The Chronicle, No. 669, January 2016

8 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

stop there, as the individual Martyrs clubs are active all year round: Martyrs Hockey are riding high after three back- to-back wins in the Haileybury Sixes; Rugby 7s remain popular, with OSE teams dominant in local tournaments and, further afield, at the Dubai 7s; finally, the resurgent Martyrs Boat Club won the Masters B category at Wallingford Head in November. Keep up to date with their exploits @TeddiesMartyrs. What is your favouriteTeddies sporting moment so far? Andrew: I have three: the 1st XV beating Radley on Upper 1 in 2007 when Joe Jones was Captain. They were very much behind and came back to win – a very exciting and memorable match. Secondly, the netball 1st VII winning away v Cheltenham by just one goal last year after a game which could have gone either way. Teddies took the lead with three minutes left to play and defended like lions against a strong Cheltenham side – it was outstanding sport. And finally, during the Barbados Netball Tour in 2013, the squad and staff visited a rural orphanage. Although initially nervous, the girls soon instigated games of football and tag, and even got some of the children singing. By the end of the morning, everyone had begun to relax in each other’s company and the girls had taught the children a dance routine. Witnessing the power of sport to bring together two very different worlds was an amazing experience. Eve: I have two very different favourite moments: in 2003, my first year at the School, the girls’ IV won at National Schools – out of nowhere. They had been third in their semi-final but went out onto the river for the final, and something extraordinary happened. They beat crews with junior internationals in them – it was wonderful for them and for us. My other favourite moment – with my HM hat on – was Corfe winning House netball last year. It came down to the last game v Oakthorpe and we won by one goal in the very last second. Thrilling.

Will Prew Since I started at Teddies, I have

participated in rugby, rowing, swimming, cross country and athletics; rugby, though, is my great passion. When I think of rugby, the thoughts that come into my mind are about team spirit, support, encouragement, patience and honesty. Also about discipline, focus, success, disappointment and enjoyment. Rugby at Teddies has allowed me to experience all of these. Sport at Teddies has given us all the opportunity to learn about life skills, to practise them and to see them at work. Over these last three seasons, we’ve all known when we should have given more support to each other; when we should have passed the ball, rather than try to be the hero; when we could have won the game if only we had played together as a team. So we’ve learnt a lot. We’ve learnt to support each other, to encourage each other and to be patient when mistakes were made. And by the end of each season we were better players and better individuals for it. Of course it is our coaches we must thank, because it is they who have helped us train hard, improve our skills and enjoy ourselves. Everyone wants to be part of a winning team so winning gave us a sense

of reward and great pride. But when we lost, we knew we had to pick ourselves up and set it right in the next game. Losing did us no harm. If anything, it is what helped us do better next time. So I believe sport at Teddies is more than playing a game; it is about a journey of discovery, a learning curve which has helped us develop many skills, not only in sport but also with our academic work, where I am sure it has helped us to be more organised and more focused. In summary, I feel, it has been another part of our journey along the road to the exciting world which lies ahead of us. Will was previously at Caldicott.

The Steeplechase on Port Meadow