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Chapter 7 / Sport and Outdoors
SPORT AND OUTDOORS
S
port has always been important to St Edward’s and was
played even before the School possessed anything more
than a playground at New Inn Hall Street. At that time,
apart from energetic games in this enclosed space, use was made
of public parks in and around Oxford, to which the necessary
equipment was carried.
Once Algernon Simeon was appointed Headmaster in 1870
he ensured that the School was permitted to use University
sports facilities in vacation times via his Oxford contacts. Rugby
Football (very different from what we know today) and cricket
were the main team games played. Also athletics (called ‘the
Sports’) were keenly contested in the Easter Term.
Nowadays sports remain a very important part of the
School, embodying the competitive and adventurous spirit of
which we are all extremely proud. Thousands of teams and
hundreds of trips and expeditions have set off and returned
over the history of the School and, despite some quite major
changes within and outside it, the core activities are remarkably
similar to those of 50 or even 100 years ago. Sport flourishes,
with considerable focus on the principal team games: rowing,
hockey, harriers, rugby, netball and cricket. Athletics, tennis
and squash are also part of the competitive package of School
sport, and swimming has rejoined this list now. The numbers
of pupils earning national and international honours at School
and beyond is remarkably impressive and in recent years has
been strongly supported by a growing elite-athlete scheme
which is centred on the Martyrs Pavilion and the refurbished Old
Pavilion, and makes considerable use of The Oxfordshire Health
and Racquet Club. The training support enjoyed by School athletes
is considerable and our expectations of them are high.
In recent years the CCF and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
(DofE) expeditions have been the stalwarts of outdoor pursuits,
and ten successive Shell year groups have now attended the
summer adventure training camp in Snowdonia. There were
several years of Fourth Form trips that spread our Fourth Form
out to various parts of the country depending on their interests.
There have been foreign trips (often combined with a healthy
dose of academic work) and regular adventure trips as well.
Caving, climbing and mountain walking in its own right are less
popular now, but Skiff expeditions go out each year, and biking
and canoeing are making a come-back. DofE is strongly supported
at Bronze, Silver and Gold level and with this and so many other
opportunities in School, the ‘Creativity, Action and Service’ element
of those in the IB programme has certainly been very easy to fulfill.
The CCF has always been strong, and whilst cadet
numbers have grown considerably in recent years the pattern
of trips is very similar. Shooting has re-established itself as a
key component and many other on-site facilities have been
developed as well as, most notably, the obstacle course and RN
Hut. Cadets are increasingly taking on more of the leadership
and adventure-training courses that are on offer outside School
and our OSE contribution to UK Armed Forces is a source of
constant pride for everyone.
Keith Shindler
Director of Sports and Activities
Right: Team shields in the Dining Hall.
Below: Skating on Port Meadow, 1940.
Bottom: The Douglas Bader Sports Hall entrance.
Chapter 7