go to Jack and his wonderful family who hosted us.

Kit Morland caught by Bevan Fawcett.