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8
ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE
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.
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.
The Steeplechase on Port Meadow