Sports

The victorious side in the Cricketer Cup 1st Round v Repton. Top row (from left to right): Elijah Samuel, Orlando Mace, Jim Crossland, Billy Mead, Jordan Butler, Olly Logan, Jack Bunn. Bottom row (from left to right): Ed Kilbee, Mark Cattermull, Max Read, Finn Campbell

Blues Cricket in full flow on the XI in June

Members of the victorious 1980 Cricketer Cup winning side at their delayed 40th anniversary celebrations. Top row (from left to right): Oliver Gravell, Robin Brodhurst, David Walsh, Robbie Johnstone, Mike Griffith, Richard Brown, Nick Frome. Bottom row: Charlie Warner, Alec Cunningham

Cricket

It was a mixed season with highs and lows. Highs included retaining the Eton Ramblers T20 competition. Frustrating lows were not of our making. Downside Wanderers, Old Amplefordians, Radley Rangers and Sherborne Pilgrims all failed to raise sides, perhaps reflecting the perils of modern-day wandering cricket; something we are hopeful to redress. In baking sunshine on the XI, in front of the 1980 winning side celebrating the 40th anniversary of their triumph a year late, the sizeable crowd was treated to a memorable Cricketer Cup 1st Round victory. With Repton looking ominous at 231-3, the home side captured the last seven wickets for only 21, with Mark Cattermull (C3 2009-14) and Orlando Mace (B1 2014-19) doing the damage. In response, important contributions from Billy Mead (C1 2012-17) and Jack Bunn (SU 2011-16) and a superb century (a Blues record equalling 3rd in the competition) from skipper Ed Kilbee (C2 2001-06) helped overhaul Repton’s total. The prize was a home draw against the fancied Old Millfieldians, two weeks later. In contrasting conditions, Billy Mead, Will von Behr (B1 2007-12), Jordan Butler (SU 2011-13) and Jack Bunn all helped contribute to a competitive total of 286-9. The looming rain arrived with the visitors 109-3 off 20.4 overs. Behind on Duckworth-Lewis, the Millfield angst was plain for all to see. Unfortunately, conditions improved, and their strong batting line-up was able to surpass the Blues total. Nevertheless, it was a more than respectable performance against a side that went on to win the competition. There is plenty of optimism looking forwards.

Elsewhere, there were impressive wins over the Old Wellingtonians, the Dilletantes, the HAC and the Guards, and disappointing defeats against Hurlingham, the School and the Eton Ramblers. Rain brought an early end to proceedings against the Hampshire Hogs at Warnford with the match interestingly poised. Magnus McGrigor’s (C2 2007-12) century against the Guards and Harry Staight’s (B1 2003-08) five-wicket haul versus the Old Wellingtonians topped a lengthy list of impressive performances that can be found in the results section.

Sports

Cricket results

Played 11 Won 5 Lost 4 Abandoned 2 v Hurlingham (A) 15th May – Lost by 9 wkts. Blues 70 all out Hurlingham 72-1

v Old Wellingtonians (Eton T20 Tournament) 16th May – Won by 7 wkts. Old Wellingtonians 100-9 off 20 (Harry Staight (B1 2003-08) 5-13, Will Davies (C3 2012-17) 2-29). Blues 104-3 off 13.2 (Billy Mead (C1 2012-17) 57*)

v Eton (A – T20 Tournament) 16th May –Match abandoned due to rain (Blues retain the trophy by virtue of being defending champions). Eton 27-4 off 6 overs (Mark Cattermull (C3 2009-14) 3-10)

v Dilettantes (H) 6th June – Won by 4 wkts. Dilettantes 193 for 8 dec (Will Selby-Lowndes (B3 1981-86) 4-31). Blues 194-6 (Ali Robinson (PR 1983-88) 96, Peter Shone (B3 1981-85) 59)

v Repton Pilgrims (H – Cricketer Cup 1st Round) 13th June – Won by 5 wkts. Repton Pilgrims 252 all out off 44.3 overs (Mark Cattermull 4-61, Orlando Mace (B1 2014-19) 3-37). Blues 253-5 off 44.5 overs (Ed Kilbee (C2 2001-06) 105*, Billy Mead 69, Jack Bunn (SU 2011-16) 44*)

v HAC (A) 26th June – Won by 21 runs. Blues 207-3 off 40 overs (Ali Stokes (BH 2005-10) 66, Will von Behr (B1 2007-12) 65, Will Eversfield (C3 2007-12) 57*). HAC 186-9 off 40 overs (Will Davies 4-39, Stu Wilkinson (SU 2004-09) 2-29)

v Old Millfieldians (H – Cricketer Cup 2nd Round) 27th June – Lost by 4 wkts. Blues 286-9 off 50 overs (Billy Mead 89, Will von Behr 55, Jordan Butler (SU 2011-13) 56, Jack Bunn 42). Old Millfieldians 288-6 off 38.2 overs (Finn Campbell (C1 2010-15) 2-38, Mark Cattermull 2-55, Orlando Mace 2-62)

v School (H) 3rd July – Lost by 10 wkts. Blues 92 all out. School 93-0

v Hampshire Hogs (A) 10th July – Match abandoned due to rain. Blues 161 all out (Owen Hargrove (LI 2011-16) 44, Will Caldwell (CO 1991-96) 35). Hampshire Hogs 61-1

v Guards (A) 24th July – Won by 175 runs. Blues 281-4 dec (Magnus McGrigor (C2 2007-12) 104, Max Koe (BH 2008-13) 70*, Sam Northridge (C2 1998-2003) 62). Guards 106 all out (Max Koe 4-17, Joe Arkwright (SU 2010-15) 4-29)

v Eton Ramblers (A) 15th August – Lost by 102 runs. Eton Ramblers 221-9 dec (Finn Campbell 4-48). Blues 120 all out (Ed Rothwell (TU 2005-10) 44)

Running

The Thames Hare and Hound Alumni Race took place in December 2020. The event was virtual, enabling those who could not get to Wimbledon to participate. People uploaded their five-mile crosscountry run, meaning they could run wherever in the world they were. The race will happen again this December, hopefully in person. Please contact the Club if you want to get a team of OMs together.

Squash

OM Squash was unsurprisingly cancelled, but it came back with a vengeance with the 2021 Harold Radford Rose Bowl Tournament for both OMs and pupils on Club Day. We are hoping to hold the Rose Bowl on Club Day every year from now on and we are expecting some recently leaving OMs for the first time in a few years. At the time of printing, we are yet to hear plans for the Londonderry Cup tournament, but, as always, I would be delighted to hear from any OMs wanting to play some squash, please do get in touch. Alex Wildman (C2 1984-89) alex@brookshirecapital.co.uk

2021 Arrow Trophy J80 Regatta On a bright and sunny Sunday morning, a formidable OM team of Mike Orange (PR 1986-91), Andrew Knatchbull (B1 1983-88), Ed Gregg (C2 1988-93) and Phil French (SU 1989-94) arrived at Queen Mary Reservoir to do battle in the Arrow Trophy Yacht Racing Association (ATYRA) fleet racing. Superbly organised by the Royal Thames Yacht Club, there were a total of eight teams, all sailing in identical J80s.

Conditions were forecast to be testing with a solid 10-15 knots of wind and irregular gusts filtering down the course. With a long day ahead of six races, we knew that, to be successful, consistency was going to be the watch word. The crew got a cracking start to the first race. On the line at speed and with no-one around us, the race was ours to lose. Then we heard a second gun, someone was over the line, was it us? We were not 100% certain but turned back just in case only to see up the course that two crew from another boat had fallen overboard and had not even made it! Cursing our moment of indecision, we regrouped and hauled our way back up from last to finish fourth. The second and third race were hard fought between Marlborough and Tonbridge, with the lead switching a number of times. Both races we were on the unfortunate receiving end of a wrong wind shift and so two seconds were achieved. This left us lying in second overall and, as a team, working very well; a podium or even the win a possibility. Then the wheels started coming off. Maybe it was the McDonald’s (breakfast of champions) wearing off or a slight over-confidence, but from race four onwards we started running out of steam. A fourth was followed by sixth in the fifth race. The rest of the fleet had definitely woken up and we were being targeted by our competition. Going into the last race, we were fourth in the standing, only three points behind second place. Now was the time to be aggressive and aggressive we were. Too aggressive it transpired. Called over the line at the start, we had to go back, but by the time we had done so, the fleet was too far ahead and we ended up chaperoning the rest of the fleet round the course as last boat. We still had a smile on our faces, undamped by the fact there was no bar in which to drown our sorrows.

We later learnt a discard had come into play and we ended up fourth overall. Thank you to the OMSA committee for organising, to the Royal Thames for delivering a fantastic regatta, and to the OM Club for their support. The team of Mike, Ed, Andrew and Philip tried to do the school proud. Ed Gregg (C2 1988-93) and Phil French (SU 1989-94) Charlie Kendrick (C1 1998-2003) ckendrick0123@gmail.com

Women’s Hockey

We are looking for a new head to run the OM women’s hockey team. Please contact Fiona Cottrill on fcottrill@marlboroughcollege.org if you’re interested in this position or if you’d like to play

Tennis

Please contact Greg Caterer (CO 2000-06) on gjcaterer@gmail.com

Rugby

The Malones is looking forward to the 2021-22 season. With a few matches in the planning, we continue to look for players who can take part. Please contact Sam Matanle (C2 2008-13) on sam.matanle@ hotmail.co.uk

Sports

Football

The 2020/2021 OMFC season was very stop/start and, ultimately, cut short around Christmas. In contrast, the current season has returned to its regular schedule and the team has got off to an unbeaten start after four games. A big positive has been the addition of several new faces, including Seb Cutts (LI 2015-20), Zu Macdermot (C3 2015-20), Alex Callender (SU 2010 -15), Charlie Pollard (SU 2010-15), Dan Burke (C2 2019-21), Henry Macpherson-Petermann (C2 2016-21), Hugo Fry (C1 2010-15) and Finn Campbell (C1 2010-15). We are still on the lookout for more players to join the growing squad and to safeguard the future of the team as older players move into retirement (AKA marriage and children). For the uninitiated, the OMFC play in the Arthurian League – an Amateur Football Association league that has existed since 1961, with seven divisions in total. The OMFC are currently in Division One, punching well above their weight given the small level of investment in football at the College. If you are keen to play competitive 11-a-side football and help the OMFC to continue to thrive, please get in touch. Ben Walters (SU 2005-10) omfc.management@gmail.com

Cycling

The Old Marlburian Cycling Club did not manage to meet in 2020, but our enthusiastic members continued to rack up miles around the world. In fact, after some quick Strava maths, we managed approximately 160,000 miles between us during lockdown. By the time this goes to print, we will have had our 2021 Club Day meeting and 2022 will be in the planning. We are wonderfully supported by Charlie Bladon (C1 1984-89) of Green Jersey Cycling and have riders from 20 to 75 in our peloton. Please get in touch if you would like to be added to the email list or simply join Strava at www.strava. com/clubs/omcycling where you will receive updates. Piers Dibben (B2 1981-85) piers@dibben.co.uk

Golf

Silver Tassie

In June, the Old Marlburian Golfing Society (OMGS) put forward a team in the Silver Tassie, a ladies’ golf competition for alumnae of independent schools. The 4BBB competition was held at the Berkshire Golf Club across the Red and Blue Courses, with one Marlborough pair playing on each course. After a rather dismal May, the sun was gloriously out and the day was expertly organised by the Silver Tassie Committee, including Charlotte Hampel (PR 1979-81), who is currently Lady Captain at the Berkshire. Unfortunately, we were not able to secure a win this year, but the team – Pippa Lark (BH 1975-77), Catherine Staples (B1 1980-82), Kate O’Kelly (B1 1980-82) and Rita Mitchell (SU 1995-96) returned excellent scores of 37 Stableford points on the Red Course (Catherine and Kate) and 40 Stableford points on the Blue Course (Pippa and Rita). Pippa and Rita

also narrowly lost the prize for best score on the Blue on countback. Katie Naylor (CO 1974-76) was on hand to support the team and help with (much-needed!) ball spotting on the Blue 14th! We are very keen to field two teams of four next year in this fabulous event, so please reach out.

Rita Mitchell (SU 1995-96) ritamitchell@gmail.com

Golf

Golfers at the school were delighted to tee it up against a team of OMs in their annual fixture at Marlborough Golf Club in May 2021. Led by Captain of Golf, Tom Stephenson-Green (B1 L6), the school team of 10 triumphed in the Greensome pairs format, coming out on top 3.5/1.5. Some battling golf was played, with scratch player Tom well-supported by his teammates, including Summerfield’s Harry Knight (L6). There were notable wins for pairings Otto Bartlett (LI HU) and Alex Reihill (C2 HU), Tom Cleverly (SU RE) and Hector Moorhead (TU RE), and Ned Carter (C3 HU) and James Macfadyen (C3 HU). As well as the golf, the fixture was about camaraderie with our Old Marlburian visitors enjoying their time on the course with our golfers. Remove golfer Mickey Wilkes (C3 RE), who together with Albie Payne (C1 RE) secured a nail-biting half in their match, said our boys had thoroughly enjoyed the match. ‘It was great to get out and play with the OMs,’ he said. ‘They were very good players, and our match was particularly close. It was nice to be able to chat out on Included in the OM team were distinguished golfers Bob Carrick (B2 1963-67) and David Niven (C3 1970-73), part of the Old Marlburian’s all-conquering Halford Hewitt golf team of 1972. Also playing as part of a formidable OM line-up were Tim Martin-Jenkins (B3 1961-65), Paul Farrant (C2 1969-71), Paul Sheldon (B3 1967-71), Alasdair Niven (C3 1966-70), Chris Dowling (B2 1966-71), Simon Hall (C1 1974-78), and Iain Macdonald-Smith (B1 1959-63). Master in Charge of Golf Joe Lane (CR 2014-) said, ‘It was great to welcome back the OM team and for their players to meet the next generation of Marlborough golfers coming through. We were so glad to have the match back on after we were unable to play it last year.’ Bob Carrick (B3 1963-67)

Shooting

Whilst life of recent times has once again interfered massively in the normal running of the Old Marlburian Rifle Club (OMRC), we have been able to hold at least some of our events.

The winter smallbore matches were again cancelled, but the OMRC was finally able to hold a match against the school in May at Bisley, with relatively low numbers on both sides, which rather reflected where we were in the process of coming out of lockdown with some OMs understandably reluctant to participate. By the time the NRA Imperial Meeting arrived in July, things were a little clearer and 19 OMs attended the Public Schools Veterans match, with the Club’s B team outscoring the A team by two points and securing a fifth place in the competition for second teams. The Club placed fifth in the aggregate match, behind the likes of the Old Wellingtonians and the Old Epsomians, but it was good to see some familiar faces back on the ranges, many of whom we had not seen for two years. Top individual scorer on the day went to youth, in the form of Ed Robinson (B1 2015-20) with an excellent 50 with nine shots in the central Vee bull, just edging out the President, also with a 50.9, but with not quite as good a finish. Following the Veterans match, the Club has traditionally retired to the British Commonwealth Rifle Club clubhouse for the annual dinner, prize-giving and AGM. This year, a reduced number sat down for a morecasual, picnic-style affair in the garden of the clubhouse, again reflecting the restrictions at that time, but it was nonetheless a very convivial affair, culminating with the much-delayed prize-giving from 2019. Ten OMs went on to shoot the NRA Imperial Meeting, in part or in whole, with the top performers being Ed (BH 1998-2003) and Richard Jeens (BH 1994-99), Ed Dickson (SU 2005-07) and Ed Robinson. Ed Jeens was the highest OM in the Grand Aggregate (18th) and also the highest in the long-range competitions, narrowly edging out his brother in Grand Aggregate and David Richards (B3 1972-76) in the long-range aggregate. Ed Dickson was the only OM in HM The Queen’s Prize, coming a very creditable 35th. A number of OMs achieved national recognition this year with Bill Richards (C1 1977-79) coaching or main coaching all the team matches for England and GB. The Jeens brothers and Martin Watkins (honorary OMRC member) all represented Wales in the national match and richly deserved their win. They also represented Wales in the Mackinnon long-range match. Sandy Gill (BH 1996-2000) achieved the same honours, shooting for Scotland in both matches.

Like all, we hope that the corner has been turned and that things will be fully back to normal in the coming months and that we can return to the school for smallbore matches over the winter and next spring and that our numbers will be back to pre-pandemic levels. Bill Richards (C1 1977-79) omrc.secretary@gmail.com