THE BLAZER Issue 2 - Lent 2012 New This Term...

1st Year Art Workshop!

Hockey!

Legion XIII

Football!

Steven Spielbergʼs Warhorse

A Fistfull Of Dollars

Events & Exciting Facts

20 Qʼs Rugby World Puzzles Cartoons Film Reviews Top 10 1st Yr. Opinions Sports Events Top 5 THE BLAZER

Should football have been brought to Abingdon? By Charles Quarterman and Harry Fishpool

Recently football has been brought back to Abingdon School. There have been many different opinions on this matter. Many people think that it should not have been brought back because it endangers the popularity of Hockey. However, on the other hand people feel that it should have come as it is such a major sport. We have interviewed a few pupils on their opinion, and this is what they had to say on the subject.

To start, do you think football should have been brought to Abingdon?

“ I think it is a good addition to the school’s sports. It gives a wider choice and makes Abingdon more versatile in sport.” - Ben G-M

“ Yes I like football and it is good that it has been added to the other half but it could bring trouble to a sport like Hockey.” - Seb Mulford

“ I think that it is good that football has been brought to Abingdon because it is an amazing sport and sometimes I like to score over-head kicks!” - Ray Ren

Do you think Abingdon will do well in Football?

“I think that Abingdon school can do well in Football because everybody knows that this is a sporty school and we have done well in other sports over the years.” - David Mackney

“I believe that although Abingdon does have a potential for great footballing, we should concentrate on Hockey and Rugby.” - Charlie Quarterman

Do you think that other sports have suffered due to Football?

“I do not think that we have suffered in other sports because other sports are too cool.” - Jonny Hurrell First Year By Joseph D’Souza and Ben Goriely-McDonald

Kids Lit Quiz

One exciting event that has happened recently was The Kids Lit Quiz, a new event for the First years. There was a Second year team and a First year team. After twenty rounds of questions on books the points were rounded up and the results were revealed. Even though the Second years came in second place, the new First years only came sixteenth, but that was pretty good for a first time performance! The team are now preparing for next time!

1st Year...So Far

We are now in the second term and pupils are getting used to their new surroundings. We interviewed a few pupils and this is what they said:

Josh Nugent 1C said that his favourite food was Chilli Con Carne, his favourite sport was rugby and his favourite teacher is Mr Cotton.

Thomas Savidge 1W said that his favourite food was Three Cheese Pasta, his favourite sport was hockey and his favourite teacher was Mr Perris.

Josh Strobel 1M said that his favourite food was Bangers and Mash, his favourite sport was swimming and his favourite teacher was Mrs McRae, a 1M favourite!

Guess Where The Ball Is! A fistful of dollars

By Ben.P and Alex.D Main Characters

Clint Eastwood (Joe), Gian Volonté (Ramón Rojo), Wolfgang Lukschy (John Baxter)

Review

A fistful of dollars is set in a town in the wild west. The town is run by two separate families who hate each other. Joe (Clint) is a a man who comes to the town out of the desert. Joe realizes that the two families don’t talk to each other and that the only contact they have is if they are shooting each other. Joe uses this to his advantage and starts to play the families against each other and makes a lot of money. Then he kidnaps Marisol (Marianne Koch) from Ramón and then returns to him saying it was the Baxters.

I thought that the film was very clever and there are quite a few classic western style ‘gun slinging’ moments.

Bad week for… England cricket team A 3-0 whitewash over England by Pakistan. Although the bowlers produced the batsmen did not. The player who stood out most was of course the amazing spinner, Saeed Ajmal taking an overall total of 21 wickets. Review of ‘War Horse’

Bertie Thomas

Steven Spielberg directs the truly inspirational story of a young man who goes to fight a war to find his beloved horse. Albert met Joey (the horse) when his father bought him at an auction sale. Joey was no use to Albert’s farm and his father sent him into the oncoming war. Albert was so upset he decided to lie so he could join his Joey. Joey was used by both sides in the war and finally he was found in no mans land and rescued by the British. I would definitely recommend it. Top 5 Youtube Videos

Player Hits Himself with the Arm of Opponent

Now, you’ve probably heard of footballers terrible dives, but this really is something else. In a great match between Chile and Ecuador, a man uses his opponent’s hand to hit himself in the face, and amazingly, he gets away with it!

Chubby Cupcake Boy

Now you may feel a bit bad at laughing about this in the end, but you simply can’t help yourself. As a... lets say slightly horizontally challenged boy, sings us a song about cupcakes.

Diversity

You must have heard of Diversity! Well I’m going to take you back to their Britain's got talent audition. It was truly outstanding!

Nyan Cat

This is a really funny and annoying video! It is about a cat who just constantly keeps making really strange and annoying sounds! It’s great for annoying brothers and sisters!

Skitzo - Introductions This is a great first video, so if you like it be sure to check out some of his others! You’ll meet some strange characters and the awkwardest situations, but it is really funny! Top Five Games Rory Pattisson and Joel O’Byrne

MW3 This is the game that everyone is talking about, its predecessor was Call of Duty Modern Warfare two, and in our opinion I liked it more than Trearch’s Black ops and I thought then that it couldn’t get better than that but when we started playing our minds were blown away, with improved graphics, a more polished gameplay experience and one of the best campaigns I have ever played. This is definitely the game to get.

Assassin’s creed: Revelation I have spent many hours on assassins creed brotherhood as it is a great game. Revelations just puts Brotherhood to shame, with enhanced combat skills, improved parkour skills, and an amazing storyline that solves mysteries that started from the very first game.

Elderscrolls: Skyrim This is the sequel to the elder scrolls: oblivion which blew our minds (if you played it) but this game is better in every way, stunning graphics and improved gameplay with tons of side quests so you will never run out of things to do! In short this is the best rpg game I have ever played.

Syndicate Do you like sci-fi? Do you like action and first person shooter? If the answer is yes, then pre- order this game! And if you don’t, then play it anyway! This is an amazing game that is set in the future where business is war and secret agents are everywhere. Using the state of the art technology, the player must fulfil his company’s expectations, this is just amazing…

Portal 2 If you asked someone if they liked games that make your brain hurt and could make you throw a Xbox or ps3 controller through your TV screen they would probably say no, but portal 2 is a great puzzle game, so why is it so popular? One of the reasons is that the puzzles aren’t too hard, there are no riddles and hardly any frustrating levels (however I have found myself screaming at my screen very rarely) with an amazing story line and a great atmosphere, this is one of the most fun games to play. Hockey & Football Highlights Seb Mulford & Oli Gray Marlborough U13A Hockey

! The A’s went out after only a few practices and were ready to go after a decent warm-up. As soon as the whistle went the A’s were rearing off the mark, however the bigger, older side of Marlborough were holding off well with their strength and occasionally getting a great counter attack. It was still a close game at half time, but the A’s had better skill and after being slightly better through-out they were steadily growing and getting more shots and getting closer and closer to that all important goal. About half way through the second half, they had had numerous opportunities and should have scored. Finally off a short corner Charlie Quarterman scored a goal. The A’s held off Marlborough after that and had some more attacks aswell. Overall an awesome first game for the A’s. 1-0 Win!

Marlborough U13B Hockey

A very good start for the Bs, considering that they had only had an hour of preparation. The match started well, with a goal from Oliver Gray within the first five minutes. David Mackney then scored off a pass from Alex Sayeed (from a short corner), and after that the Bs were looking very comfortable and the Marlborough team only had the ball for seconds at a time. The defence worked well, with Tom Foster controlling, and then the centre-midfielders passing to the insides and then the strikers. Then there was a deadlock, with no-one scoring for the rest of the half and the first fifteen minutes of the second half. Around ten minutes before the end, however, Johnny Allison passed to David again, and he finished a hard shot in the bottom corner. Piers Clark set up another goal for David around two minutes later, with a good cross with the reverse of his stick. The Marlborough attack exploited a small gap in the Bs defence, scoring a goal, but this did not faze them, scoring another goal within a few seconds of Marlborough scoring, with David Mackney scoring his fourth from a fantastic ball from Bertie Thomas. Special praise should go to David Mackney, Tom Foster, Bertie Thomas and Alex Sayeed. 5-1 Win!

Radley U13A Hockey

! The A’s were again playing an older, stronger side and again were ready for the game and warmed up. They didn’t have as strong a side as some of their players were playing football. The A’s didn’t have as a good start as against Marlborough, but were still able to hold off Radley with ease. On the attack they weren’t as good and weren’t playing as good as they could have. After a rather disappointing half, the A’s played a bit better in the second half after an encouraging talk from their coach. That bit better was enough as Radley had only slightly improved as well, and they kept the intensity throughout. However, they were finding it hard to get in the goals, therefore about 15 mins before the end it was still 0-0. Then Charlie Quarterman scored a shot off a short corner. Still after that goal the As were not getting it in until Oliver Lovibond scored a great goal from the edge of the ‘D’ into the bottom right corner. On the last play of the game, Radley successfully pulled off a counter attack and scored. It was 2-1 at the end.

Berkhamsted U13A Rugby A very good first game of the term for the As, with the backs doing very well with the ball against a strong pack. The As started well, with Will Hayes scoring the first try within the first five minutes, which was unfortunately not converted. The Berkhamsted team had some big forwards though, and they scored around two minutes after the As had, with not a lot of skill. Tom Haynes capitalized on some lousy tackling and scored twice five minutes before half time. Neither were converted as they were near the corners. After some inspiring words from Mr Coke, the team went back out and they were playing, tackling and passing better than the first half. However, Berkhamsted managed to get a try through some powerful picking-and-going. Finn O’Hickey scored with a fantastic run a few minutes later, and the match slowed down, an anti-climax to a thrilling first forty minutes. Man of the match was Oliver Gray. THE BLAZER

Rugby

Manu Tuilagi Sergio Parisse Centre Number 8 This player will be key in England’s line up He is a very powerful unit. He has a variety this year. He is extremely powerful and has of different skills and leads the side by great skills. He is unfortunately injured at the example. Italy are usually underestimated moment but hopefully he will soon be back however with their new coach they might be on full fitness. able to spring a few surprises.

Thierry Dusautoir David Denton Flanker Number 8 He is a great leader and he has brilliant This player has some incredible attributes. skills. He was voted player of the year after He is young and fast with incredible fitness his outstanding World Cup performance. levels. He has shown great potential at France are the favourites and he will not Edinburgh. Hopefully he can score some want to disappoint. tries for Scotland.

Jonathan Sexton Rhys Priestland Fly Half Fly Half Ireland are always the dark horses in this After his quality performance in the tournament. However if Sexton can kick well World Cup he has been spoken highly of and take control in the backs, Ireland often. If he puts in a good performance each definitely have a good chance in this match then Wales have a very good chance tournament. in the tournament. Sat 4 Feb Tomʼs Predictions Paddyʼs Predictions France v Italy Home Win Home win Scotland v England Away Win Away Win

Sun 5 Feb Ireland v Wales Away Win Home Win

Sat Feb 11 Italy v England Away Win Away Win France v Ireland Home Win Away Win

Sun Feb 12 Wales v Scotland Home Win Away Win

Sat Feb 25 Ireland v Italy Home Win Home Win England v Wales Away Win Away Win

Sun Feb 26 Scotland v France Away Win Home Win

Sat Mar 10 Wales v Italy Home Win Home Win Ireland v Scotland Home Win Home Win

Sun Mar 11 France v England Home Win Away Win

Sat March 17 Italy v Scotland Home Win Home Win Wales v France Away Win Away Win England v Ireland Home Win Home Win

Good week for… The F.A. Cup. Lots of shock, upsets, high-scoring games and lots more teams go crashing out. The most notable games included Crawley 1-0 Hull, Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United and Birmingham 4-0 Sheffield United. 20 Qʼs With Mr Loughe Tom Bishop, Jake Windsor-Lewis & Harry Hoareau

What’s the worst movie you Have you always wanted to be a have ever watched? teacher? If not what did you want to Killer Clowns From Outer be? Space. No, I wanted to be a lot of things, an What is your favourite actor, a writer, a translator but I ended up clothes shop? being a teacher probably because my Fat Face. parents were teachers as well. What is your favourite song? What subject did you do best at Jar of Hearts and Someone Like You. school? What is your favourite restaurant? French Pizza Express and Chaing Mai kitchen in What made you want to come to Oxford is very good.

Abingdon? What do you like about being a I did teacher training at Oxford University teacher at Abingdon? and then I wanted to stay in the area and Variety, and I like the other half this was the best school around. I think programme. Also I like the trips and they’re also that German was an important a good bunch of boys! subject here, which I liked. Desribe your perfect night out… Who is your all time hero? Drinks and dinner at a restaurant with Nelson Mandela friends followed by a Where did you grow up? walk by the river. I grew up in a small town on the border of What is your favourite North Wales. movie? What is your favourite type of food? Jurassic Park. Indian or Thai What is your favourite What type of pupil were you at school? TV show? I was smart, clever, and musical and I Summer Heights High, Come Dine With enjoyed drama. Me or Saturday Kitchen. What subject did you do worst at at What is the weirdest thing you will school? ever admit to having done in the past? Physics. It was really boring. I have eaten insects and a Chicken’s foot.

Describe your dream holiday… If you could be one living celebrity, I would love to go to Rome and then go to who would you be? the coast in Italy somewhere. David Beckham. What age were you when you first got a girlfriend/boyfriend? I was at university when I had my first proper relationship. School Council George Jeffreys

With elections coming up it would only be right to talk about the school council and what they have done.

The school council was a new system introduced last year by the head, Miss Lusk. She thought it was a ‘great way for pupils to communicate’ with the school.

Some people were apprehensive at first about having a council. But was that just? Statistically different years took to the idea more than others, distant future, become part of Abingdon but overall, in my opinion, it was a big hit! life. The council has met around 6 times and, statistically, 3 new ‘things’ have been In, what was the first year, 3 people stood put in place after every meeting. for the council. Alexander Dalgleish and George Jeffreys were elected for that year. Some people have stood for the council As second years will remember on the odd and they are elected to support your views, occasion in a tutor period one of them for you. They are the way that you can communicate your thoughts to the school. would come in and collect feedback, problems etc. Then, when a meeting was So, I advise you, take advantage of them. scheduled they would put their opinions to Use them. You can! the council. Some of you might think that that’s all that happened. But actually did nothing happen after that?

The council over the year has actually pushed and resolved many problems and put forward ideas which may, in the not so

Picture Of The Week Puzzles

By Ben.P and Alex.D

Try and solve these puzzles. Some of them should be quite a challenge. Hope you enjoy. Ben.p + Alex.D

The blazer puzzle

ABINGDON BLAZER LESSONS MAGAZINE PENCIL PREPDIARY RUBBER RULER

I walk on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon and 3 legs in the evening. What am I? Riddles

A hill full, a hole full, you cannot catch a bowl full. What am I?

I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I? THE BLAZER Form Rugby

World Awards Second Year On a rainy day in December, 2P, 2S and 2H all played each other for glory. In the first game 2H played Biggest Selling Single: against 2P. In a game where both teams had many chances Adele - Someone Like You it ended with Jonny Hurrell Biggest Box Office Hit: scoring a last play try to Harry Potter and the Deathly make the final Hallows - Part 2 score 15-15. In the second Bestselling Book: game 2H played against David Nicholls - One Day 2S. This was again a very tight match with the final score being 5-5. 2S will Bestselling Video Game: think of it as a very big missed chance as one of their players was over the try line but was pushed over the dead ball line Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 by Bertie Thomas. The final game was almost like a final as Most Watched Thing on TV: whoever won would win the tournament. But following the trend of the tournament it was another draw with the score The Royal Wedding finishing 10-10 thanks to a last minute try from Oliver Lovibond. But this try was worth more than 5 points for 2P as Most Watched YouTube Video: it meant 2P won the tournament overall because they scored the most points. 2H finished second and 2S finished last. Ultimate Dog Tease ! First Year: In the first game 1C played 1M. In a very close game the score ended 15-15. In the second game 1C Most Viewed Internet Site: played 1W. This was again very close and again ended 15-15. In the last game 1M played 1W. This wasn’t close like Google.com the others with 1W winning 35-5. This meant 1W finished first, 1C finished second and 1M finished third. Most ʻGoogledʼ:

Facebook Lower School Challenge

Back at the end of last term we had the Lower School challenge. It started off with the selected teams in each tutor group facing each other. In the first heat all the first year forms played each other. 1M were the winners in the first year going through to the next heat against the 2nd year winners. In the second year it was very one sided as 2P won by a lot. In the final, the first year winners against the second year winners, 2P again won convincingly.