The Trusty Servant Nov 2016 No.122 | Page 18

NO.122 Wykehamist Olympic Champion for 96 years and the first to win a medal at two separate Olympics. His crew was described by no less than Sir Steve Redgrave as the ‘best IV we’ve (GB) produced’. George has now won gold for GB at U16, U18, U23, World Championships and Olympics and has won a world or Olympic title every year since 2013. Toby Backhouse (B, 82-87) reports: ‘I shared my part in Wykehamical sporting glory by rowing in the Veterans’ Boat Race at the end of April 2016, fortunately rowed over only half the normal course, to reduce the need for on board defibrillators. I had lost in my freshman year at Cambridge in 1989 and after 27 years I was talked into a comeback, and our victory was sweet, even if it was a side show to the main event. Oxford veterans had stacked their boat with a slew of exOlympians and American fitness freaks. An exception to this dark-blue trickery was the inclusion of young Richard Manners (Coll, 86-91): it’s a shame to have to beat a fellow Icenae, but it was worth it in pursuit of a light-blue win. Average age for each crew was above 42, and minimum age above 35: young George Nash will simply have to wait his turn. Essential viewing of our epic race at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncczw02thc&feature=youtu.be’ T H E T R U S T Y S E RVA N T Old Wykehamist Sporting Societies OWCC Rupert Morton (B, 96-01) reports: On a glorious July day, 37 OWs competed in the inaugural T20 competition: a slightly more vintage OWCC team took on IZ, with a more youthful OWCC side playing the OW Football Club. The former match was a see-saw affair, with Al Maclay (Coll, 86-91) and Caspar Ridley (K, 80-85) exerting great control in the opening overs and restricting IZ to a slow run rate; in the middle overs IZ staged a comeback with some attacking stroke play, before Tim Moore (Coll, 93-98) came on to peg them back. A late rally got IZ to 133 for 8. Of special note was a brilliant one-handed pick up and run out by Bill Holland (F, 7983). In reply, Tim Moore and Charlie Mccall (F, 91-96) led the charge, but the OWCC were always up against it in the face of some accurate bowling. With 17 needed off the last over, OWCC were knocked out, 14 runs short. On Meads an aggressive 66 by John Wilson (E, 01-06) set the OWFC off to a great start and they finished on 162. The OWCC were always up against it, and even Jonny Pringle’s (C, 98-03) towering sixes - one easily clearing the straight Meads wall off Tim Lewis (F, 03-08) – couldn’t keep up with the rate, with the OWCC finishing on 156. 18 In the final, the OWFC bowled first and, after an initial salvo from IZ, were able to peg them back with some tight bowling from Tom Guest (C, 97-02), Will Morse (K, 01-06) and Will Rowley (C, 07-12). Phil Nevin’s (I, 95-00) leg spin (not seen since the 90s) made a surprise return for a tidy return of 4 overs, 4 wickets for 14 and, with the OWFC keenly scampering around in the field, the target was restricted to 131. IZ started well in the field, pinning the OWFC batsmen down. Even with excellent knocks from Tim Lewis and Pete Fuller (Coll, 04-09) down the order, the OWFC eventually ended up short on 114 all out. It was a great day and ended on a delightful note with all the players repairing to the Queen, where Stuart Churchill arrived to receive a lovely photo book of all Soccer and Lords XIs from 1974 onwards with letters of appreciation from OWs of all societies. Many thanks must go to Tim Moore, George Close-Brooks (F, 90-95) and his wife Sarah for organising and producing the book (which required hours of labour). All in all, it was a fantastic day and one that the OWCC will be looking to repeat in the future. OW Fives On Friday 3rd June and under the aegis of dons Jamie McManus, James Hodgins and Giles Munn, 20 OWs and current pupils