QES_Sports_Bulletin_February_2024

FEATURED IN THIS EDITION: SUPER SKIING TRIP OUR FIRST QE RUGBY DINNER NEW FEATURE: OE SPOTLIGHT TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTING SPORT GREAT RUGBY COMPETITION RUN COUNTDOWN TO QE SEVENS

SPRING TERM, 2024

EDITION 7

CATCHING UP WITH KARATE

SKIING

Loving their alpine adventure Eighty pupils enjoyed taking to some spectacular slopes during a nine-day half-term trip to a high-altitude French resort that boasts Europe’s largest skiable glacier.

With at least half of the group being beginners, QE’s 2024 skiing trip to Les Deux Alpes gave the boys thrilling new opportunities to enjoy alongside their friends in a beautiful mountain setting.

Group leader Richard Scally said: “It was a super trip, with everyone having a good time – and no major injuries!

Such visits provide adventure and fresh experiences for the boys, and are a really important element in the QE experience.”

SPRING TERM, 2024 | EDITION 7

Les Deux Alpes, which is near Grenoble, lays claim to a number of records – as well as the glacier, it is home to the longest fully on-piste vertical in the world, at 2,200m.

The boys stayed at the traditional Le Soleil alpine hotel.

“Temperatures were very warm – up to 18 degrees one day,” said Mr Scally, who is QE’s Head of Cricket and CCF Contingent Commander.

“Snow was good at higher altitude, but, in an indication of how the climate is changing in the alps, it was interesting to see things getting a little slushy lower down in the afternoons.”

Turn to p7 for more photos

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RUGBY

Celebrating rugby at QE The inaugural Rugby Dinner brought together players from throughout Queen Elizabeth’s School, celebrating both the game itself and the commitment and achievements of all involved.

A host of prizes were awarded during the event, with the Shearly Hall resounding to the sound of inspirational speeches and happy conversation, as diners enjoyed the opportunity to relax with fellow lovers of rugby.

The boys watched videos from current South African captain Siya Kolisi and London’s Maggie Alphonsi MBE, former flanker for Saracens and England.

In his own talk, also delivered by video, guest speaker Desh Ganeshamoorthy (OE 2014–2021), a former First XV player, fondly recalled his own QE rugby memories: “I think I ended up playing every position but fly half and scrum half… it was so much fun.”

The evening culminated in the naming of the best 23 performers – starting backs and forwards, with eight replacements – in the School Rugby Team of the Year (see following two pages).

The starting 15 will watch a Saracens match courtesy of QE Sevens sponsors:

SPRING TERM, 2024 | EDITION 7

Super stats During the dinner, the following rugby figures for the 2023–2024 season to that point were announced:

120+

407

23

2,070

38

More than 120 fixtures played

Players taking part

Teams representing the School

Total points scored

Different players in First XV

Award-winners During the dinner, captains of all the A and B teams, and of the First and Second XVs, were honoured. The following award-winners were announced: YEAR 7

YEAR 8

YEAR 9

YEAR 10

YEAR 11

SECOND XV

FIRST XV

Most improved player

Siddharth Sreejith

Sahas Talluri

Thinuka Kapugama Geeganage

Rian Doshi/ Moin Mansuri

Danyl Malchyk

Danyaal Naqvi

James Stack

Players’ player

Marcus Ingal

Anmol Gurung

Esa Aslam

Faaiz Adil

Abubakr Shofolahan

Ankit Singh

Ashley Nwapa

Player of the season

Jerry Ju

Kai Hau

Krishan Tailor

Yashwant Reddy Sunkara

Krutarth Behera

Ugan Pretheshan

Dharun Thambiayah

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Rugby Team of the Year 2023–2024 SEASON STARTING FORWARDS

1

2

3

JAMES STACK First XV

MARCUS INGAL U12

ASHLEY NWAPA First XV

6

4

5

AARAV PAUL U15

ANTHONY BARTLETT First XV

8

7

OSCAR KALTENBRONN

ESA ASLAM U14

U15

JUNU PARK U13

STARTING BACKS

9

10

12

13

VICTOR VARBANOV

THOMAS YOUNG

KRISHAN TAILOR

YASHWANT REDDY SUNKARA U15

U15

U15

U14

11 YASHINTH SIVANANTHAN

14 15

FAAIZ ADIL U15

U15

KAI HAU U13

SPRING TERM, 2024 | EDITION 7

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Rugby Team of the Year 2023–2024 SEASON REPLACEMENTS

16

17

18

19

AKIRA NORIMURA

KRUTARTH BEHERA

SOHAM BHATNAGAR

YASH TOKERIA

20

21

22

23

TIMI BANJO

ROSHAN PATEL

OLIC FAN

DHARUN THAMBIAYAH First XV

U15

U16

U16

U14

U14

U15

U13

A memorable night: the QE Rugby Dinner

SPRING TERM, 2024 | EDITION 7

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FEATURE

Mustafa Sarkar OE Spotlight is a new Sports Bulletin feature.

In every issue, we will profile an old boy who has achieved success as a sportsman or in another role in the sporting field. This term, we meet Dr Mustafa Sarkar (OE 1997–2004), Associate Professor of Sport and Performance Psychology at Nottingham Trent University.

Mustafa Sarkar has built a successful university career in sport psychology, with a flourishing record of research and ten academic prizes to his name.

Yet in the Sixth Form at QE, his plans were very different: “My initial intention was to do Law – because of peer pressure to some extent – and I applied to study Law, but did not get in.”

On leaving School, he took a job an Assistant Tax Consultant at PwC, and it was while there that he first came across the subject of sport science in a magazine. He was also reflecting on his time as a cricketer: a leg spin bowler for Stanmore CC, who was “technically and tactically very good”, he had somehow never reached his full potential.

Fired by this burgeoning interest, in 2005 he began his BSc in Sport and Exercise at Loughborough University – where he particularly enjoyed the sport psychology elements – and then also took his Master’s and PhD there. He first secured a post at Nottingham Trent University in 2015.

His research focuses on the psychology of performance excellence, with a particular focus on resilience, psychological safety, and mental health. Today, in addition to his academic work, as a Chartered Psychologist, Mustafa works with organisations including Google, the Premier League, the FA and various international Olympic Committees.

Mustafa is married to Tasnim, a speech and language specialist for the NHS.

OE vs OE QE’s most recent alumni took on leavers from 2017–2020 in a new fixture, which was hosted by Finchley RFC. Arranged by Head of Rugby James Clarke following a suggestion by Rugby Dinner guest speaker Deshraam Ganeshamoorthy (OE 2014–2021), the event saw OE spectators turn out alongside the players. With the scores tied at 19-19 at halftime, the older team snatched a 24–19 victory in a very tense second half.

SPRING TERM, 2024 | EDITION 7

MUSTAFA’S TOP TIPS 1

Remember the importance of intrinsic motivation. That means doing sport because you enjoy it, remembering the reasons you took it up in the first place. The opposite is extrinsic motivation, where you are seeking to please parents or others, or driven by the desire to win.

2 Reframe how you handle pressure. Remember that, as tennis legend Billie Jean King said: “Pressure is a privilege.” If there is great pressure, it is usually because there is also a great opportunity that others may never have.

3 Focus on what you can control.

Instead of focusing on the outcome of a game, or the actions of the umpire or referee, concentrate on the process.

4 Don’t underestimate the psychological aspect of the game.

Just as you train physically and tactically, you should be training for sporting success by using techniques such as goal-setting, self-talk and mental imagery.

RUGBY

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Technology points the way Technology is offering many opportunities to improve sporting performance, providing data and useful insights to players and their coaches alike.

Recognising its potential both to help all boys with their fitness and to support our élite young sportsmen, the PE & Games department continues to invest in technology.

GENERAL FITNESS

ORIENTEERING

miMove update

Thinking and moving fast

As reported in the autumn edition of Sports Bulletin, the PE & Games department has introduced the miMove app to Year 7, taking advantage of the start of the School’s 1:1 programme to promote active lifestyles and fitness among the boys.

Orienteering as a sport at QE stretches boys both mentally and physically. Using just a map and their initiative, they have to navigate their way from point to point against the clock.

Data in the first month of the Spring Term reveals that boys have generally been diligent about posting in the app, with their activities almost equally split between School (lessons, QE clubs and breaktimes) and out-of-school (external clubs and free time).

All activities generated a strongly positive emotional response overall, with football, fitness and swimming especially popular.

Headline statistics for the month across all 192 Year 7 boys include:

Traditionally, participants punched cards when they arrived at control points, but this term boys have been trying out the School’s new electronic orienteering set supplied by German sports specialists SportIdent. Individual SI cards strapped to boys’ fingers provide timing when ‘punched’ into mini-electronic stations placed at each of the control points on the course.

Staff can quickly see both how individual boys and groups have performed, enabling them to provide quick and accurate feedback.

122,500 minutes of active time 2,700 active sessions 789 minutes average active time per pupil

SPRING TERM, 2024 | EDITION 7

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RUGBY

U15s shine in National Bowl QE’s U15 rugby team impressed in a nationwide schools competition and were well on their way to the final knockout stages, only to be beaten by a single point in an agonising fifth-round defeat.

With no first round played, the team had progressed smoothly through three further rounds, beginning in October with a convincing win against Hampstead’s University College School.

In their fifth-round home game against Emanuel School, they led throughout, enjoying a lead of 14-3 in the second half.

The independent school from Battersea fought back strongly, however. Scoring a try with the last play of the match, the visitors snatched victory by the narrowest of margins.

Head of Rugby James Clarke said: “It was a truly painful defeat: had the boys managed to hold on and see out the match, they would only have been two games from the final at Twickenham. But they should be congratulated on playing some fantastic rugby, both in this game and throughout their run.

“Some of their interplay was of First XV standard, showing real pace and skill: it is no coincidence that most of our QE Team of the Year backline is drawn from this age group. Of course, to be able to play this

way you need a strong platform from the forwards, and this was provided with a series of committed displays.”

The team was captained

by Year 10’s Alvin Xu – one of a handful of the U15 squad in the Saracens development programme.

Loving their alpine adventure (cont’d)

SPRING TERM, 2024 | EDITION 7

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RUGBY

Announcing the 48th Annual QE Rugby Sevens

The countdown has begun to the 48th annual Queen Elizabeth’s School Rugby Sevens Tournament.

On Sunday 10th March, U14 and U16 teams from across the country will converge on Barnet for one of England’s biggest school sevens events, which is held in collaboration with Barnet RFC. QE’s own U14 and U16 players are looking forward to taking part and have been getting in some practice at warm-up sevens tournaments at Haberdashers’ and London Oratory.

“QE Sevens provides invaluable opportunities for our rising players to test themselves against strong opposition.

It’s an event at which QE families, alumni and staff can welcome old friends and make new ones.

“Most of all, it’s a great day out – an opportunity to cheer on the home teams and to watch highly competitive, fastmoving rugby in a convivial atmosphere.

“The action starts at 11:00am. It’s free, and spectators are welcome just to turn up on the day: we look forward, as usual, to seeing many supporters on the touchline!”

To find the draw, and track results through the group and final knockout stages, please click on the link below and access the QE Sevens website.

Click here for the

QE Sevens website

The 2023 finalists Tonbridge School (U16 Cup winners) V Dulwich College (U16 Cup runners-up) Framlingham College (U16 Plate winners) V Berkhamsted School (U16 Plate runners-up) Harrow School (U14 Cup winners) V Berkhamsted School (U14 Cup runners-up) Ipswich School (U14 Plate winners) V St Albans School (U14 Plate runners-up)

Head of Rugby James Clarke said: “We are very excited to be hosting the tournament and will be busy putting in place the final preparations over the next couple of weeks. Our congratulations go again to last year’s winners – I know they will be eager to defend their titles.

SPRING TERM, 2024 | EDITION 7

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KARATE

Sports Bulletin asked Darren Welsh, who leads QE’s Karate Club, about the Thursday after-school activity and the kazaoku karate taught there.

The club has students from beginner to black belt: a few have joined from my evening classes or their previous primary school. All are welcome.

Kazoku karate is dedicated to traditional Shotokan karate, the most widespread and popular Japanese style of the art.

We are affiliated to the Japan Karate Association World Federation (JKA WF).

Shotokan uses quick body-shifting to evade opponents and launch attacks.

Initially strength and power are demonstrated instead of slower, more flowing motions. This develops to a much more fluid style that incorporates grappling, throwing, and some standing joint-locking techniques. Students develop through kihon, kata and kumite.

Karate done properly should become a way of life. It’s great for all-round fitness, stamina and flexibility, although we always advise other forms of exercise to complement this.

Shotokan is an effective self-defence system. I think that’s it very important with today’s society that we learn some form of self-defence: although I always preach avoidance, sometimes you have no choice.

SPRING TERM, 2024 | EDITION 7

Karate credentials Darren Welsh is a qualified instructor, referee and examiner, who has been studying Shotokan karate for 40 years. He formed North London Shotokan Karate Centre in 1992 with his father, Peter Welsh.

In his youth, Darren won the U21 southern regions competition, taking second place in the national competition and winning the Enoeda Cup Kata/Kumite at Crystal Palace. Later, he competed in kata and kumite for JKA England, travelling around Europe to compete in friendly internationals and in European and world championships. In 2010, he took third place in the men’s Kumite at the world championships in France.

“I am both proud and honoured that I graded to Sandan under Sensei Enoeda (Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Great Britain), then passing my Yondan in 2003 (aged 25) just after he passed away. He truly was a great and inspiring man.”

Subsequently, he trained under some of the top karateka in the world, including Sensei Osaka, Tanaka and Naka. “This was a great time in my karate life; many friendships were made, with some great training along the way.”

Learning the terms Kihon the basics of karate Kata patterns of movements Kumite sparring Sensei honorific term used for a martial arts teacher Karateka practitioner of karate Sandan third degree, black belt Yondan fourth degre, black belt

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