Packwoodian 2009-10 pps60-110 071010:Layout 1
7/10/10
14:23
Page 43
S P O R T: S W I M M I N G
Swimming
Bell Cup for swimming standards
Manning/Sodens
Prosser Cup for Sixes swimming
McFerran/Wilsons
“Don't wait for your ship to come in – swim out to it.” Author Unknown Swimming is very important to the children at Packwood. For many it is an invaluable life skill, for some a competitive sport, for others a prerequisite to water sports and for most an enjoyable free time activity. Our very youngest children, the Acorns and the 5s and 6s in Main School, are taught to swim by a team of qualified instructors. As the children progress through the school with increased confidence and improved technique, they are encouraged to perfect their strokes and learn some race tactics. Children also learn life saving skills to various levels. During free time several teachers put on ‘free swims’ or organise, ever popular, ‘water polo’ matches. The children are assessed on a regular basis and are encouraged to improve and enjoy their swimming. We have been lucky again this year to have a dedicated team of qualified swimming instructors and our thanks go in particular to Kelly Evans, Jo Hutchings, Sam Hughes and Mrs Brown. The growth and improving standard of Packwood swimming is due to their dedication, patience and skill as teachers and coaches. During the summer term, all children attempt to attain their ‘swimming standards’ alongside the serious matters of woggle races and games of Battleships. Each standard achieved earns points for the child’s Six and the four fastest from each age group are selected for the
Grand Final (results below). In a vintage year for breaking school records, congratulations go to Zara Vickers and Ellie Hutchings who managed the clean sweep of wins for their age group, smashing five records, to Korn and Charlotte on breaking perhaps the toughest top year records and to Fran Hughes who won her breaststroke race for a fifth year in succession (one to go!). Ellie also qualified for the West Midlands/North Championships and returned from Liverpool with a clutch of medals. Most children in the school are recruited by their Six for the Grand Relay which this year, as always, was an exciting (and loud) affair. Harcourt/Clarkes won the senior race, but the overall trophy winners were McFerran/Wilsons with victories in the Middle and Junior age groups. NW Long Freestyle
Breaststroke
Sprint Freestyle
Under 8
Zara Vickers
Zara Vickers*
Zara Vickers*
Under 9
Ellie Mason
Nick Yeoward
Nick Yeoward
Under 10 Ellie Hutchings*
Ellie Hutchings*
Ellie Hutchings*
Under 11
Harri Holroyd
Ella Downey
Fran Hughes
Harry Schofield
Alice Rees
Under 12 Fran Hughes
Under 13 Korn Pithayanukul* Charlotte Greenway* Korn Pithayanukul* *setting a new Packwood record
Rifle Shooting Over 80 children visited the range to shoot, generally either during lesson eight activities or in the two evening Clubs. Many came to gain a qualifying score in the Packwood Pentathlon. Shooting is a discipline that needs regular practice. Debatably, even once a week is probably not enough to be seriously competitive, but there are again some very promising up and coming young shots in the pipeline. This year saw two of them break the 96 barrier (a record score that has stood, both on and off the ‘sponge’, for a number of years now). Frank Morris scored 98 and Nick Yeoward scored 97, both using a ‘sponge’. A definite rivalry has now begun here! During the year there were six Second Class and two First Class certificates awarded and Jamie Moir gained his Marksman certificate. AJR Page 101