Challenging navigation and appalling weather greeted the cohort of Silver Duke of Edinburgh expeditioners who left for the Brecon Beacons after the end of term. After a thorough pre-expedition briefing from the expedition assessor at Pen Arthur, two groups set off the next morning from Trecastle in the north, while another two walked from the south at Yastraffelte. The groups crossed on the second day of the expedition on the ridge known to nearly all St Albans pupils from the famous Pen Arthur Ridge Walk. The weather, which had been so harsh on the Saturday, improved for the next three days and provided near-perfect conditions for walking and camping. All groups passed the expedition and the assessor commented that the groups were ‘very polite, chatty, interested and clearly well up to the Silver level. Overall a credit to the school.’

Staged by the Music and Drama Departments, Songs from Shows, a fine evening of entertainment, provided a light hearted and delightful end to the summer term. Sixth Form students dazzled the audience with some very professionally performed pieces, exploring the full range from pathos to comedy. Rhythmically there were show stopping numbers like All That Jazz from Chicago, sassily and ably performed by Juliette ‘Jazz’ Mann and ladies from the company, a bit of doo wop as performed by the company in Skid Row from Little Shop of Horrors and Pete Martin’s moving performance of Maria from West Side Story. Witty and amusing performances were supplied by Annabel Thompson, Charlye Simpson and Tash Undrell in You Could Drive a Person Crazy from Company, Rob Phillips in Mr Cellophane from Chicago and Elliot Krieger in Master of the House from Les Misérables. Other songs that stood out were Summer Nights from Grease, I’m Nothing Without You from City of Angels and the finale, One Day More from Les Misérables. Proceeds from the show will support the Upper Sixth’s production of Blackwood to be staged at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer.

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A four off the last ball off the innings notched up a century for skipper Robbie Goldstone in the U15 County Cup Final at Woollams. Against an intimidating total, St George’s were never in the running, finishing on 75-9 after their 20 overs. This was an excellent all round display from the home team, starting with an opening partnership of 116, to which James Barber contributed 43 runs. Though he was dropped on 95, Goldstone’s century came off only 80 balls and was a testament to his fitness as only 32 of his runs came in boundaries. The St Albans total of 183-2 was made to look even larger when the bowlers began to make inroads, with Zaheer Jamil taking 3 wickets for 12 runs and Jack Killen 4 wickets for 8 runs, including two in two balls.

The remaining finals also took place at the Woollams grounds, with Haberdashers beating Hitchin Grammar School and Dame Alice Owen in the U14 and U 13 finals respectively, while Sir John Lawes won the U12 match against Parmiters.

In a day of records, Renfrew pipped Hampson at the post to become overall winners on Sports Day. There were some stunning performances across the year groups, with the 100m record being broken at every level up to the Fourth form, with the winners of the Fourth, Fifth and Senior races all recoding a time of 11.6 seconds. In the First form, Tolaji Bola collected three records, for the 100m, 200m and Triple Jump. George and Ben Rose dominated the track events in the Fourth form, with Ben winning the 100m and 200m races and George collecting the 400m medal. All three were new School records, among the 13 achieved on the day.

The 1st XI cricketers were triumphant in the School’s inaugural Twenty/20 Tournament at Woollams. Blessed with two glorious days of sunshine the 30th June and 1st July, the team lined up against St Benedict’s School from Ealing and a particularly strong OAs side, consisting primarily of members of the highly successful 1st XI of two years ago. The Paarl Boys High School Cricket Academy from South Africa adding an international element to the competition.

The first team progressed into the final with only one defeat, which came against the OAs by 5 wickets, despite 65 from James Scott and a spell of hostile fast bowling from Harley Stairmand. However a convincing win against Paarl by 40 runs, coupled with a demolition job of St Benedict’s by 80 runs aided by a brutal 87 from Dan Watt, ensured the 1st XI were in with an opportunity of winning their home tournament. However, they were joined in the final by the dangerous, albeit slightly mercurial, OAs side who remained unbeaten throughout the group stage.

Batting first, the St Albans 1st XI made a blistering start, scoring 50 of the first two overs. This start was converted into a total of 201, with innings of substance from James Scott (55) and Dan Watt (32). This score was to prove one step too far for the impressive OAs side, who could only muster 146 in their 20 overs. The School team was largely indebted to Vish Kumar for a spell of disciplined and tight bowling after what seemed a dangerous start from the OAs openers.

Paarl Cricket Academy ran out convincing winners against St Benedict’s in the third and fourth playoff.

Skipper James Scott picked up Batsman of the Tournament and Dan Watt won an award for the highest individual score. We eagerly wait next year to see if St Albans can successfully defend their trophy.

Report by James Scott

Fourth formers were challenged to think positively about their futures and choices on a special day organised at Woollams. With business people and entrepreneurs, they engaged in a series of activities which challenged their attitudes and aims. The day started with the students looking at thirteen difficult situations and how a positive or negative person might react to each one. This was followed by a consideration of how they would describe themselves, but more importantly how they thought they would be described by other people. In groups the boys then examined lives of successful and motivated people – a marine, Richard Branson, Usain Bolt and Jason Statham – and what attitudes and skills they needed to get where they are today. Through the boys’ suggestions about these successful people, they discovered the importance of attitudes and how people are ultimately in control of them. The afternoon led on from the morning, concentrating on the students’ own aims in life and how they are all achievable with the right attitude. Everyone gained a lot from taking part in the day, and left thinking very positively about their futures.

Report by Hugh Myers