House Notes

Silver Bronze

Valley of Desolation (April '74) R. Wilkinson M. J. Bum E. M. Parkinson

Acorn Event R. Wilkinson (May '74) M. Bum The hectic pace continued with a mad dash to Snowdonia for the

annual Welsh Weekend.

The holiday rush slowed down to an irksome crawl once we reached the winding Welsh roads, but at least there wasn't a passport check at the border to cause further delay, and due to some slalom-type driving we arrived at the first event with only a few minutes to spare; the rush was reflected in our rather poor performances. A trip to Caernarvon and a close look at the Snowdon Horseshoe, added to the pleasure of an enjoyable weekend which ended with some spirited running in the Relay. Of our two teams, the infinitely superior one was placed 20th (out of a lot more!) after oscillating up and down the field between one leg and the next. As to who in the team contributed most to this "brilliant" performance, that is under dispute, complicated considerably by different distances, heights, degrees of difficulty, age and other variables, and any firm conclusion must remain forever hidden beneath the morass of nasty mathematics; when last mentioned, the significance of the "third decimal place" was in dispute and has been referred to arbitration.

D.H.H.

DR ONFIELD

The start of term saw several innovations in the House; Mr. Armstrong, while remaining Assistant Housemaster, moved down to No. 7; John Pette was appointed a School monitor and he was a great help in running the House.

Academically this term is always very full, with many boys being involved in '0' and 'A' level exams. At Commemoration the House was well represented amongst the prize winners, with Brian Kay, Mike Newland, Tim Stephenson, Nick Briggs and Graeme Perks collecting.

It was with regret that we saw Stephen Spence leave school again in mid-term with a recurrence of his eye complaint. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back again soon.

The summer term, as always is the term for getting out and about, and this year has been no exception. Richard Hind and Martin Belton, aided and abetted by many others have kept the naval boat Calley in running order all term. Gordon Fuller went with Mr. Croft on his historical trip to the British Museum and, as usual, the sportsmen have been on the rampage. John Cresswell, James Brockbank, Dave Yates and Charles Crowther have all been active for the tennis club, but John Cresswell's tennis elbow played up and curtailed a most promising season. However, with our strength at the top of the House we easily won the inter-House tennis competition for the third year in succession; a most satisfying win by all accounts.

John Clark played regularly for the 1st XI, helped on occasions by Nick Wormald, the demon bowler from the 2nd XI. In the House matches these two, ably supported by Chris Brockbank and John Taylor from the Colts XI, were prominent in our first round win over School House, but we were defeated by the eventual champions, the Rise. Our Juniors likewise won in the first round against the Grove, but met their match in the semi-final against Queen's.

Those in the House who boated this term have travelled far and wide in pursuit of wins, and in the House IV's we managed to raise a Junior and a Senior crew, the latter consisting of three-quarters of the former, but we entered which is what matters. Our Junior crew lost in the first round to School House; our Senior crew won in the first round against the Rise, but lost to School House "by a distance" in the semi-final. To win once was no mean feat for a crew containing a junior, Graham Morris, two junior middles, Mark Allen and George Crowther, and only one senior.

The opening of the Sports Centre was welcomed by many who have made good use of its facilities and it was most pleasing to see the inaugural five-a-side football competition won by our team, "The Dronfield Cogmen", Simon Park, George Crowther, John Taylor, Chris Brockbank, Jonathan Stone and Peter Hyett.

With the end of term approaching people began leaving in all directions. Peter Hyett left to cross Europe and Turkey on his way to Abu Dhabi while Simon Fenwick departed for Germany before Commemoration. As exams finished and with spare time more abundant, the keener members of the House, John Pette, Nick Wormald, Charles Crowther, Brian Kay and Andrew Varley have been crashing out of bed at crack of dawn to go strawberry-picking. At 6.30 a.m. one morning Philip Wormald was seen disappearing fast towards the station heading for the mecca of train-spotters, Paddington station! The more sensible ones of us have been to the Great Yorkshire Show, a trip allowing a late rising time and equally enjoyable.

Finally, I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Coulthard for all the trouble they go to in keeping the House running so smoothly and looking after us, Mrs. Irving, who is marvellous, and the ladies who work tirelessly cleaning up after us.

A.G.B.P.

GROVE

This has been a very long term but much has happened, mostly good. Individual achievement, both within the School and in outer spheres, has once again overshadowed team achievement. Chris Auburn captained the unbeaten 2nd XI, and was reawarded his colours. Nigel Foley and Chris Dalby both won their events at the York Schools Swimming Gala, and went on to swim for North Yorkshire. They both were awarded School colours. Nigel Foley played for the York team that won the Yorkshire Men's Water Polo Cup. Chris Duckling stroked the 3rd IV, often to victory, and was awarded the cup for the most improved oarsman. John Snowdon was awarded his colts colours for rowing, and he and Chris Duckling were mainly responsible for our reaching the semifinals in the House rowing. It is good to see the Grove becoming a power in School rowing once again.

Dick Elwen played for the 1st VI, and guided the House tennis team to the semi-finals of the tennis cup. As he was our only School player this was an outstanding achievement. We lost to Dronfield, the favourites.

John Twizell played for the 2nd XI; and Jeremy Markwick-Smith and Philip Kilmartin played for the junior colts.

Our junior middle football team, the "Kingpins", showed promise but lacked power at the back. The goal scoring feats of "Robbo" cannot go unmentioned.

In another sphere, David Bretherton, Tony Percival, Adrian Hodgson and Geoff Brown won their bronze Duke of Edinburgh awards.

Sandy Day won Mr. Nixon's prize for original writing by a member of the House.

Academically we had a good year. Jeremy Markwick-Smith won the Hey Scholarship, while Geoff Brown and Richard Bronk won the fourth and third form essay prizes respectively. This year's juniors have seven representatives in 3A, which must be a record for the Grove; who knows? The Work Cup soon? ! !

The term finished with Chris Dalby and Chris Auburn being awarded their House colours.

Finally all that remains is our thank-yous and goodbyes. All the monitors, Simon Barker and Paul Casson are leaving. Mr. Dawson after four valiant years leaves us as Assistant Housemaster. He continues in the School, and we thank him for his work.

I should like to thank Mr. Nixon and Mrs. Nixon for all they have done for us over the last five years on behalf of the monitors.

Lastly, good luck to Mike Walker and his mohitors next year. N.C.F.

MANOR

In many of the sporting activities the House achieved little success, but in the Junior cricket Manor won the cup. In the semi-final the innings was suspended at 201 for 3, of which Mark Stringer scored 106, the first century for a great many years; Temple were all out for 176. In the final Queen's were overwhelmed and were all out for 103, and Manor easily scored 104 for 2. In the two matches Chris Harland took ten wickets and Mark Stringer had an average of 162! Mark was awarded his Junior House Colours. One other point of cricket interest was that Chris Harland took 36 wickets for the School Colts XI, a magnificient effort which was more than the number of runs he scored!

Manor put out its first fencing team for four years, and Nicky PaRant nearly won a bout. In rowing, a young and experienced crew, trained by Andrew Gray, rowed bravely against a strong Temple crew, and Antony Yates reached the final of the junior single sculls. Andrew Gray was awarded his Junior House Colours.

One of the main events of the term was the arrival of the first House magazine, possibly since 1926! Kevin McCarter edited it, collecting articles by gentle persuasion or a little bullying, did all the typing and finally produced an effectively simple cover in the House colours. It is rumoured that an Oxford scholar failed to complete Philip Jones's crossword!

The opening of the super Sports Centre enabled us to combine exercise with pleasure. A very energetic six-a-side soccer tournament organised by Martyn Day for the Juniors and Junior Middles, was followed by orange squash and sandwiches on the balcony. Many such evenings are sure to follow.

Members of the House played for the cricket XI's, swam or played water polo, shot for the VIII or rowed in the IV's. In particular Simon Dench was unlucky to be runner-up in two individual shooting competitions. Others well to the fore were Marcus Haw, who shared the music prize for stringed instruments, and Tom Reay, who raised £15 for a sponsored swim of 200 lengths for Youth Action. At the end of term Philip Jones, David Livingston and John Ray received House colours, and Tom Reay his Junior House Colours.

To all leavers, from Hamish Carr in Newfoundland to Malcolm Bruce, the Head of House, in Zambia, the House sends good wishes and many thanks for all they did, and in particular to Mr. Depledge, who has been Assistant House Master for six years.

G.M.S.

QUEEN'S

This term we welcomed Mr. Hubbard as Housemaster and after his first term in this office we hope that he is looking forward to the future of this partnership with as much pleasure as all the members of the House.

On the cultural scene, this term has been a quiet one. We remember especially the fine performances of several members of the Third form in a dramatisation of Faulkner's "The Unvanquished". However, the sports field has naturally provided the focal point of interest (exams apart!) in the House, and efforts have been rewarded by the retention of the Oxford Cup with the consistent, if frustrating, achievement of coming second in almost every event.

Our team for the Senior cricket competition was a strong one, including four members of the School 1st XI and several competent and promising younger players. The first round gave us an easy victory over Temple in a match in which seven members of our team bowled. In the semi-final, School House batted first and were dismissed for 100 in the last over. David Chester took six wickets for 29 and Tim Ward 3 for 22. Early in the Queen's innings the game was postponed by rain. When play was resumed four days later, Simon Lloyd-Jones and Tim Ward knocked off the runs with little trouble to win the match. Simon reached 53 and Tim 28. The Final was played against the Rise, who batted first and reached 116 for 9, a tantalising total which put the outcome of the match in the balance. After two wickets were lost cheaply for 5 runs, Simon Lloyd-Jones, the captain, began to build the innings up until he was out for 50 to a very fine catch. After he had gone the House never looked much like winning but the tail, especially Nick Brown (11) and Alan Tait (16), hung on well, bringing the final score up to only ten runs short of the Rise total.

In the Junior event the House had a bye in the first round and met Dronfield in the semi-final. Dronfield scored 45 for 8 wickets, of which Dominic Clout took 4 for 10 runs. The House scored the winning total of 46 losing only two wickets. In the Final, the team fought hard against

61

a strong Manor side but we were eventually forced to concede the match when play was resumed the day after a stoppage for rain.

This year was a notable one for House shooting as we were able to field a team for the first time in four years. Inevitably, Temple won the competition and our team are to be congratulated for a fine performance in coming second. Neil Moxon, the captain, scored 95, Martin Black 88, Vincent Feeney 88 and Richard Barker 89. Feeney and Barker also joined Neil Moxon in the School team at Bisley this year.

In tennis also the House had a successful season, reaching the Final. In the first round, School House were beaten in all the matches with little resistance, by Alistair Barron and Michael Jamieson, the first and second seeds, and George Knowles and Richard Spenc,er at numbers three and four. Likewise, the semi-final against the Rise was won withoUt difficulty, every match being won in two sets. In the Final, however, a very able Dronfield side proved too strong for our team.

On the chess-board also, the House was defeated only in the Final. this time against School House. Ian Bartlett captained the side, supported by Michael Jamieson, Philip Brown, Dominic Clout and Richard Craig. Clout and Craig are both young and gifted players and we look forward to great achievements in the coming years.

Our trophies this term came from rowing and fencing competitions. Although our Junior rowing team was dismissed in the first round the Senior team went on to win their competition by half a canvas in a most exciting race. James Harrison must be congratulated for his own performance as well as his energy and enthusiasm in organising the teams. James is also a regular member of the School 1st VIII and 1st IV.

House fencing is at its best for many years, providing four members of the School team. Martin Black, the School and House captain, has fenced for the Yorkshire first team and distinguished himself in School matches. Alan Tait has taken part in several national competitions, reaching the serni-final of the Public Schools championship. Gordon Tait reached the quarter-finals of the same competition in the epee division. Michael Dixon has received his School colours for his successes in the School team. In the House competition we were represented by Martin Black (sabre and epee) and Alan Tait (foil). It was a hard-fought competition in which our team eventually triumphed over Temple, who have dominated the fencing scene for many years.

At the end of the term House colours were awarded to David Chester and Junior House colours to Alan Tait. At the same time Richard Long retired from his position as Head of House. The end of the year is inevitably a time of farewells and we say goodbye to several leavers from the fifth form and the middle sixth, thanking them for all their contributions to the House and the School and wishing them well for the future. R.D.L.

RISE

The term saw the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Kirby and their family to the House, and we hope that they have settled in and will enjoy their stay in The Rise.

The Summer term was as usual a time of tension for all those taking exams, but even so, many members of the House managed to play an active part in the life of the School.

P. W. Brumfield captained the lst XI and J. S. M. Thomas was a member of the team. C. F. Baggs, R. E. Hudson, D. M. H. Phillips and D. N. Potter played regularly for the 2nd XI and J. H. Baggs and G. J. King played for the Junior Colts. The Senior House Cricket XI, having received a bye in the first round, had to play the semi-final without the captain. However, the team managed to raise its game. After scoring 110 all out, the Dronfield batsmen were pinned down by steady bowling and fme fielding and were 90 for 8 at the end. Brumfield was fit in time for the final and with a brisk 31 he steered the team to 116 for 9. The bowling of Brumfield and Thomas was too much for most of the Queen's batsmen, and after C. E. S. Monro had caught Lloyd-Jones for 50, Queen's never looked like reaching the target and so the cup came to the Rise. The Junior House team was less suc,cessful, but put up a good show in their semi-final against Temple. In other sports, M. W. A Poynor was again a member of the Shooting team, J. Neale and R. J. A Temple played for the Tennis teams, and W. A. D. McMaster and P. N Withers rowed in the first two fours, with N. A. J. Brindley and P. S Spencer as the coxes.

During this term it was encouraging to see that many more Risite names appeared in the merit book. At the prize-giving P. N. Withers and M. T. H. Iveson each won two prizes, whilst P. M. Brooker, C. E. S. Monro and R. J. Teale also won a prize.

Finally we wish all the leavers good luck and thank them for all that they have done for the House.

C.F.B.

TEMPLE

This term the attentions of the House were primarily directed towards academic studies, thus leaving little time to spend on sporting activity. At the 'beginning of term we had the appointment of G. D. Gumbrell and J. C. Rounthwaite as House monitors, to ease the burden of duty on the Middle Vlth.

The House has enjoyed unsurpassed success this term in shooting competitions. The House .22 competition and the House Aggregate Cup both fell to us. C. J. Hirst won the Recruit Cup while M. J. W. Dimelow won the Individual Classification championship. S. K. Pattie won the Donegall Badge and our School team for Bisley had five members from the House.

The House fencers were narrowly defeated by Queen's but S. J. Winrow-Campbell won the Slade Sabre Cup and the Junior Epee Cup. Three members of the House have represented York in competitions.

The Senior cricket team fell prey to the skill of Queen's House in the first round but this defeat was by no means a disgrace. 'The Junior team had greater success by beating the Rise in the first round and only going out to Manor after a marathon match in which 379 runs were scored, of which 174 were ours. J. C. Rounthwaite and D. I. Riley both represented the lst XI this term.

The Chess team was narrowly defeated in the final of the Chess competition. The standards of rowing in the House have been maintained with a number of oarsmen representing the School in Colts crews. 63