Shiplake College rowers compete for GB Selection

Shiplake College’s Senior Rowing Squad was inspired to train hard during the pupils’   half-term holiday. Not only is the Schools’ Head approaching on their Competitions Calendar, with Thursday 7^th March heavily penciled in, but six boys also had the additional incentive of GB Rowing Trials.

Daniel Barrett, Michael Glover, Max Hearnden, Marek Lapham, Dominic Parnell and Harry Vardigans comprised an optimistic Shiplake contingent heading for the bitterly cold waters hosting the GB Rowing Trials in Boston, Lincolnshire.

On the Saturday the top pair from Shiplake was Vardigans and Lapham as they finished 8^th out of 44 boats over the 5km course. Glover and Lapham were not far behind finishing 14^th.

The Sunday of the trials always provides a test as the boys change partners and quickly have to form an alliance with a rower from another school. Results were not quite as successful as Saturday with Lapham producing the best result coming in 20^th.With most of the Shiplake oarsmen finishing in the twenties they will still hope for an invite to the next test in the GB selection process, the Spring Assessment.

Happy Half Term!

Wishing you all a very happy half term; please strike a sensible balance between work, rest and play!

College House Cupids

 

 

George Davis and Charlie Foster donned cupid outfits to assist with the distribution of Valentines Day, heart-shaped shortbread. The idea was that of Jo Unsworth and Daisy Gresswell who are raising money for sports charities, ahead of their attempt on the London Marathon. Love was certainly in the air!

Sixth Form Talks

Year 13 pupils have listened to two very important talks in the last few weeks; one about driving , the other about student finance. Members of Oxfordshire fire service spoke to all the Sixth Form about road safety and driving. Graphic descriptions and some very disturbing scenes brought home the reality of how vulnerable we are on the roads.

A week later they were focusing their attention on finance, budgeting and managing their money. Tasks they were required to engage in included prioritising expenses and realising how easily and quickly monthly allowances are eaten into.

Barcelona

Over the Exeat, sixteen Year 13 Travel and Tourism students accompanied Mr Seccombe and Mrs Higgins on a trip to the sunnier climbs of Spain. The pupils had planned and booked the trip as part of their course. Visits to the home of Barcelona FC, the Olympic stadium, Las Ramblas and the Sagrada Familia contributed to a very successful trip.

Hotdogs and beer (or wine)

This Friday night saw another "Hotdog and Beer" night in College House. Girls from Gilson House joined us for an informal get together.

Charity

Over £16,000 was raised by pupils and staff in our sponsored walk. A quarter of that money was donated to our African Expedition Society, to be used to help the schools that they look after in Kenya. Here George MacPhee hands over a cheque to Sally and Marcel Wagner.

Sunday Trips

We are trying to offer a wider range of activities to boarders on Sundays. There is now a weekly trip to Reading or Henley on a Sunday, and a few weeks ago a minibus load of boarders travelled to Bracknell for ice skating.