7th May 2015 Dear Parents and Guardians, As ever, our students

7th May 2015
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As ever, our students have been performing exceptionally well in an impressively varied set of
activities. Last Thursday, our Year 12 Physicists attended a very challenging assessment in their
engineering skills at Cranmore Park, and I am delighted to report that all of them were awarded
the distinguished Gold Crest. That same evening and the following day, our Year 11 GCSE Drama
students were absolutely magnificent in their interpretations of Dr Faustus, Teechers and
Kindertransport, moving sublimely between comedy, tragedy and pathos. Alongside these
curricular activities, there have been some fine performances on the sports field, as you will read
in the full report towards the end of this E-Newsletter.
It was a pleasure to host a delicious lunch last Friday for some of the College’s top academic
performers within the Senior School. We had a fruitful discussion on revision, which resulted in
a timely Top Ten Tips For Revision – a ‘must have’ for all parents in the current season! Thus it
appears at the end of this introduction.
I hope that you enjoyed Bank Holiday Monday; for some, it was a sad farewell to our delightful
German exchange students and their teachers, with lovely relationships having once again been
forged between the two schools.
While the Senior School has been a hive of activity with public examinations of a practical nature
in Languages, Art, Design & Technology and PE, the Preparatory School has been able to enjoy a
rather less pressurising week, with Life Education Workshops, midweek sports fixtures and a
splendid assembly this morning delivered by Mr Enoux’s Year 4 Class.
The weekend is set to be busy for our sportsmen and women, together with Bronze Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award students on their practice expedition. We wish them all well in their
endeavours.
Wishing you and your family a very happy, healthy and blessed week ahead,
Yours sincerely,
Gareth P. Lloyd,
Headmaster.
Ten Top Tips for Revision
1.
2.
3.
4.
Do a revision timetable and stick to it.
Get a balance between your revision and an appropriate number of activities and breaks.
Refer to the specification at GCSE and A Level.
Use as many resources as possible – exercise book, text book, additional reading, Internet,
teacher, parent and friend.
5. Find the best revision techniques that suit YOU – summarising notes, mind maps, teach a
concept to someone else, pneumonics, test yourself and get someone else to test you.
6. Remove things that distract you – mobile phone, i-Pad, television, lap top.
7. Be truthful to yourself: don’t revise irrelevant information or work that you already
understand, but do revise the difficult and, as yet, unknown information.
8. Go over previous tests, to avoid repeating mistakes, and to learn effective approaches and
convincing arguments.
9. Have all revision supplies in one place, whether in your bedroom or at your revision desk
(YOU decide which is the better location).
10. Little and often, long-term, works very effectively: ten minutes per subject per week
throughout the year.
PARENT NEWS
If there are any students who would still like to attend Pre-season Rugby or Hockey Training
on Tuesday 1st September, Wednesday 2nd September and Pre-season matches on
Saturday 5th September, and have either lost or not returned their reply slips,
please return them as soon as possible or contact Mr Kaye (rugby): mkaye@ratcliffe.leics.sch.uk
or Mr Willcock (hockey): DWillcock@ratcliffe.leics.sch.uk, respectively, for a letter. The closing
date for this will be extended until half-term. Thank you.
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Proposed Trips for Easter 2016
I am delighted to announce that next Easter there are five residential trips planned for students
in Years 10-13 and three for students in Years 9-13 (See table 1 below):
Table 1
Day
Date
Month
Sun-Sat
Sun-Sat
Mon-Fri
Sat-Sat
Fri-Fri
27th -2nd
27th -2nd
11th -15th
9th -16th
7th -17th
March/April
March/April
April
April
April
Year
Group
10-13
10-13
9-13
9-13
9-13
Trip
Spanish Homestay visit to Granada
French Homestay visit to Nice
RS and Classics Trip to Rome and Assisi
German Exchange visit to Koblenz
CCF Easter Camp to Langeac South France
Given the popularity of these trips in recent years and our desire to ensure that as many students
have the opportunity to attend the most appropriate trip, we felt it was important to provide this
information now, so that parents can discuss the trips with their children and plan accordingly.
The School would strongly recommend that those students studying languages at A level or
GCSE, should participate in a language trip. This is by far the best way for students to develop
their language skills. Duel linguists are encouraged to participate in one language trip each year,
so they are able to make equal improvement in both languages over a two year course.
The Easter CCF camp has been running successfully for almost 20 years now. This is a fantastic
opportunity for students to develop skills in kayaking, canoeing and camp craft in the South of
France.
The RS and Classics trip to Rome and Assisi is a new trip. The itinerary includes Mass at St
Peter’s Basilica, visiting Rosminian Headquarters in Rome along with the Sistine Chapel, the
Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum and the Forum Romanun. There will also be a
day trip to Assisi to visit inter alia and the basilica’s of St Francis and St Clare. Students studying
Latin are strongly encouraged to attend this trip, although if they are also studying a modern
foreign language, we would advise that they prioritise the MFL trip.
I hope that this information proves to be helpful to parents and students in deciding which trips
they support next year.
Thank you in advance for your continued support of our residential trips and visits programme.
Kind regards,
Jon Reddin
Senior Deputy Head.
Dear Parents,
Years 10-13 French Homestay Visit to Nice, France
Sunday 27th / Monday 28th March –Saturday 2nd / Sunday 3rd April 2016
After a very successful homestay trip to Montpellier this year, we are proposing to take a group
of students from Years 10 to 13 to Nice, France, during the first week of the Easter holidays next
year. The aims of this language trip are to experience living with a French family whilst
participating in French lessons in a French language school and getting to know the local,
beautiful region of Nice during a program of arranged cultural activities. Therefore, by
immersing the students into French life they have a fantastic opportunity to improve their
language skills immensely.
As we have now established contact with the language school, ‘France Langue’ in Nice, we will
book directly with them and they will arrange the lessons, activities and host families. We will
book and organise the travel arrangements, which will include a return coach transfer from
Ratcliffe College to the airport in England and return flights to Nice.
We will leave Ratcliffe College on either Sunday 27th or Monday 28th March 2016 – this will
depend on suitable available flights, as the airlines have yet to publish prices and timetables of
flights for next March. The students will be met at Nice airport by their host families and return
home with them. The students will stay in pairs, yet there are occasions when students may stay
as a three. We also encourage Sixth Formers to stay on their own so that they gain the maximum
benefit of speaking French as much as possible with their family. During the five day program
the students will have lessons in the language school each morning. There will be a separate
group for A Level revision (Years 12 and 13) and a GCSE group (Years 10 and 11). All language
lessons will be planned in advance and will be appropriate for our students’ level and will
include grammar revision, topic based activities and conversation. A packed lunch will be
provided and we will eat together as a group after morning lessons. The afternoons will be filled
with a cultural program of activities, either exploring Nice or further afield. Again, this will be
led by the language school and by an experienced, local tour guide, but accompanied by Ratcliffe
staff. In the evenings the students will return to their host families and have an evening meal
with them. We will return to School on either Saturday 2nd or Sunday 3rd April 2016, again
depending on a suitable flight.
As we are in the early stages of organising the trip we do not have a definite cost, as this will be
determined in part by the number of students interested. We estimate that the overall price will
be approximately £750 per student, which will cover return flights, return coach transfer from
Ratcliffe to the airport, all language lessons, excursions, and board with the host families, with
three meals included. We think this is exceptional value given the experience the students will
have in a popular, seaside resort in the south of France.
In order to secure a place for your son/daughter, please could you complete the tear-off slip and
return it to Mrs Reddin, or your son/daughter’s French teacher, as soon as possible and no later
than Friday 12th June 2015. Please note that £200.00 will be added to your School bill and
is non-refundable. There will be a further two charges – £275 to the Autumn Term bill and the
balance, which will be approximately £275, will be added onto the Spring term bill. Once
numbers have been confirmed another letter will follow with further details.
Your son/daughter will need to have an up to date European Health card, which is free and can
be applied for on-line, and their passport, in order to travel. I will need copies of these
documents once your son/daughter has secured their place on the trip. Travel insurance will be
provided for by the school.
We hope that you will agree that this visit represents a very exciting opportunity for your
son/daughter and it will greatly enhance their language learning, not only for their A Level and
GCSE revision, but as a fabulous experience to enhance their experience of French life and
culture.
I will be leading the trip and will be accompanied by Mrs Crebbin, French teacher in the Modern
Languages Department. Please do not hesitate to contact me at School if you would like any
more information about the trip – 01509 817082 (Languages Department) or via e-mail at
jrreddin@ratcliffe.leics.sch.uk
Yours sincerely,
Mrs J Reddin
Languages Department.
PLEASE FIND REPLY SLIP AT END OF NEWSLETTER.
SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENT NEWS
Headmaster’s Assembly Awards
5th May 2015
Merit Badge
Year 7
Kristian Brocksopp
Sophie Brown
Thomas Leite
Year 9
Alicia Boothroyd
Sarah Curnick
Mollie Page
Outstanding Reward Voucher 1
Year 10
Year 11
Esme Kelly
Outstanding Reward Voucher 2
Olivia Back
Jack Nightingale
Charlie Nicholson
Congratulations to Martha Lewis in Year 13 on securing the ‘Goethe Institut Scholarship’
awarded annually by Charnwood Borough Council. The town of Schwäbisch Hall in Germany
offers a summer scholarship to study German with the Goethe Institute, popular with students
from around the world. The town, twinned with Loughborough, meets the cost of course fees,
board and lodgings. The students have the opportunity to improve their German language
and also to see more of Germany. Martha attended an interview a week last Monday, which
comprised a panel of three. She was congratulated ‘on an excellent interview performance in
what was a very strong field of candidates’.
(Year 11) Emilia Lawden’s band, ‘Youth Brass 2000’ came second in the premiership section
of the European Brass Band Championships in Freiburg, Germany, last Sunday.
Mia Mordecai-Smith, Year 11, competed at Withington Manor Pony Trials on Saturday 2nd
May and came 8th out of 35, being only one of six competitors to complete the show jumping and
extremely tactical cross country course clear. There are two more pony trials to compete in
before selection is made to represent Britain in the European Pony Trials this summer, so fingers
crossed!
Daniel Warwick, Year 11, has successfully completed his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.
Anna Williams, Year 9, had two scenes in Macbeth, including the ‘slaughter of the innocents’ in
which she played Macduff’s daughter. This was pretty brutal and started with Anna leading her
“mother” onto the stage, singing an unaccompanied folk song and then being brutally murdered.
The production, although amateur, was sponsored by the RSC Open Stages programme and Anna
will now appear at The Swan in Stratford in June when her scene has been chosen in the
showcase.
Anna pictured with her “mother”
Art is …
Pencil on A4 paper by Lily Stevenson-Ward, Year 7
German Exchange Return Visit
Our friends from our German partner school left on Bank Holiday Monday morning with many fond
memories of their week here. Happily, the predicted inclement weather came to nothing and we
were blessed with blue skies and sunshine for much of the week, although it was a little on the nippy
side! After a full day in school on Tuesday, students from both schools enjoyed a visit to Warwick
Castle and Stratford. German students then visited Nottingham on Thursday followed by a spot of
shopping in Leicester on Friday. It is testament to our hospitality that many of our German
students could happily have stayed for longer. Thanks go to all of our host families and to everyone
at Ratcliffe for their generosity and cordiality.
Mr McCrindell & Mrs Cushing, Languages Department
PREPARATORY SCHOOL NEWS
CERTIFICATES OF MERIT were awarded to:YEAR 5
Tobias Chilton
Sam Gray
Phoebe Greenaway
Eleanor Griffiths
Cameron Gordon
Annie Jarvis
Oliver McKaig
Harley Walker
YEAR 4
Emily Ball
Maddy Dunstan
Kai Kirk
Tatiana Lock
Sophie Packwood
Jayde Patterson
Ranai Popat
Daisy Reddin
Jerry Simon
Oscar Webster
Madelaine Whalley
YEAR 3
Sophie Bardsley
YEAR 2
Ben Cameron-Smith
Ciernan Cooke
Isabella Elsby
Zara Etty
Oscar Jenks
Tom Lander-Belfie
James Packwood
Khrish Tailor
Merit Badge
Merit Shield
Merit Shield
Merit Badge
Merit Shield
Merit Badge
Merit Badge
Merit Shield
Second Certificate
Merit Shield
Merit Badge
Second Certificate
Merit Badge
Merit Shield
Merit Shield
Second Certificate
First Certificate
Second Certificate
Second Certificate
Merit Badge
Merit Badge
Merit Badge
Merit Badge
Merit Badge
Merit Badge
Merit Badge
Merit Badge
Merit Badge
YEAR 1
Freya Smith
Merit Badge
Sam Gray, Year 5, has won the Kirby Muxloe Championship Football League.
Xavier Illsley-Ridge, Year 3, has been presented with the Syston RFC U8’s Managers’ Player of the
Year 2014/2015 by Leicester Tigers Players at Syston RFC end of season awards night.
Amélie Wilson-Knight, Year 1, has been presented with a trophy for the highest mark in a
character duet in which she performed Hansel and Gretel at the BTDA Sutton Coldfield Novice
Dance Festival on 25th and 26th April.
She was awarded first place in the Novice Baby Classical Duet and Novice Baby Cabaret Duet,
third place in Novice Baby Ballet and fourth place in the Novice Baby Lyrical.
Last Friday, the Prep School said farewell to Mrs Gilbert, Receptionist, after 8 years of loyal and
efficient service to Ratcliffe College.
SPIRITUAL NEWS
Chaplain’s Corner
Over the course of the next few weeks, our students in Years 11-13 will be leaving regular
classes and beginning their final exams. We hope and pray that the efforts they, their parents and
their teachers have made will come to healthy fruition, and that they are justly rewarded.
We pray also for their peace of mind, so the pressures of this period are always couched in
a recognition of their fine preparation, and a confidence in themselves and in the help families
and our school have given them.
As important as academic success is, my prayer is also for their fond recognition of the role our
school has played in their moral development and religious sensibilities. In my occupation as Lay
Chaplain, I am constantly aware of the responsibility to sensitively and honestly present the
Church and its message to a student body of broad and varied attitudes. Our society is not one of
homogenous outlook, and the political, economic and social decisions taken individually and as a
nation are not easy ones. Religion in general, and Christianity in our case, often speak counterculturally to such decisions, and this challenges the keen and critical minds of our young as much
as it does our broader society.
A sensitive and honest presentation of the Church and its message must then meet students
where they are, and be willing to engage students with “the big questions”, and to listen to their
perspective. Words devoid of authenticity and personal conviction are easily spotted by the
young, and can alienate them pronto. Such authenticity must be seen both in individual teachers
and in our school’s actions and processes.
Central to the Christian message is Jesus’ willing and costly response to God, and its vindication
in the Resurrection. It was a human response, bringing about a human cost. This much is certain.
The divine vindication of this human nobility in the Resurrection is a matter of faith. As such,
Christians of keen and critical mind are always aware of the possibility that they’re wrong
– and there’s no shortage of people ready to tell them as much! But it would be the uncritical
mind that denies the deep human desire for the vindication of a just life cruelly taken, or for a
sustaining conviction, or for a gentle forgiveness, or for a promise of a brighter future.
I was challenged in class yesterday to explain how humans – with attendant colours, shapes and
sizes – could all be made “in God’s image”. My response began with a recognition that only if God
speaks to the noblest and deepest human hopes, fears and desires is belief in God worthy. God is
the horizon of human self-transcendence. To be in God’s image is to live within and to be drawn
toward the fullness of rationality, freedom and responsibility – the fullness of humanity. If I
accept that dignity for myself, I must respect and protect it in others.
Again, as much as I hope and pray for the academic success of our students, I hope and pray that
our school leaves its mark on their character. May they be always mindful of the nobility to
which they are called, and of the dignity of those around them.
Mr Michel, Lay Chaplain
SPORTS
SENIOR SCHOOL
Report as presented at Headmaster’s Assembly on Tuesday 5th May
Cricket
1st XI
The 1st XI finally got their season off to a start against the MCC. Good bowling before lunch
restricted the MCC, but a lapse of concentration after lunch allowed ex-professional and
International cricketer, Darren Bicknell, to score at will. The declaration was too much for the
School as they also fell just short of saving a draw, with Jack Nightingale receiving Man of the
Match for his all-round display.
Against King Henry’s on Saturday, the team played out a thrilling tie. Jack Nightingale was again
Man of the Match with bowling figures of 5 for 21 and 90 with the bat. However, he was sadly
bowled off the last ball of the game with the scores tied, to end a superb game of cricket in which
fortunes had ebbed and flowed throughout the day.
2nds
The 2nd XI struggled against a strong Gateway 1st team last Thursday. Batting first, they only
managed 86 runs, thanks mainly to a fine 43 from Richard Ward. Despite a better bowling
performance, Gateway won the game with 4 overs and 6 wickets to spare.
U15
The U15s had a terrible start to the game when batting first against King Henry’s, losing 5 early
wickets with only 10 runs on the board. A solid recovery through Harry Heaney with 26 runs
and Harrison Grimmett with 28 runs, guided the team to a relatively respectable total of 90.
When fielding 2 quick wickets from Harry and Akash, Moorthy put Ratcliffe on top, but an
excellent 50 by the opposition’s number 4 batsman guided King Henry’s to victory with only
3 wickets down. Man of the Match was Harry Heaney for his excellent all-round game.
U14
The U14s came into the game off the back of a defeat last week, knowing that they needed to
perform well. Things started brightly as they were a lot better in the field and their bowling was
fantastic, with some outstanding figures from Toby Snell, Rory Stoker, and joint Players of the
Match, Nicole Spencer and George Morgan-Jones. The only blemish in their fielding was the fact
that they conceded too many unnecessary extras. Nevertheless, they still restricted the
opposition to 68 for 9 off their 25 overs. Unfortunately, Ratcliffe thought this had meant they had
won the game and, after the top 4 batsmen got out to a fine opening pair of bowlers, the middle
order then panicked and collapsed. Ratcliffe ended up being bowled out for a disappointing 48.
They now need to bounce back and particularly focus on their batting in preparation for their
next game.
U13
The U13s lost to King Henry’s by 7 wickets in a good game of cricket. Ratcliffe batted first and
managed to score 90 runs from 25 overs, with noticeable contributions from Oliver Welch who
scored 23. However, every batsman batted more consistently and sensibly and stayed at the
crease for a lot longer, much better than in previous games! Again, the boys bowled well and
limited King Henry’s’ scoring opportunities, with Ellis Gee the most economical (4-11-0) and
Kapil Soni taking some very good wickets (4-14-2); both were supported by an excellent spell of
bowling from Tom Binnie. Our fielding was much better than in previous games, and wicket
keeper, Joe Collier, put in a solid performance with the gloves, taking one excellent catch! Man of
the Match was Kapil Soni for his excellent bowling and much improved performance with the
bat!
U12
The U12s won a close game against King Henry’s by 5 runs. Batting first, Ratcliffe scored 103
for 8. Archie Heaney batted patiently and scored an impressive six, finishing joint top scorer
with 12. In reply, King Henry’s scored quickly but accurate bowling from Owen Lloyd (2-3) and
Fin Back (3-9) saw Ratcliffe home, with the final wicket falling in the last over, with the score
on 98.
Football
Well done to the Thai footballers who beat Portsmouth Academy 3 – 2 last week.
Golf
Congratulations to Emily Dunne who has qualified for the three-day County Golf competition
next week.
Hockey
Well done to Olivia Back who attended an England Hockey performance weekend over the Bank
Holiday. She played in an England U17 team which beat Ulster 2 - 1 on Sunday. Olivia played
very well and was unlucky not to score when her close-range shot looped over the bar in the
final few minutes of the game.
PREPARATORY SCHOOL
U11 Midlands Mini Hockey Tournament – Cannock 2015
On Friday 24th April, our U11 Boys’ Hockey Squad set off bright and early in pursuit of glory at
the Midlands Mini Hockey Tournament held at Cannock Hockey Club. As ever, the boys were in
buoyant mood and, after a full week of hard and focused training, they were as well prepared as
they could be for the challenges ahead. On arrival, it was clear to see that the opposition were of
a higher standard than the County round of the competition, and that the boys would have to be
on the top of their individual and collective games to achieve their aim of winning
the tournament and being crowned Midlands Champions.
As is always the case in such tournaments, getting out of the group stages is always the biggest
challenge, and success in this endeavour hinges invariably on your opponents in the first game.
On this occasion, we pulled out the shortest straw being drawn against Bilton Grange. They were
certainly not a better team than us, but they possessed in their ranks a player whose clinical
finishing prowess in the shooting circle far exceeded his tender years. He was the difference
in the game, and he proved to be the difference in all games played throughout the tournament
that Bilton Grange contested, such was his high level of shooting power and accuracy. Having
said that, our team created more chances against Bilton Grange than any other team and even
scored against them, which was to be a rare occurrence indeed as the day progressed.
After that initial 3 – 1 defeat, many teams would have been crestfallen and demotivated, but not
our brave lions. This was not new territory, and they were all hardened tournament competitors
now and so they bounced straight back into action. The second game saw another rule of sport
and life cruelly brought into stark reality. You must always strike when you are in the
ascendency because, if you don’t, there is always the faintest chance that if you haven’t
extinguished your opponent’s hope of victory, they just might spring a surprise. And so it was to
be after 12 minutes of complete domination, but no goals that St Peter’s from East Bridgford
were awarded a penalty corner in the last thirty seconds of the match, in their first meaningful
foray into our shooting circle. Low and behold, the ball found its way like an exocet into the
corner of our goal just as the bell went to signal the end of the game.
Two harsh lessons learned and after time to regroup, the boys were in no mood to let anyone
else spoil their day. And so in games 3 and 4, the boys scored 11 goals without conceding a
single one! Normal service had been resumed and all of the boys’ hard work was paying
dividends, with one of the eleven goals being widely applauded by all who witnessed it as the
best goal they had ever seen at this age. It was a goal that clearly illustrated that a team still has
the power to overcome individual brilliance. The goal in question involved every player on the
pitch, starting with Goalkeeper, Ben Jackson, who kicked the ball to his left hand side where
Xavier Henderson collected deep in his defensive corner.
He then evaded the onrushing attacker before playing the ball down the line to Rajen Gupta,
who, in one smooth motion, fed the ball further along the line to Guy Heywood, who had made an
intelligent run out wide from his centre forward moorings. Guy seeing that he could not
progress down the wide left channel, came back around to pass the ball back to Rajen, who then
swiftly moved the ball onto Xabier Zanotti- Baranano in central midfield. Xabier switched the
play to Louie Fletcher at onrushing right back, who, with one flick of the stick, guided the ball
into Sam Linnett’s path. With one touch to control and set himself in the circle, Sam coolly
dispatched the ball into the corner of the goal to resounding applause form the awestruck
spectators.
This left us with one match to win in order to qualify for the semi- finals. Now it was time for our
last sporting lesson of the day. At the end of the previous game, our last opponent’s goalkeeper
was injured and could take no further part in the tournament. A blessing I hear you cry to play
the final match with an inexperienced goalkeeper between the posts. Sport does not abide by
simple rules and has within its realm many nuances. After taking an early lead, the opposition
goalkeeper suddenly transformed into a human blockade. Although we encamped ourselves in
and around the shooting circle for the remainder of the game, he stood firm, making save after
save after unbelievable save! With all of our concerted pressure, we were bound to leave our
own back door open, and sure enough they took advantage of this twice to deny us our place in
the semi -finals and our chance to achieve the dream.
Nevertheless, in true Ratcliffe style, the boys congratulated the young man who had stood in for
his injured comrade, and left the arena with their heads held high. It is not about winning they
often say, but how you played the game; well, on Friday 24th April 2015, 10 Ratcliffe Prep School
boys played the game of hockey extremely well indeed and they made both myself and
Mr Grewcock, their parents and the wider Ratcliffe community, extremely proud, so well done
gentleman.
U11 Boys’ Hockey Squad: Ben Jackson, Guy Heywood, Louie Fletcher, Rajen Gupta, Xabier
Zanotti-Baranano, Xavier Henderson, Alex Dring, Elliott Lindop, Sam Linnett and Roman
Carpenter.
Brooke Priory Prep School U11 Show Jumping Competition
Hill Top Farm was the place to be on the afternoon of Saturday 2nd May. As the name suggests,
the venue for the inaugural outing of the Ratcliffe Prep School Equestrian Team was on the top of
a windswept hill in rural Rutland. Why I hear you ask did I find myself in such a place at such an
event? Well, having driven 4 of the 5 girls to an away fixture at Copthill earlier in the year and
listened carefully to their conversations, which revolved exclusively around all things related to
horses, from riding them to what rugs to buy to keep them warm during the cold weather,
I thought it only right to give them the opportunity to represent Ratcliffe on horseback if the
opportunity ever arose. Therefore, here I am with the 5 girls and their respective ponies, all in
high spirits and all very keen to make the most of the opportunity to represent Ratcliffe in a
sport that they are all very passionate about.
Before the ponies were led out of their horseboxes and tacked up ready to enter the fray,
the girls had the opportunity to walk the course and memorise the order in which the nine
fences had to be jumped. The first round was to be open, meaning not against the clock, so the
girls could take their time and concentrate on getting that all important clear round. The second
round would be against the clock, over just 5 fences and would require a more detailed plan as to
how horse and rider could complete the course as quickly as possible but still give themselves
the best chance of jumping clear.
Course walk completed, the girls and their grooms went off to get their ponies ready and to give
them a good warm up before entering the arena. First off was Annie Bridgwood on Tom.
She entered the ring looking nervous, but as soon as the bell rang to signal that she could begin
her ride, the nerves disappeared, and Annie and Tom rode a superb clear round. Next over the
fences was Erin Sommerville on Murphy. Erin rode brilliantly, and although she picked up some
faults for a refusal on fence 6, she showed great horsemanship to convince Murphy that he did
actually wanting to jump the fence, which he did brilliantly at the third attempt. Olivia Crawley
followed Erin into the arena on Squirrel, and she calmly jumped clear, always looking in control.
Ella McNeeney and Iddy seemed to float over the ground and the fences to jump clear, which left
our youngest member of the team, Maddy Dunstan riding Crystal, to complete our first round.
Fence 6 again proved tricky but Maddy got Crystal over it on the second attempt, and although
she incurred some faults for the refusal, she hadn’t knocked any of the fences over just like the
rest of the team
The second round saw the girls re-walk the shortened course in preparation for the jump off
against the clock and take on sage advice from Rose Bridgwood whose words of wisdom proved
invaluable. The dreaded fence 6 had been left in and so with speed as well as jumping now as
important, I felt slightly more nervous for the girls. I shouldn’t have been worried because they
all performed superbly with them all jumping clear rounds without any refusals.
This was my first time at a show jumping event and it has to be said, this was the friendliest
atmosphere I have ever experienced at a sporting event. The level of competition was as high as
at any Hockey, Cricket or Rugby tournament, but there was a beautiful sense of children and
parents simply enjoying the chance to ride their ponies and test their undoubted riding skills
over a testing and technical course.
After everybody else had completed the second round, it was time to see where we had finished.
I am extremely pleased and proud to say that the girls’ superb efforts were rewarded with third
place in the team event. This was a great result in our first equestrian outing and well deserved
by all the girls. I must take this opportunity to thank not only the girls and their ponies but their
parents for such great support, encouragement and expertise with the ponies, and Rose
Bridgwood for her tactical knowledge and encouragement of the girls. I think I might be hooked
on the world of equestrian sport and I can’t wait for the next event. Unfortunately, the same can
also be said for my 4-year old daughter who accompanied me to the event, as she requested a
Pony for her birthday on the way home!
Mr Faulconbridge, Head of Prep School Sport
Sporting Fixtures
Thurs
7th
May
Thurs
7th
May
Sat 9th
May
Leicester High
U12 &U13
Rounders
H
4.40pm
XL Club
QE
2.00pm
2.00pm
1st
2nd
H
H
Uppingham
Mount St Marys
2.00pm
Tues
12th
May
Thurs
14th
May
Sat
16th
May
De Lisle
4.40pm
De Lisle
4.40pm
2nd
H
U15
H
U13
U14 &
H
U15
Rounders
U13
H
&U12
Princethorpe
10am
U15A
H
&U13
Tennis
U14, U13,
U12
Rounders
4.20PM
4.20PM
4.20PM
9.30AM
Sat 9th
May
Tues
12th
May
Thurs
14th
May
Sat 16th
May
Uppingham
(boys cricket)
Mount St Marys
(boys Cricket)
De Lisle
2.00pm
2nd
H
10.30
U13
U15
U14 & U15
Rounders
H
H
H
4.20PM
De Lisle
4.40pm
U13 &U12
H
4.20PM
Welbeck
(boys cricket)
Derby Grammar
(boys cricket)
1.30
1st
2nd
U15
U13
U14
U12
U15A &U13
Tennis
U14, U13, U12
Rounders
A
H
H
H
A
A
H
1.00PM
4.40pm
10.30
10.30
Princethorpe
10am
9.00AM
9.30AM
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Years 10-13 Language Homestay Trip to Nice, France
Sunday 27th / Monday 28th March to Saturday 2nd / Sunday 3rd April 2016
Please return this slip to Mrs Reddin or your son/daughter’s French teacher no later than
Friday 12th June 2015.
I would like my son/daughter……………………………………………………………(Name and form) to
participate in the French Homestay trip, Sunday 27th March – Saturday 2nd April 2016.
I agree to a non-refundable deposit of £200.00 being added to my School bill.
I understand that the final cost of this trip has yet to be confirmed. I also understand that by
signing and returning this form, I am committing my son/daughter to the trip. I understand and
agree to the level of supervision of my son/daughter set out in this letter, whilst on the trip.
Signed (Parent/Guardian)…………………………………………………….Date