News

Saturday 16 March saw the return to the Ampleforth valley of many sporting heroes of the last few years to play their sport in OA teams against current College sides. The weather was fine, spirits were high and wild predictions as to who would win abounded. Nothing would stop the enthusiasm of the day.  

A crack team from the OA Golf Society (Christian Shepherd (T03), Tom Roberts (D06), Hugh Jackson (T95) and Matt Rotherham (T01) joined by Hugh Ainscough (H09) and Mike Slingsby headed to Gilling to take on a College side and they were in full swing by the time matches started back across the valley. 

Max Kinsky (H15) rallied the OAFC who headed north from London and then down to the Ram football pitches for their match v College. The College won 6-0 with the OAFC having had the better first half but who then found themselves 3-0 down at half time. Man of the Match was Max Kinsky (H15). It was a match played in great spirit and one which saw current student, James, pitted against his elder OA sibling, Charles Deacy (H18).  

Following on from the January Cross Country fixture Rory Henderson (O21) returned to take on the College cross country team ably supported by Will Lyon-Tupman (D14). Tasked with taking the longer course the OAs lost this fixture to an in-tune College squad. Roll on January 2025 when the OAXC return to the valley for their bigger annual fixture. 

There was a huge turnout for both boys' and girls' hockey with the girls putting up a squad of 20 players. The girls’ OA hockey team was captained by Tilly Pern (M19) and this match saw 2 sets of siblings on the astro at the same time. Loyce (B22) and Bethan James (B20) as well as Tilly’s sister Olive playing for the College; all battled for victory. It was a brilliantly played but closely fought match with the College winning 2-1.  

The OA netball team lost against a well-practiced College 1st VII with some of the OA team proving their fitness by having played a thrilling hockey match before joining the OA netball side. Match play was 4 x 10-minute quarters with stellar performances from Indigo Mason-Hornby (M19) and Emma Astley Birtwistle (M20). The final score was a win for College 19 –8. 

The final match report comes from the OA boys’ hockey team. After a series of defeats for the OAs it was the boys’ hockey team captained by Freddie Morrissey (J20) who beat the College 1st XI 2-0. Goal scorers were Sam Lovegrove (D/O22) and Piers Butler (W88). Justin Metcalfe, Head of Hockey, reports that the Boys 1st XI could have easily tied the game if it wasn’t for the great goalkeeping of Dimitri Youyou (C23). Man of the match was Piers Butler (W88), who is also on the College Staff, for his hockey stick wizardry.  

It was wonderful to see many Old Amplefordians and Society members on the sidelines supporting and back in the valley.  Tea and cake were served pitch side before players and parents retired to The Windmill for post-match refreshment and to catch up with those who they hadn’t seen for some time. It was wonderful to see the St Margaret’s girls on their 10-year reunion too who were spending the weekend in Ampleforth.   Thanks to every single one of you involved in the day for making the trip to Ampleforth. 

And the golfers? Not quite the near whitewash for the Old Amplefordians! The golfers returned to The Windmill victorious meaning the College won overall, but the Old Amplefordians held their own for a 5 – 2 defeat across the board. 

Meanwhile, the OARFC were gutted to have a change in their fixture schedule that meant they could not return to the valley this year. They made up for it with a win against the Law Society and enjoyed an excellent turnout from veteran OAs who convened over a top-notch lunch and then cheered on the next generation of alumni sporting stars. We look forward to seeing you all in the valley next time when the College’s new talented Rugby Scholars joining VI Form next year will be watching closely.