Orienteering

Orienteering

This year has certainly been an eventful one, if you would pardon the pun. Its ranged from the ridiculous, like searching for non-existent parks in the Duke of Westminster’s Estate, near to Chester, to the even more ridiculous, swinging around forests like flippin’ Tarzan, in an army training camp in Rio de je-Wales.

This, as you surely must have guessed, is my last year at the school and thus last for orienteering here. I have been part of the team since it was first made available to me in second year. I’ve gone on to enjoy my time immensely over the past six years on those gloriously miserable Saturday mornings up and down Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. The banter’s always been great along with the water fights, odd pieces of cake and the occasional medal thrown in to boot. There has, most importantly, always been a good team spirit.

Now for the gory stats. After five events the school’s first team finished a highly respectable fourth placing in the table with 104 points out of 125, bettered only by a flaming good Sandbach side (who scooped up every available point bar one) and two very good divisions from Fallibroome. Most importantly, however, we beat our most fierce rival at my time at the school, which is Wirral Grammar School, who finished sixth.

As a self-confessed Wigan Athletic fan I know how it feels to be the underdog. Sometimes I feel the sport doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves, I suppose like the football club, but in time with more and more young ‘uns being introduced I believe that the sport will continue to grow and fully establish itself as a credit to the school and, who knows, maybe bring more silverware the school’s way along with Rugby, Rowing etc.? In my time here, the highest we finished in a “campaign” was second to guess who, but I hope this is bettered in the not-too distant future.

I would like to thank the teaching staff of Mrs Casaus and Mrs Plumber, as well as Miss Gonzales and Dr Cowling in recent years, who gave up their free time to ferry the lads up and down the North-West come hell or high water, the parents who were involved, most notable Mr Jones, and the organisers of the events. Last but not least I would like to praise all the boys who showed total commitment to the cause from all years. They were superb. Also to those who demonstrated their Houdini-like qualities with bizarre disappearing and re-appearing acts (long story involving a lot of sand dunes) who gave Mrs Casaus palpitations after realising no elf ‘n’ safety forms had been signed! I’m told they will be auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent next year. In all seriousness, though, without the boys’ involvement the school, your school, would not be competing for honours in this demanding field of sport.

Abinav Kishere will be installed as the next captain 2009/10. He will be rewarded for this achievement with the ‘Orienteering Captains’ Cup’ newly presented to the school as my final act as Captain 2008/09. The cup will be passed on to future leaders who will all have their names emblazoned on it in honour of their blood, sweat and tears. I wish him all the best along with everyone else.

Cheers, the not too-distant past captain,

Richard Kirby, June 2009