FUN FILLED HILSEA 125 SPORTS DAY A REAL WINNER!
Our athletes have been national champions and represented England overseas but they faced new challenges when it came to celebrating 125 years of sport at Hilsea.
Tug-of-war, welly wanging, over-the-hay-bales hurdles, fun runs, obstacle courses and sack races were some of the less conventional track and field events introduced to this year’s annual sports day, held in memory of Mr Neil Blewett on the hottest day of 2010 so far.
The competition returned to Hilsea after an extended absence to mark the grounds’ longstanding role in school sport and a sense of high spirited fun prevailed from the start.
Every senior school pupil but one took part in the house-based competition and turned out festooned head to toe in team colours and daubed in body paint to demonstrate their loyalty. Even the staff competed in their own relay race!
Only Year 9 pupil Emily Jenkinson was missing, busy seizing a silver medal in the junior girls 800m at the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships in Birmingham with a new personal best of 2min 12.46.
Even the staff competed in their own relay race!
Business was brisk at stalls selling cakes and jewellery to help boost the bursary fund established in memory of Neil Blewett who always took a pivotal role in sports day and who was much missed this year. There was also a range of ‘20p have a go’ events raising money towards the fund.
Head of Drama Mark Smith ably assisted by OP Neil Hindley provided an amusing commentary throughout.
Headmaster James Priory said: ‘It has been the best sports day I have experienced for a long time and a wonderful way to celebrate 125 years of PGS sport at Hilsea. Wouldn't it be brilliant if the London 2012 Olympicscould includehay-bale-hurdling, sack racesand welly wanging?
‘The combinationof competitive eventsand family fun has certainly made this a sports dayto remember because everyone has taken part and had a lot of fun at the same time.’
Director of Sport Chris Dossett added; ‘This sports day was the most enjoyable of my six so far at PGS. Holding it at Hilsea gave a more friendly, inclusive feel to the day with the highlights being the tug of war, fun run, sack race and the hurdles over the hay bales. The extra events gave a wider range of pupils the opportunity to take part whilst still enabling our star athletes to shine in the traditional track events.’
Thanks must go to the PGS catering staff at Hilsea for their now famous and much sought after sports teas which kept spectators refreshed throughout the day although teachers David Hampshire and Christine Giles - veterans of many past Hilsea sports days – attracted envious looks as they enjoyed their Harrods’ picnic hamper!
OP Club President Bruce Strugnell, himself a former PGS Athletics champion, presented the trophies.
Results were:
Middle School Athletics: 1.Hawkey 211; 2. Eastwood 207; 3.Barton 197; 4.Summers 190
Senior School Athletics: 1.Smith 359 ; 2.Latter 319; 3.Grant 306; 4.Whitcombe 294
Relays Cup: Smith House
Middle School Athletes of the Day (Standards Trophy): Annie Manuel and Jevon Subramaniam
Senior School Athletes of the Day (Christopher Payne Trophy): Josie Blagbrough and Elvin Subramaniam
Open 300 Yard Trophy: Mia Finton and James Gulliford
Tug of War: Middle: 1.Whitcombe; 2.Latter; 3=. Smith and Grant. Senior: 1.Hawkey; 2. Eastwood; 3=.Summers and Barton.
