Day 4 – a showcase finish for U13s and awards for stars of the Tour

Tags

Belmont, Portugal Tour, RHS, RHS Rugby, rhs sport, royal hospital school, the royal hospital school

Another glorious day but the boys were treated to a bit of a lie in after the exertions of yesterday.

The U14s had an intense training session with Mr Hardman and Mr Chadwick while the U13s rested in anticipation of two games against fellow touring side Belmont School from North London.

Knowing this would be a tough game, the boys were ready and eager to get stuck in however, a poor start led to Belmont scoring in the first minute to take a 7-0 lead. This seemed to wake RHS up who began to gain a hold of the game with organised and resolute defence forcing Belmont into errors. A lapse in concentration allowed Belmont to score in the first minute of the second half putting RHS in difficult position but some outstanding defence saw our boys work their way up the pitch to result in a try from Toyo Ogunlesi and the score at 12-7. With one play left, RHS had to catch the kick off and return without any mistakes if they were take a result away from this enthralling encounter. And so they did, resulting in a try under the posts from Charlie Miles taking the score to 12-12! A successful kick would win the game but unfortunately it was not to be with the ball hitting the upright. In the end a fair result with Belmont having the majority of the ball.

Following this particularly physical and demanding game, a changed U13 team played the Belmont B side (with the Russian U19 side watching on!). Both teams played well but great endeavour and effort by the RHS boys resulted in a showcase finish 26-10 and a tremendous end to a great tour.

 

 

Belmont School A and B teams and RHS U13s

On our last evening there were awards for some of the stars of the tour. Tom Saunders was nominated the most valuable player and Tom Ponsonby the most improved player. Other prizes included….

TJ as Best Swimmer

 

Marco De Nysschen for the Best Tackle

Alexander Murton as Tour Fashionista

Max Orr for being the Most Demanding

Kuki for being the Best Tourist

Some very tired bodies will attempt to be at breakfast at 7am for an 8am departure to Faro airport as the tour returns home.

Day 3 the sun is shining and some physical rugby for both sides

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Belenenses, Portugal, RHS Rugby, royal hospital school, rugby, the royal hospital school, Vilamoura

We were up early on Sunday for another action-packed day and the weather was glorious – much more of what you would expect here in the Algarve!

The U13s started with a stretching session before preparing for their match against another top Portuguese team, Belenenses, whilst the U14’s worked on patterns of play.

The U13s game was much more evenly matched than yesterdays. RHS took the lead to start with but disappointingly failed to hold onto it despite Marco De Nysschen and Elliot Chilvers coming to the fore. RHS went down 25-10.

An early afternoon kick-off meant that the U14’s not only had to deal with a purportedly physical Portuguese side, CDUL, but also the heat. This may have had a role to play as unfortunately, despite a fantastic game and being 10-5 up at the break, they squandered a number of chances and finished 20-10 down. Tom Saunders and Giles Wilson put in solid performances most notably in defence.

After their games the boys were treated to an ice bath, similar to that sampled by the England team after training sessions to aid their recovery.

Later the group travelled down to the marina at Vilamoura for ice cream, shopping and an ogle at the impressive yachts.

It was back to Browns for dinner and some well-needed Rand R ahead of our penultimate day here in Portugal which sees the U13s play a fellow touring side from North London, Belmont School.

Max is definitely on holiday!

Max is definitely on holiday!

Its raining on Day 2 of the Junior Rugby Tour to Portugal!

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2013, Portugal, RHS, RHS Rugby, rhs sport, royal hospital school, rugby, Tour

With rain the lashing against the windows of our villas we feared the worst as we dodged puddles en route to breakfast! This was not supposed to happen…

Never-the-less the U14’s began the morning with a light session on the 3G pitch shared with the Russian U19 squad, while the U13’s enjoyed a pool session. As the rain began to subside, the sun shone on the glorious pitch here at Browns.

U13s prepare to meet GD Direito

Our opponents today were GD Direito and we were soon to learn that they are the top club side here in Portugal, being able to draw players from in and around Lisbon.

 

Warm up

The U13’s made a valiant performance but were put to the sword by a very competent team display losing out 40-0. There were good performances by Hayden Craft, Max Orr and Kuki Daunakamakama. The boys were clearly disappointed by the result but learnt very quickly what tour rugby is all about.

U13s discuss tactics

After a quick turn around, the U14’s were up next and having seen their mates struggle they were keen to make amends. And so they did. A strong start led to a well-worked try for Elliot Rayment and a close first half saw the teams go in with RHS 14-10 up. The second half saw RHS exert their dominance with some typically physical play and in the end ran out 36-10 winners.  There were some very encouraging performances from Harry Pugh, Charlie Miles and Tom Saunders.

U14s defending the line

Choir commended at Service for Seafarers, St Paul’s Cathedral

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choir, Music, RHS, RHS Music, royal hospital school, seafarers service, St Pauls, the royal hospital school

One of the highlights this week was our Choir’s performance at the Annual National Service for Seafarers at St Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday 16 October. They sang magnificently, Head of School, Elizabeth Blackett, spoke eloquently and our flag party were commented upon as being outstanding.

The choristers joined the combine choirs of the Royal Hospital School, Pangbourne, Bearwood College, The Royal School and The London Nautical School in the Chancel of St Paul’s Cathedral.

After the service, RHS pupil Tapashya Sunuwar received a highly coveted music bursary from Mr Adam Gosling on behalf of the Gosling Foundation and other donors to the Annual National Service for Seafarer’s.

Thirteen pupils’ artwork on display at Anna Airy Award Exhibition 2013

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anna airy award 2013, art at rhs, art at the royal hospital school, RHS, success, the royal hospital school

Thirteen art students from the Royal Hospital School had their work accepted to be shown at the Anna Airy Awards 2013 exhibition at UCS in Ipswich. Two A Level students, Oliver Ainsworth and Summer Oliver, were also awarded Certificates of Commendation for their work.

The Anna Airy Award Fund was set up in 1965 in memory of Anna Airy, one of the most distinguished painters of her generation. She was appointed as an official war artisit in the First World War and was president of the Ipswich Art Club (now the Ipswich Art Society) for 19 years. Her work has also been represented in many major national collections.

She was also a brilliant and inspirational teacher and always included a ‘student section’ in the Art Club’s Annual Open Exhibitions. The Society has continued this tradition to ensure that budding young artists have a chance to exhibit their work to the public.

The Story of Summer’s picture:

Summer Oliver receiving her Certificate of Commendation

Summer studied the magical infra-red photography of Sir Simon Mardsen and Victorian ghost photography during her A2 course and decided that she wanted to try her hand at combining the two techniques. Having gained permission from the owner of Crowe Hall in Stutton, a photo shoot was organised at the majestic historic house with a model dressed in a thin white dress. A grey day was chosen when the clouds would be most interesting and the light would be low; it also snowed on the day but that did not hamper Summer’s determination to get the shot.

Summer used exposure times of up to 10 minutes, the model moved from one location to another while the camera was recording the image and a hand-held flashgun provided extra light. The end result was a ghostly woman in white on the lawn of a grand gothic hall, which was then put in an aged frame that looked like it had existed for over a century.

Oliver Ainsworth’s Pottery

Alongside the success of Oliver and Summer, Yin Mak has had an offer for the purchase of her ceramic work. Congratulations to all of those who’s work was chosen to be on display.

Oliver Ainsworth	Former Nelson
Amy Arana-Wade	Nelson (Hood)
Kitty Corbett	Nelson (Hood)
Jessica Edney	Nelson (Cornwallis)
Rhiannon Hall	Former Nelson
Natasha Jones	Nelson (Cornwallis)
Megan Langford	Nelson (Cornwallis)
Yin Mak	Former Nelson
Seb Matthewson	Nelson (Collingwood)
Jenny Myatt	Former Nelson
Summer Oliver	Former Nelson
Simon Pape	Former Nelson
Katie Taylor	Nelson (Hood)

Captain Inga Kennedy Re-opens Anson as a Girls Boarding House

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Anson House, barding houses, Captain Inga Kennedy, Captain Kennedy, Cornwallis House, girls boarding house, RHS, the royal hospital school

At the end of this half-term, the Royal Hospital School warmly welcomed Captain Inga Kennedy, QHNS, QARNNS, as the Guest of Honour to re-open Anson House as a girls boarding house and as inspecting officer at Divisions.

The girls of Cornwallis House moved to the newly refurbished Anson House in September this year which means that all the girls boarding accommodation is now of the highest standard. Anson House has superb social areas, tasteful interior design masterminded by the Housemistress, Jacomien du Toit, and all the facilities the girls need to provide for their individual needs. Some of the girls may still refer to themselves as ‘Wallis girls’ but they are all enjoying their new ‘home from home’.

Captain Inga Kennedy is one of the most senior female officers in the Royal Navy. She has been the Head of the Naval Nursing Service and Matron-in-Chief of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service (QARNNS) since 2011.

Captain Kennedy worked in the NHS as a nurse from 1980 to 2000 when she joined the Regular QARNNS. She had also been a member of the Royal Naval Reserve since 1987 and took a two year Full-time Reserve Service as the Senior Midwife in the Royal Naval Hospital, Gibraltar. Over the past 12 years Captain Kennedy has worked  in a variety of areas within the QARNNS including: Primary Care, Education, Manpower Management and Healthcare Assurance; as well as Matron of the 100-bed Primary Casualty Receiving facility on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship, Argus.

Today Captain Kennedy works in the Naval Command Headquarters where she performs many roles. Her primary role is as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff Healthcare Assurance; where she is responsible for assessing compliance across the Service healthcare capabilities, ashore and afloat, against standards set by the Surgeon General. Her other duties include: providing support and advice to the Naval Secretary (Chief of Staff (Personnel)), Medical Director general (Navy) and the Head of the Royal Naval Medical Service.

Show Jumping Success for Tribe Sisters

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RHS, rhs equestrian centre, rhs equestrian success, rhs equestrian team, school equestrian centre, success, the royal hospital school, topthorn equestrian centre

New Equestrian Team Captain, Chloe Tribe (Year 12), won first place in the 80cm Novice Class and 2^nd in the 90cm Intermediate Class at the NSEA (National Schools Equestrian Association) Regional Points League for the East of England at Topthorn Equestrian Centre while her younger sister, Eliza (Year 7), was placed 2^nd in the 70cm Grass Roots qualifier.

Congratulations to both girls on their fantastic results.

Chloe (left) & Eliza Tribe (right) with their prized rosettes

2500 Visitors at the Royal Hospital School for XCO Trials

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cross country running, RHS, rhs cross country running, Suffolk Cross Country Area Trials, the royal hospital school

On Thursday 17 October the Royal Hospital School hosted the Suffolk Cross Country Area Trials. This annual event takes place in the School’s 200 acres of grounds overlooking the River Stour. This year there were over 1900 runners from schools throughout the county and a total of 2500 visitors including spectators, parents and staff.

The Royal Hospital School had over 90 runners taking part and 30 finished in the top 50 of their respective races qualifying for the next round.

Top Performing Pupils from RHS:

Charlie Steptoe	Yr 11 Collingwood	Inter Boys	9th
Helena Carter	Yr 10 Hood	Inter Girls	23rd
Gwen Ludlow	Yr 13 Nelson	Senior Girls	13th
Felicity Slatter	Yr 13 Nelson	Senior Girls	14th
Sean Cuddihy	Yr 12 Collingwood	Senior Boys	8th
Serena Brown	Yr 9 Howe	Junior Girls	15th
Kierran Farrer	Yr 9 Hawke	Junior Boys	17th
Tom Brown	Yr 8 Blake	Junior Boys	18th
Joe Carless	Yr 7 Drake	Minor Boys	27th

We’ve Arrived!

Tags

Portugal, RHS, rhs sport, royal hospital school, rugby, the royal hospital school, Tour

Having endured an early start the journey was hassle free as we arrived at lunch time.

We’ve Arrived!

The boys were shown around the Browns sports complex. The facilities are of the highest quality and have seen the England, Irish and Australian rugby union squads undertake training camps here in recent years. Having settled in and eaten we took a quick taxi trip to the beach for some light training. The boys had a recovery session which consisted of some time in the sea.

We returned for some R and R before having a hearty meal. The boys then settled in to watch the Saracens Toulouse match – but many failed to see the end as they fell asleep after a long day!

Tomorrow sees the tour start in earnest with both teams playing local sides.