Autumn Term 2021: Season Reports

Autumn Term 2021

End of Season Sports Review

Thank you for everything you have done to make this term such a success. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as we have.

As we all prepare for what will hopefully be a great Christmas spent with family and friends, I thought this would be a great opportunity to look back at this hugely successful season.

Over the next few pages, you will hear from the Captain of each sport as they summarise everything that has happened across their programme – after an action-packed term it’s a near-impossible task, but hopefully enough to give you a taste of what has been happening!

As ever, a full breakdown of results is available in SOCS, where you will also be able to access match reports for every fixture played this season.

We are delighted to award Colours and Commendations to many pupils for their outstanding performances and contributions to their sport, the details of which are included in this booklet.

Success in sport is not based solely on performance. We want to ensure that rewards are extended beyond those who excel in sport, and this year sees the introduction of Uppingham Attitude Awards. These awards recognise those who have consistently demonstrated our high-performance behaviours, regardless of the team they feature in, or how much they play.

A prime example of this would be Tom Castle (U5 LH), who has been part of the coaching setup for rugby. Tom lives each tackle, guiding the U16B rugby team to achieve their first victory at the school, while demonstrating behaviours such as altruism, commitment and bravery.

Willa Grieve (U5 Sa) is also an excellent example, demonstrating a positive and cheerful attitude both on and off the hockey pitch. Her levels of dedication and the hard work she puts into improving her skills is commendable and is truly deserving of recognition.

A full list of this term’s Attitude Award recipients is available later in this booklet.

We are all looking forward to another term of sport after a much-deserved break. On behalf of the Uppingham Sport Department, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hogmanay!

Nick De Luca Director of Sport

Off to a great start!

Jemma Jackson (C) Captain of Girls’ Hockey, Antonia Dilkes (NH), Kate Ewbank (J), Mr Baker, team coaches and players

After a year without any fixtures, the girls were raring to go into this season’s hockey programme and excited about the term ahead. This was demonstrated by the highest number of girls playing hockey that we’ve ever had! The focus of the season has been based on our core values of Enjoyment, Confidence and Respect, as well as getting plenty of time on the pitch. It has been fantastic to see so many players striving to be the best they can be, both in training and in matches.

The 1st XI has had one of their best seasons to date and with one game left to play, they have scored 58 goals whilst only conceding 24, including nine wins over tough competitors including Repton 2nd XI, Oundle, Rugby, and Stamford. They kicked off the season with a thrilling 5-3 win over Denstone; the determination and grit shown by the team set the tone for the rest of their season. In fact, the 1st XI had plenty to shout about this term. There have been several new faces in the team, including girls playing two years up. The Upper Fifth girls who were selected to make their debut for the 1st XI team stepped up to the challenge brilliantly, showing enthusiasm, bravery, and composure. Credit is also due to the team’s defence, who have needed to be on top of their game to take on the high level of competition in the league and cup games. There were stand out performances from Imogen Wheeler (Fd) and Isabella Wakeford (Sa), who proved to be a solid and reliable centre back pairing. There were also excellent finishes from the attackers, including Kelly Smit’s (C) contender for ‘goal-of-the-season’ with an epic dive across the goal to give the 1st XI girls their first win against Repton in at least ten years! We must not forget to mention Lauren Shaw (Sa), without whom this season would have been a different story – her saves secured us several of the winning score lines.

The highlight of the season was undoubtedly the terrific win over Repton 2nd XI. Although at half-time, we were down 2-0 with the opposition dominating the game, with some hard pressing and determination, we managed to bring it back and secure the win. We must not forget to mention our progression in the National Cup. We began the Cup against Stephen Perse Foundation where, despite torrential rain, the 1st XI dominated the pitch, coming out with a 12-1 win. Another win against The Leys took us into the third round where we came headto-head with Oundle. Driven by tremendous support on the side lines, the girls went into the game with great character and grit and secured a 3-2 win after an intense 70 minutes of hockey. Coming into the fourth round, we knew it was going to be a tough match against an unbeaten Haileybury side. After a hardfought game, it wasn’t to be; we just missed out as a goal in the second half gave Haileybury the win.

Despite exiting the cup, the girls should be incredibly proud of their season. As it stands, the 1st XI are still competing to finish top of the ISHL (Independent Schools Hockey League). It has been a very special season, after time away from the game, and they have undoubtedly grown in confidence, playing slick, fastflowing ‘liquid’ hockey, and gaining the respect of their peers and the School community. Special credit must go to the captain, Jemma Jackson (C), who has led by example, both on and off the pitch. Her dedication and commitment to hockey has been exemplary and her fiercely competitive nature has driven the team throughout the season.

However, it’s not just the 1st team who have had a brilliant season – throughout the whole hockey programme there have been numerous success stories.

The 2nd XI made it through to the Midlands finals as well as having well-fought wins over Repton, Stowe, and Trent. The 3rd XI had an incredible unbeaten season up until their last match, indicating the strength across all senior girls’ teams. The mighty 4th XI won six out of their nine matches and have shown great team spirit throughout the season. The 5th XI showed fantastic camaraderie and had competitive matches against Oakham, Oundle and Rugby. Since half term, the U16As have also had an unbeaten streak which has taken them through to the fourth round of the National Plate, a fantastic achievement and showing that the future is bright for Uppingham Hockey. The U16Bs have also had a very strong season, with a healthy goal difference of +22, with the attack firing on all cylinders. The U15As have shown strong performances against Trent, Denstone and Leicester Grammar School. The U15Bs have had many focuses each week, for example looking up when in possession of the ball, putting in 100% effort, strong passes, showing sportsmanship, the ‘W’ formation and getting into space. The U15Cs have worked tirelessly and always approached training and matches in the right manner. The U14s had a challenging start to the season due to illness and COVID, but the U14As have gone from strength to strength since having the full squad back in training, which was demonstrated in impressive team performances against Trent, Stowe, Oundle and Rugby. The U14Bs have developed a fighting team spirit, with several wins due to their strong defence, creative play and resilience. The U14Cs have made good progress throughout the season, working hard on their technical and tactical play, with a few of the girls joining the U14B team.

This season girls’ hockey has dominated the headlines every Monday morning in Chapel, which highlights the exciting prospects for sport at Uppingham. It has been a brilliant season for girls’ hockey – all the squads have shown great team spirit and we hope their achievements will inspire girls’ sport at Uppingham in the coming years. Finally, we would like to thank Mr Baker for his endless support and devotion towards the girls’ hockey programme, which has enabled it to thrive this season.

Oliver Arnold (Fgh) Captain of Rugby

It has been almost two years since the Uppingham XV graced the Leicester 1 pitch, and with a new Director of Rugby in Dr Andrew Hall, a pre-season training trip to North Wales felt like the ideal preparation for the coming season. During the trip, not only were memories made, old friendships renewed and new ones formed, but during these few days we sat down as a group and collectively decided on both the brand of rugby we wanted to play and the types of behaviours we hoped to embody and spread throughout the programme. Our vision – to play a lightning-quick brand of rugby whilst also demonstrating exemplary levels of resilience, accountability and inclusivity.

Following our brief, sunny trip to Wales (and up Snowdonia), the squad headed back to Uppingham, excited about the challenging fixture list the season presented. As if the 16 months without rugby had never existed, the School threw itself into the new programme with an excited buzz and very soon all the boys were back playing fixtures. Amid the constant wave of block fixtures, cup fixtures were also soon taking place mid-week, with the U15s getting through to the fourth round and the U14s still in the competition; the quarter finals will take place in the new year.

Throughout the season there have been plenty of noteworthy performances. These include the U15As winning a tight game against Stowe by just two points, the U16B team coming back from 26-0 down and the U14As beating a strong Warwick side, in what was just their second game together as a year group. A special mention must also be given to the 1st XV, who managed to retain the Silver Boot for the fourth consecutive year. They won a tight match against local rivals, Oundle, 19-7. Although the match was played during Storm Arwen, it failed to dampen the enthusiasm of a passionate Uppingham crowd. The U16A team also deserve huge plaudits, as they have rallied each week, relentless in their pursuit of improvement, creating a wonderful environment and legacy.

Outside of the School, the Uppingham rugby programme has continued to impress, with numerous boys throughout the School representing Northampton Saints, Wasps and Leicester Tigers across various age groups, and three members of the first team squad making appearances for Leicestershire U18s. We hope this trend continues to grow, demonstrating the strength of our programme and showing that rugby at Uppingham is in very capable hands for the future.

All in all, the Uppingham rugby season of 2021 has been one of success. The friendships and memories formed, as they were once again able to take the field together, are ones the boys will remember for a long time. Our thanks from the player body must go to Dr Hall for his expertise and enthusiasm to enhance rugby at Uppingham and take it on to the next chapter in its exciting development.

Nuar Phoorimeti (F) Boys’ Captain, Esther Mok (Sa) Girls’ Captain and Mr Dawes

Six days a week, without fail, there have been record numbers of committed badminton players swarming to the USSC. Under the expert eye of the staff and Mr Barron, our coach, we have all enjoyed progressing and becoming better players.

It has been wonderful to see so many juniors in the Lower Fifth working hard on their skills before they move into senior ranks next year. It is also wonderful to see so many pupils choosing to play badminton in their free time in the evenings and on Sundays.

The teams have had a successful term. In the East Midlands Independent School league, our Senior mixed first VI have been locked into an epic battle with Oundle for the title, losing out on top spot by only four games over the whole term. Our strength in depth, however, is in no doubt as our Senior mixed second VI have won their league comfortably, including home and away victories over Oundle. Esther Mok (Sa) has been leading from the front and has won 30 out of 36 games and Jessica Chen (NH) has won 32 out of 35. Despite being a newcomer to badminton this term, Talina Schwahlen (L) has made an impressive debut for the School team in winning 9 out of 10 games. Simon He (LH) has also enjoyed much success in his debut year in senior ranks, winning 28 from 32 games.

The senior boys have come up against some incredibly tough opposition this term, particularly against the badminton powerhouse that is Bromsgrove. Nevertheless, despite some defeats, opposition coaches have commended our boys for their effort and fighting spirit, as well as fair play. The senior boys’ second VI have fared better than the first VI and have beaten Bedford in reverse fixtures. The senior girls’ first VI fell short against Bromsgrove but defeated Stowe in handsome fashion.

The juniors enjoyed some high-quality friendly matches, losing 7-11 to Bromsgrove but brushing Stowe aside 8-1. Ryan Chan (WD), Marvin Zhang (SH) and Boaz Chan (LH) have all made impressive debuts for the School teams and we look forward to their development as seniors in future years.

This has been a hectic autumn term, with more than 110 pupils playing badminton at least three times a week and with many team fixtures. Badminton continues next term for seniors with an equally packed fixture list and we look forward to seeing all our players develop their skills and continue to enjoy their time on court.

Archie Tweed (F) Captain of Cross Country

This term, cross country has gone fantastically well. We have battled the heat at the beginning of term and the cold in recent weeks, as well as everything in between! All 68 pupils doing cross country have kept smiling despite the fatigue or stitches and pushed through from the first mile to the last.

Normally, we don’t have any races this term; we have the excitement of those to look forward to in the spring term. However, this year we put forward Senior Boys’, Inter Boys’ and Inter Girls’ teams into the regionals race near Sheffield after half term, and we were delighted that the Senior Boys’ team made it through to the Cross Country Cup National Finals in Newquay. The National race was a speedy five kilometres around hilly Cornish fields, which really taught us a lot. The howling winds, torrential rain and stinging hail made it a really interesting race, and all six boys finished, caked in mud, but thrilled with their achievements. Unfortunately, this year an Uppingham victory was not to be, but all the boys put in a tremendous effort.

This term, some brave runners have been strapping on their head torches and participating in running club twice a week, and a few of those runners entered a 5k night run in Leicester. The event was great fun and everyone ran well; it certainly proved that there is a lot of hope for the season ahead. Perhaps the biggest achievement from cross country this term is that everyone has clearly improved, some by more than 30 seconds a mile which is seriously impressive! So, we look back on the last 12 weeks, marvelling at the achievements everyone has made, from the slowest person to the fastest, and hope that the next term is as successful as the last.

Fives

Sam Timpson (LH) Captain of Fives and Mr Holroyd

Eton Fives is one of the most traditional public school sports. In fact, Uppingham boasted the second greatest number of courts behind Eton themselves back in the 19th century. Today, we have four ‘Constable’ courts and two courts still attached to Brooklands. Fives is always played in pairs and the beauty of the sport is that there is no referee, and so the game is managed by the players themselves. It is a game of etiquette.

This term, Uppingham has hosted several Fives fixtures, notably against Oakham, Stamford, Shrewsbury, and The Jesters. Earlier in the term, Uppingham won back the ‘Challenge Cup’ from Oakham; a trophy that is contested each time this fixture is played. Yet, regardless of results, it has been especially pleasing to see so many new faces on court enjoying the game. With most of the School team consisting of Fourth Form players, it offers some exciting prospects for the coming years.

Uppingham’s great Victorian Headmaster, Edward Thring (whose bicentenary this year is marked with an exhibition in the Kendall Room) was a great advocate of the game, writing a ‘Fives’ song. Next term, we will be hosting ‘The Thring Trophy’ which is designed to engage new players from schools across the Midlands. This will provide excellent practice before we head down to the Nationals at Eton in March.

Shooting

Alastair White (SH) Captain of Shooting

The shooting team has had a busy term, with seven new senior members and a whole new pack of 16 Lower Fifth shooters. The shooting programme is in rude health, with pupils producing tremendous scores whilst having fun and enjoying the time spent in the range.

Some noteworthy achievements include winning the Elmington Trophy against Oundle and Oakham for another year! In the NLRTSA Junior County Championships, the current captain, Alastair White (SH), came third overall. Over the summer (having been cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19) Alastair and Mr Gladding, together with Mr Reeves from Oakham School, attended the Imperial Competition at Bisley. This proved to be a challenging but very valuable experience, shooting from distances of 300, 500, 600, 900 and 1000 metres against some of the world’s best target shooters.

All members of the senior and junior teams who shoot in a jacket and sling were entered into postal competitions this term. A postal competition is where the competitors shoot a ’10 bull card’ and send it off to be scored professionally. After spending the whole of last term on full bore, we have had to spend time transitioning back to small bore in the School range, and now everyone is on target to reach their goals and average highly in these competitions.

Each year we have the opportunity to take part in trials for the County team. This term we were delighted to have four successful candidates; Ethan Cousins (SH), Ivan Pulich (SH), Jeremy Tsai (Fgh) and Alastair White. From the junior team, a real stand-out performer has shone brightly – Austin Philpot (M), who has averaged an impressive 90+ on his competition cards.

Shooting is also part of the co-curricular programme, offering the opportunity for the Fourth Form (and any other committed shooter) to shoot on Wednesdays at 5.30pm. Over the course of the term a total of 54 pupils have come along and tried out the sport, achieving some exceptionally high scores. Some of the Fourth Form are turning out to be very promising shots and we hope to see them continue the sport in the future.

Looking forward to next term, following the generous financial donation from the UVRC (Uppingham Veteran Rifle Club) we have ordered some custom shooting jackets made to Uppingham’s colours . We look forward to wearing these jackets, as we shoot side-by-side next term in home and away fixtures for the first time since February 2020. In the latter half of the term we are looking forward to hosting the annual UVRC vs Uppingham School team competition, which is followed by a dinner in the Kendall Room. At the end of the term, we will be taking a small group to Bisley for a full-bore Easter training camp ahead of the summer, where we will be shooting up to 900 meters.

Finally, we would like to congratulate Meadhurst for winning the boys’ shooting at the Celebration of Sport and Constables for winning the girls’ competition.

Boys’ Squash

Samuel Ferson (LH) Captain of Boys’ Squash

It was disappointing, though inevitable, that all the boys’ squash teams’ fixtures were cancelled last year, because we had arguably the strongest squad of players in the School that we have seen in a long time.

Despite a slightly shaky start in our matches this term, both the 1st and 2nd V teams have really developed over the past couple of months and the improvements in ability have been clear to see. This has been exciting to witness and is a direct result of the hard work that the players have put in.

Both teams have recorded the same results, although against different opposition: played 12, won 4 and lost 8. The 1st V have beaten Bedford and Rugby, both in the USSC and away. The 2nd V have been more successful at home, winning their matches against Bedford, Stowe and Stamford, and beating Rugby away in the final fixture of the term. These results don’t fully reflect the hard graft and dedication that the players have put into bettering themselves in the training sessions, and it is in the 2nd V, in particular, that we have seen the biggest improvements in technique and fitness on court.

From a squad of just 23 boys, 18 pupils have had the opportunity to represent the School in one or more matches. We are indebted to the invaluable twice-weekly coaching sessions that the pupils receive from Daniel McGinn, the School’s visiting squash professional, who has been instrumental in over-seeing the pupils’ development as squash players.

Girls’ Squash

Ella Beighton (J) Captain of Girls’ Squash

The girls’ squash team prides itself on creating a competitive, fun and friendly environment. With players ranging from Upper Fifth to Upper Sixth and with varying degrees of experience there are inevitably some issues with confidence. However, Mr McGinn, our squash professional, and Mr Surtees have skilfully guided the players, who are now playing some great rallies and points, and continue to improve with every session. Mr McGinn in particular has been a huge inspiration; he hosts drills that include everyone and never hesitates to come on court to offer help and correct any errors.

This year saw four pupils play in a fixture against Oundle. Whilst this was challenging, the pupils supported each other throughout and put in a good performance. Sophie Tarbatt (J) hit some neat drop shots after sending her opponent to the back of the court, which led to many successful points, whilst Grace Beighton (J) utilised the walls to deceive her adversary, winning her match.

Not only have we learned to become better at Squash, but the game has taught us how to be aggressive when needed, increase our confidence and understand how to strategize and play ‘smartly’. It’s fair to say that everyone has loved squash this term.

Swimming

Natalie Chu (C) Captain of Swimming

Over the past term, the swim squad has had some terrific individual successes, with pupils posting new PBs across events. Although it has been a more challenging season for the team, we still managed bring our best to every fixture.

A highlight of the season was the Swimathon, where the boys’ (Albert Tanner (WB), Kit Moore (F), William Fairfax (B), William McChesney (LH) and Oscar Fenby (LH)) and girls’ teams (Natalie Chu (C), India Cranwell (C), Molly Williams (NH) and Anouk Salomons (NH)) raised more than £500 for Cancer Research and the Marie Curie Foundation.

Our team spirit remains undaunted, and we aim to keep improving as we work towards success at the Nationals next term. Well done team!

Name

House Year Group

Sport Information

Selina Bilgen Johnson’s L5th Badminton Commendation

Boaz Chan Lorne House L5th Badminton Commendation

Ryan Chan West Deyne L5th Badminton Commendation

Jessica Chen New House L6th Badminton Commendation

Amy Dai New House U6th Badminton Commendation

Una Ding Johnson’s U5th Badminton Commendation

Mengting Dong Samworths’ U6th Badminton Commendation

Simon He Lorne House U5th Badminton Commendation

Timmy Kaensaksiri West Bank L5th Badminton Commendation

Julie Kwok Samworths’ U5th Badminton Commendation

Elliot Leong Farleigh L6th Badminton Commendation

Esther Mok Samworths’ U6th Badminton Colours

Nuar Phoorimeti Fircroft U6th Badminton Colours

Talina Schwahlen The Lodge L6th Badminton Commendation

Charles Taylor Fircroft U6th Badminton Commendation

Maku Tianzhong Farleigh L6th Badminton Commendation

Thaddeus Waldburg West Bank L5th Badminton Commendation

Marvin Zhang School House L5th Badminton Commendation

Holly Bateman Constables 4th Hockey Commendation

Emily Beaumont Fairfield L5th Hockey Commendation

Isabella Best Samworths’ U5th Hockey Commendation

Lydia Bulwer Long Fairfield L5th Hockey Commendation

Alexandra Braid Constables 4th Hockey Commendation

Antonia Dilkes New House U6th Hockey Colours

Kate Ewbank Johnson’s U6th Hockey Colours

Fiona Ginger Fairfield U5th Hockey Commendation

Matilda Halford New House L5th Hockey Commendation

Evie Hemming New House U5th Hockey Commendation

Katie Henderson Samworths’ U5th Hockey Commendation

Jemma Jackson Constables U6th Hockey Colours

Mwisiwa Kagwanja New House L5th Hockey Commendation

Tallulah Lascelles Johnson’s U5th Hockey Commendation

Leonora Parr Fairfield 4th Hockey Commendation

Lauren Shaw Samworths’ U6th Hockey Colours

Kelly Smit Constables L6th Hockey Commendation

Isabella Wakeford Samworths’ L6th Hockey Commendation

Imogen Wheeler Fairfield U6th Hockey Colours

Saskia Williams The Lodge L6th Hockey Commendation

First Name House Year Group Sport Information

Harry Alderson School House U6th Rugby Commendation

Edward Alston School House L5th Rugby Commendation

Oliver Arnold Farleigh U6th Rugby Colours - Captain

Ned Caton Brooklands L5th Rugby Commendation

Jack Leggate Farleigh U6th Rugby Colours

Freddie Ling West Deyne U5th Rugby Commendation

William Macdonald Fircroft 4th Rugby Commendation

Fergus Makepeace Meadhurst U6th Rugby Colours

Louis Nichols West Deyne U5th Rugby Commendation

Harry Parker Highfield L5th Rugby Commendation

Freddie Read Meadhurst U6th Rugby Commendation

Heinrich Stander West Bank U6th Rugby Commendation

Harry Wood Meadhurst 4th Rugby Commendation

Samuel Ferson Lorne House U6th Squash Colours

Freddie Lagesse Highfield U6th Squash Commendation

Gabriel Rudman West Deyne L6th Squash Commendation

Andrey Smirnov Lorne House U6th Squash Commendation

Michael Wettasinghe School House U6th Squash Commendation

Natalie Chu Constables U6th Swimming Colours

Attitude Awards

Name House Year Group Sport

Ryan Chan West Deyne L5th Badminton

Esther Mok Samworths’ U6th Badminton

Frederick Bidwell Meadhurst U5th Cross Country

Arush Buchake School House U5th Cross Country

Oliver Clements Highfield U5th Cross Country

James Lilley Lorne House U5th Cross Country

Angus Maloney Highfield U5th Cross Country

Archie Tweed Fircroft U6th Cross Country Henry Woolfenden Highfield U5th Cross Country

Isabella Best Samworths’ U5th Hockey

Emily Bird New House 4th Hockey

Alexandra Braid Constables 4th Hockey

Alice Clark Constables L6th Hockey

Willa Grieve Samworths’ U5th Hockey

Tallulah Lascelles Johnson’s U5th Hockey

Katherine Leahy Samworths’ U6th Hockey

Poppy Maunder Taylor Johnson’s 4th Hockey

Leonora Parr Fairfield 4th Hockey

Amelia Paul Samworths’ 4th Hockey

Alice Trent Fairfield 4th Hockey

Sophie Webster Samworths’ 4th Hockey

Oliver Bird Farleigh 4th Rugby

Tom Castle Lorne House L5th Rugby

Freddie Fish West Deyne L5th Rugby

Johnny Gretton Meadhurst 4th Rugby

Walter Grieve West Bank 4th Rugby

Humphrey Hinchcliffe Farleigh 4th Rugby

Max Holroyd Lorne House 4th Rugby

Charlie Howard Vyse Fircroft 4th Rugby

Harry James-Bull Highfield 4th Rugby

Nikolaos Leonidis Farleigh 4th Rugby

Charlie Lightowler Highfield L5th Rugby

Willoughby May Meadhurst L5th Rugby

Harry Parker Highfield L5th Rugby

Satnam Singh Farleigh 4th Rugby

Ted Stothard Highfield L5th Rugby

Jiaxin Shen Constables U5th Shooting

Nathan Choi School House U5th Swimming

Natalie Chu Constables U6th Swimming

Uppingham School Uppingham Rutland LE15 9QE United Kingdom +44 (0)1572 822216 www.uppingham.co.uk

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