The Chronicle, No. 668, September 2015

22 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Athletics By Becky Bowyer, Head of Athletics

The athletics season began with a series of relay events. At the Achilles Relays, in a field of over 30 schools, our senior girls’ 4x100m and inter boys’ 4x200m teams both qualified for the finals. For the third time at this event, the girls came away with a bronze medal. Our inter boys set a new school record in a superb race which earned them bronze behind Harrow and Millfield. It was quite a year of new school records: Freddie Boyce ( Ryde Academy ) set a new record in shot put at Harrow, Brume Otubu ( British International, Lagos ) in the 200m at Cheltenham, Dan Brady ( The Warriner ) in long jump at the County Championships, and, at Marlborough, Storm Sunderland ( Winchester House ) in the 800m and 1500m, Clemmie Montgomerie ( Beaudesert Park ) in the 200m, Georgie Blanchard ( Headington Prep ) in the javelin, Kendall MacDonald ( The Royal Masonic School for Girls ) in the long jump and Brandi Akpobome ( Day Waterman College ) in the shot and discus. After much success at the City Schools where our junior and inter boys’ teams retained their position as City Champions,

15 of our athletes went on to compete in the Oxfordshire County Championships. The Teddies athletes collected four bronze, five silver and five gold medals. This year our County Champions are Max Liddy, hurdles (Dragon) , Fergus Flory, 800m ( Pilgrims’ ), Misha Kirillov, shot ( Elstree ), TJ Robinson, triple jump ( The Royal Hospital ), and George Henry, long jump ( Farleigh ). The highlight of this successful season undoubtedly came at the Radley Multi- Events where, after completing a sprint, jump, throw and 800m, our teams won medals in every category. The frequency of the Teddies name being announced in gold, silver or bronze position made us all very proud. Individual medals were won by Misha Kirillov (junior bronze), Max Liddy (junior silver), Alfie Armitage-Hookes (inter bronze, Dulwich College ), Vincent Moisy (senior bronze, Dragon ) and George Henry (senior silver). Team medals were also won in every age group with the inter team finishing with bronze, juniors with silver and – the triumph of the season – our senior boys winning gold ahead of Harrow and 10 other schools. A

thoroughly deserved reward for the efforts these boys have shown in training all season: determination, speed and strength certainly translated into all-round team success. Athletics is firstly about personal performance; setting a goal and then working hard on the track in order to achieve it. The new school records and numerous personal bests achieved alongside medals this season are testimony to the dedication our athletes show in training. Athletics training may not always be considered the most enjoyable; relentless running in straight lines and around bends is probably not everyone’s idea of fun, but the athletics team has a strong team spirit. They motivate, support and push each other to be better, faster and stronger, and the camaraderie between boys and girls of all ages is unique to this committed and determined young team. To the athletes and the coaches: thank you for your efforts in training and at fixtures; your company and hard work has made the season an enjoyable and incredibly successful one for all.

Victor Chainey

Above, James Bunce ( Elstree ); top right, James Chainey ( Swanbourne House ); and below right, Izzy Rayner (St George’s,Windsor ), Storm Sunderland ( Winchester House ) and Clemmie Montgomerie ( Beaudesert Park )