24 September 2000

Stonyhurst

won 24-0

Surrey III Competition

30 September 2000

Egham

won 29-12

14 October 2000

Bec Old Boys

won 59-12

28 October 2000

Economicals

walkover

11 November 2000

Old Abingdonians

postponed

18 November 2000

St George’s Hospital

lost 11-14

25 November 2000

Old Freemans

won 21-0

2 December 2000

Old Abingdonians

lost 5-8

9 December 2000

Reigate and Redhill

won 48-14

27 January 2001

Old Suttonians

won 55-0

3 February 2001

Old Bevonians

postponed

10 February 2001

Croydon

postponed

24 February 2001

London Cornish

walkover

10 March 2001

Croydon

won 51-0

17 March 2001

Surrey University

won 69-0

31 March 2001

Old Bevonians

postponed

In the end the points difference was 201 points, with the nearest rival on 149 points. So a resounding victory for the first season, congratulations to everyone in the Club and the very best of luck for next season in Surrey II

Mike Price has put together our website, which is linked in two ways. One is to the Ampleforth sites and through the Clocktower. The other is to the Surrey League sites so as to see our on-going development throughout the season. You can also contact any one of the committee members. All you have to do is click on www.oarfc.org.uk

Thomas Judd  (W77) has stepped down after 15 years as Chairman.  The committee is now as follows: Chairman, Aidan Channer (D81); Secretary, Nick Hughes (C90); Treasurer, John Dick (O77); Captain, Jon Hughes; Fixture Secretary, Nick Dumbell (H92); Coach, Jimmy Elliot (E88) ; Social Secretary, Crispin Vitoria (W90).

The 2001/02 season has the main objective of building on the solid base created last season by the committee and its membership.  In the summer there were coaching sessions on Clapham Common under floodlights, and during the season in Battersea Park - contact Jimmy Elliot www.oarfc.org.uk A second team - contact Nick Hughes www.oarfc.org.uk A new home ground - contact Nick Dumbell www.oarfc.org.uk Forthcoming social events - contact Crispin Vitoria www.oarfc.org.uk To become a member or contribute in any way please contact John Dick www.oarfc.org.uk

Guy Easterby (H89) (Llanelli) and  Simon Easterby (H93) (Llanelli) play for Ireland. Guy is scrum-half and Simon plays on the flank.

Inigo Paternina and the Inca Trail car rally.

Inigo Paternina Sunley (W86) took part in the Inca Trail, a car rally in South America. Driving with Zica Capristano in a Porsche 36 Super 90 from 1962, they were one of 100 cars that set out on 6 October 2001 from Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Fort to travel 15,000 miles in 8 weeks (55 days) through six countries in Latin America, averaging 50 miles a day. Inigo and Zica are driving in the Inca Trail to raise 16,000 Euros for Merlin, a non-profit-making charity that provides healthcare in crises around the world to the most vulnerable people - aiming to give access to health care as a fundamental and universal human right and to fight poverty and diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. You can support Inigo’s sponsorship of Merlin by sending funds to Jonathan Harper, Merlin, 5-13 Trinity Street, Borough, London SE1 1DB, sending a cheque payable to “Merlin”. The photograph shows Inigo at the OA luncheon in Madrid on 21 September 2001.

Charles Johnson-Ferguson (E91) sailed in the BT Global Challenge Around the World Yacht Race lasting 10 months. There were 12 yachts in the race and Charles was in the yacht Teamspirit.  The race goes round the world ‘the wrong way round, against the prevailing winds and currents’. He wrote an email to the OA Notes Editor [20 March 2001] saying, ‘As I write we are in the Southern ocean about 1000 miles south-east of Australia sailing from Sydney to Cape Town. It is blowing 50 knots.’

Adam Elgar (E87) sailed in a 53 foot yacht around Africa and across the Atlantic.

Daniel McFarland (W90) is now in his sixth year of professional rugby. He is currently playing his second year with Connacht in Ireland [2000-2001, and now 2001-2002], one of the four professional clubs in the Republic of Ireland who play in the Celtic League with clubs from Wales and Scotland.  Previously Dan played one season for Stade Français [1999-2000] and three seasons with Richmond (1996-99).

Igor de la Sota (H2000) played for the Under 21 team of Stade Français in the season 2000-2001. Going to Newcastle University in October 2001, he is currently in the first Newcastle University rugby team.

Lawrence Dallaglio (T89) participated in the quiz show A Question of Sport [BBC1, 17 October 2001], and in the quiz show They Think it's All Over [BBC1 12 October 2001].

Michael Caulfield (B79) is Executive Manager of the Jockeys Association of Great Britain [JAGB].  This has 400 members and is trying to model itself on the Professional Footballers Association [PFA] which has 4,000 members. He was quoted in the Daily Telegraph [5 October 2001] "A good jockey can earn in a year what a Premiership player earns in a month. For many jockeys, £50,000- £60,000 will represent a triupmh. The average jockey riding five or six times a week will earn in the region of £25,000 a year".

Major Ben Warrack (W89), Greg Watson (A89) and Julian Vitoria (W87) took part in the Marathon des Sables. This involves running the equivalent of five marathons in five days, covering 140 miles between 1 and 7 April 2001. Greg ran to support Wateraid, which bores holes for water in the developing world. Ben was raising funds for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Fund (RABI). Julian Vitoria became seriously ill - he caught dysentery and was severely dehydrated, and in a life threatening situation had to evacuated out by helicopter from the Moroccan Sahara. Julian works in IT recruitment for a company called Future Step.

Beagles

Seven years after leaving Gilling Castle and moving to the Middleton Foxhound kennels in 1994, the links with the school remain strong.  Members of staff have taken out boys to meets regularly on Wednesdays and Saturdays during this time.  Socks are still awarded to keen followers and some boys have been appointed uniformed whippers-in. Old boys’ weekends each year have taken place, culminating with luncheon on Sunday at the invitation of the Headmaster.  The hounds are owned by five trustees: Robin Andrews (O61), Francis Radcliffe (E57), Michael Spencer QC (H65), John Kendrew, a long-standing local supporter and Ian Kibble, a former parent.

The Master, Ian Kibble gives talks in the school and he and the Huntsman, Mark Campbell, attend the activities fair with other hunt staff each year at the beginning of term.  This year some 30 names were collected, including three new girls.  Foot and Mouth disease curtailed slightly the 2000-2001 season and prevented the resumption of hunting in September 2001 but kennel visits to walk out with hounds were planned. Robin Andrews hopes to arrange an Old Boys’ dinner.  Matthew Torrens-Burton is the principal point of contact on the school staff. 

Hounds are in excellent condition thanks to the care lavished on them by Adrian Smith at the kennels at Birdsall.  The 2000-2001 season, despite the premature finish, was the best since the move of 1994. The pack are very level and they hunted with great drive and voice and were a credit to their Huntsman, Mark Campbell.  The Hunt continues to enjoy the support of all the farmers, landowners and gamekeepers in its traditional country.

Old Amplefordians Cricket Club 2001

The season was severely disrupted because of the monsoon-like weather. Out of a total of 27 fixtures, 12 had to be cancelled, mostly because of rain.  The tour was particularly badly affected. Only four games could be played, one of which had to be abandoned. However, in spite of the disappointing weather, the tourists’ morale remained high and everyone enjoyed the week.

Nevertheless it was a good season, as the results demonstrate:

Total played 15

Won 7

Drawn  4

Lost 4

Cancelled 12

Tour played 4

Won 2

Drawn 1

Drawn 1

Cancelled 4

We lost in the first round of the Cricketer Cup against the Old Cheltonians, a side which we felt was of equal strength to ours. The game was played on the superb batting wicket at Cheltenham, of which we did not take full advantage. We failed to take our opportunities, and both our bowling and fielding were undistinguished.  There were good batting performances by Oliver Mathias (C93) (67), Richard Wilson (H92) (47) and David Ansell (O00) (43 not out), but unfortunately they were unable to go on to make the major score which was required.  Equally, they did not receive sufficient support from the other batsmen.

Old Cheltonians	279-6
Old Amplefordians	243

The highlight of the season came during the game against the Staffordshire Gentlemen.  Alexander Codrington (J94) (102) and Peter Field (O96) (70) put on 201 in their opening partnership.

Consistently good batting performances, during the season, were regularly produced by Sebastian Phillips (C01), Jonjo Hobbs (D94), Alexander Codrington and Peter Field.  On occasion, the evergreen David O’Kelly (C81) and Nick Derbyshire (J88), Toby Codrington (J91), Nick Lamb (C91) and Richard Wilson (H92) also made useful contributions. Particular mention should be made of David Ansell, who combined an excellent technique with sound concentration, good shot selection and the ability to punish the bad ball, and was always looking to be aggressive.  A natural athlete, he is a brilliant fielder. Tom Stanley (W91) made an impressive debut on tour.

Sadly, too many OA batsmen get themselves out, when they have done all the hard work and when they should be set to make really significant scores.  This is probably due to a lack of concentration and experience.

The bowling was generally unremarkable.  Only Damien Churton (O88) and Jeremy Acton (C91) managed to take five wickets or more in an innings during the season.

The absence of the superb bowling by Finbar O’Connor (B77) created an enormous gap in our bowling resources. The ground fielding was untidy and the catching lamentable.  But all the cricket was played in a splendid spirit and in the best traditions of Ampleforth cricket.

FEB

Old Amplefordian Golfing Society

The Old Amplefordian Golfing Society has completed a very successful year with fixtures around the country from the Wirral to Ganton, Aldeburgh to Porthcawl and Dublin to East Grinstead.  The Grafton Morrish team of Mark Whittaker (J86), Matthew Camacho (C98), David Piggins (J80), Hugh Jackson (T95), Martin Hattrell (E78) and Simon Hardy (D76) again won the regional qualifying round but were defeated in the knockout by the winning finalists.

Some 70 OAs have played for the OAGS this year. The Captain, William Frewen (W77), led an intrepid group across the Irish Sea from the UK to launch the inaugural Irish Meeting, masterminded by Richard Beatty (T81), in May and the Autumn Meeting at Ganton, with a tremendous turnout of 31, once again culminated with an excellent Dinner at the College.

Please remember, you do not have to be a scratch golfer to join the OAGS: our handicaps range from 28 downwards. So why not join us?  For more information contact Anthony Angelo-Sparling (T59) at 22 Hare and Hounds Street, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1LZ; 01380 727 556 or waas@freenet.co.uk

WAA-S

Robin Andrews (O61), Mark Cuddigan (D73), William Howard (W95), David Thunder (E60), Charles Jackson (C58) are seen in the photograph after being entertained to dinner by the Headmaster, Fr Leo, at Ampleforth on 6 October 2001.

Over 30 played in this year’s Autumn Meeting at Ganton. The Autumn Cup winners were: Lord Stafford (C72) [Ampleforth Bowl], Hugh Jackson (T95) [Scratch Trophy], Fr Simon Trafford (O44) [David Palengat Cup (for over 50s)], Dr Kevin Henderson (O47) and Guy Henderson (A79) [Goremire Putters].

At the Manchester Hot Pot on 21 November 2001, the Secretary of the Society, Anthony Angelo-Sparling (T59) said that the Society’s inaugural meeting had been 89 years ago on 12 September 1912 at Royal Lytham and St Annes. In 2001 there had been 21 meetings including five representative matches and about 80 Old Amplefordians had played in these meetings.

Old Amplefordian Rugby Club

The 2000/01 season was one of transformation and change as the Club has moved from a traditional Sunday rugby old boys’ side to one competing in the Surrey Leagues. The result has been the development of a more committed team of players than in recent years and the winning of the league in the first year, to be promoted to Surrey II.

It is true to say that the Club had lost a little of its momentum in the previous years as a team that played friendly rugby on a Sunday afternoon. Professional rugby was having an effect on the Sunday game as the amount of players prepared to play twice in a weekend was diminishing. The game on Saturday was getting too competitive and hard for the players to have a leisurely run out the following day. As a result more and more of the opposition were finding it impossible to find a team for us or moving into Saturday rugby. Our membership numbers were holding up but players were beginning to show signs of following the same pattern. However, the decision to join the Surrey Leagues has given a new drive to the Club and its members and we can now watch as the Club goes from strength to strength.

We closed the 1999/00 season with a resounding party at the Hurlingham Club in Fulham. What a night was had by all, with players represented from all of the previous 15 years and joined by the Club=s President John Willcox and fantastic supporter Pauline. Matthew Winn did all the organising and even arranged for the band he was in to play a gig. Our thanks go to Mike Pudner, a long time supporter of the Club, whose band it was and to Matthew for all the arrangements and ensuring that 150 OARFC members and their guests had a great evening.

Nick Hughes joined us originally to set up the coaching. This he was doing from his offices in New York. These have been held every Tuesday throughout the season and will continue on through the summer months as touch rugby in the park. Jimmy Elliot - once an Oxford Blue, whose rugby potential was cut short by a serious knee injury - has now taken on this mantle. Nick is now the Club=s Secretary and, with Nick Dumbell and his brother Jon, is responsible for all the organisation and liaison.

Results