A M D G W E E K L Y N E W S T H U R S D A Y 1 3 T H F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 Battle of the Old Boys On Saturday 8th February, two teams of OS pupils went head to head at St John’s Beaumont Preparatory School to celebrate the shared tradition of Jesuit education that binds the schools together. SJB OS took on SMH OS in a match that surpassed all expectations in its skill, physicality and the spirit in which it was played. After 80 minutes, only a single score separated the sides, making SMH the inaugural winners of the Dermot Gogarty Memorial Cup with a final score of 28-35. A span of two decades of OS were represented on the field and over 100 OS came along to support, making this a truly special event. Huge thanks to Giles Delaney, Patrick Hennessy and Susann Laughton for their generosity in helping to host this event at St John’s and we look forward to next year’s fixture! D A T E S F O R T H E D A I R Y St Mary's Hall Open Doors Saturday 7th March 2020 College Open Doors Saturday 14th March 2020 ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE The IB Journey Begins... We were delighted to welcome Freddie Olsson from Lanterna Education this week, who came to talk to our Grammar and Syntax pupils about the IB Diploma. Freddie, a recent IB graduate and UCL economics graduate, was able to share his own IB experience, bust some common IB myths and pass on top tips for preparing for the IB Diploma here at Stonyhurst. The pupils really enjoyed his infectious enthusiasm and feel confident about starting their own IB journey. Thanks, Freddie! SJB Pupils Delve into the Stonyhurst Collections Last week the Year 6 and 7 pupils at St John’s Beaumont had an afternoon of lessons based around objects from the Stonyhurst Collections. Mr Leigh took Conan Doyle’s letters and school photographs; Dr Graffius brought some specimens from our natural history collection (the dinosaur faeces was particularly extraordinary); and Mr Allanson spoke to pupils about items including Marianne Antoinette’s fruit knife and Edward Oldcorne SJ’s eye! A Thorough Investigation! In Business A level two Poetry pupils, Carlos and Blanca, excelled this week with their investigation into the recent business failure of Thomas Cook. They conducted some thorough research and presented their findings together with a judgement on the financial and internal/external factors behind the demise of the company. A Business Riddle Poets Harrison and Ryan won the ‘stretch and challenge’ task of deciphering this famous quote from John Maynard Keynes, “Owe the banker £1,000 and you are at his mercy; owe him £1m and the position is reversed”. They each received a chocolate prize for their efforts! THE WINDHOVER LANDS The first edition of 'The Windhover' launched this week. In years gone by, Stonyhurst pupils wrote and produced a magazine called 'The Eagle', named after the stone carvings on top of our towers. Now in 2020 we offer you a publication inspired by Gerard Manley Hopkin's famous poem. A windhover is a bird of prey. It is smaller than an eagle; agile; able to hover above its targets whilst watching their activities with sharp eyes - before screeching downwards to pounce with piercing talons and a sharp beak. We hope this is a good metaphor for the magazine and its ambitions. In the first issue you will see a variety of different features and articles, produced by our fledgling editorial team. We hope to run articles looking inwards at Stonyhurst life and outwards at the events which influence and interest us all. The aim is to include both serious and satirical content, news, reviews, cartoons, interviews, and anything else we can think of. We'd like particularly to be able to celebrate the interests, talents and achievements of the Stonyhurst community - you'll find some of that inside the first issue. For The Windhover to thrive, we need you! Pupils are encouraged to write to [email protected] if they have any ideas for content, or if they would like to contribute something. There will be a prize or two for the best submissions published in each issue! PERSPECTIVES & HORIZONS Stonyhurst Polo! It was chukkas-up as history was made on Wednesday 5th February with the first training session of the Stonyhurst College Polo Squad. Coached by international High Goal player, James Fielding of JF Polo Academy at Cheshire Polo Club and Chester Polo Club, the teams currently train every two weeks in winter, switching to more regular grass polo in Spring. Dr Nicholas Grigsby, Deputy Head (Co-Curricular) commented: "It was a very impactful training session. Our pupils practised a range of essential skills including polo riding, fore and backhand swing and the combat of the effective ride-off. It was great to see our pupils so engaged as well as having so much fun and enjoying their premier pony stock, all from international high-goal careers." We continue to prepare for our summer season and look forward to welcoming College spectators to our first matches. OS v OA Cross Country Race Report by Hugh Dickinson On Saturday Old Stonyhurst took on Old Ampleforth in the annual Cross Country Race for the Newton-Carter trophy. To remind you, the race in the memory of Christopher Newton- Carter who was educated at Beaumont and Stonyhurst and who sadly died in the September 11 attacks. Chris raced in the inaugural cross-country race between the two schools more than 50 years ago and the trophy is run in his memory at the request of his former team mates. Although the threat of Storm Ciara hung over the race, we were greeted by particularly temperate running conditions for the Ribble Valley. The OS and the OA put out a strong team with both girls’ and boys’ teams from both schools competing. There was also a lone runner representing Lancaster Royal Grammar School. To the surprise of all, the race was won by a country mile by the lone runner from Lancaster Royal Grammar School! Stonyhurst boys William and Nicolas came 2nd and 3rd respectively. Well done to them because in recent times the race has been dominated by the old boys. The result in the Newton-Carter Trophy was a very close victory for the OAs – the first time since the race began that the Trophy has been won by the away team. Rory Smith (OA) won the race whilst Greg O’Connor was the first of the OS runners in 3rd place with Richard Kenyon close behind in 5th. Lucy Rowland was the first female OS runner with Mary-Maye Lorriman (OS) just behind. Mary-Maye’s husband Hugh-Guy was running for the OA and they were supported by their son who is at SMH so it was a truly family affair. Michael Wylie-Carrick (OS) continued his tradition of running an additional 50m in order to complete the original course which may or may not explain why he was well beaten by his son Joseph running for the College team! Jonathan Muller (OS) brought up the rear but much enjoyed running the course for the first time in over 40 years. The Stonyhurst boys’ team were victorious over their Ampleforth counterparts whereas the Ampleforth girls were victorious in their race respectively. Gibraltar Trip Stonyhurst has had links with Gibraltar for over one hundred years, with some Gibraltarian families having sent four generations of children to the school. During a recent trip to Gibraltar, the External Affairs team accompanied by Peter Anwyl (former SMH Headmaster & Director of Development) were delighted to meet many of our OS, past parents and current parents. Highlights included Peter catching up again with the Howard family – having welcomed all three Howard boys, Nick, Paul and Tom to SMH before they continued to the College and Peter introducing the team to Francis Isola. Francis left the College in 1959, his grandfather and father attended the College before him and his sons and grandchildren have succeeded him. One of his grandsons will be joining Poetry in September 2020. One of our younger OS, Luke Stagnetto 0S 2017 and Head of Line had returned home to study for his final exams and joined us at the reception. He is pictured hitching a lift home with his grandfather Louis Triay QC piloting the scooter! OS Intern Opportunity We are delighted to announce the opportunity to join our Development Team at Stonyhurst as Development Office OS Intern. The OS Intern will work alongside the Development Manager and Development Officer, playing a key role in supporting the fundraising and alumni relations within the Development Office. For more information click here. Dubai Reception Stonyhurst Rugby Academy The Stonyhurst Enterprises team are delighted to be launching the Stonyhurst Rugby Academy in the Summer holidays this year for boys and girls aged 10 to 16 years who are looking to improve their rugby skills. The course is non-residential and will take place over 5 days, in the week commencing Monday 17th August 2020. Led by a qualified Level 3 rugby coach, players will be educated in all areas of rugby development and skill progression. We are also delighted that Joe Ansbro, former Stonyhurst pupil and former international professional rugby union player, is lending his support to this course. If the course is of interest to your child, please do not hesitate to make contact with the Enterprises Department via the online enquiry form here.