The annual exhibition of athletic ability and colour that is Downside ‘Sports Day’ was held on Friday 27th May and was once again a highlight of the Summer Term. All pupils from First Form to Upper Sixth Form competed in a variety of Track & Field athletic disciplines against each other to earn individual winners’ medals and the overall House competition title.
On a hot and sunny afternoon during exam season and on the last afternoon before a well-earned half term break, all pupils and staff relocated to the Pavilion and the sports grounds. Each House, led by its Upper Sixth Form Sports Captain, processed to the event accompanied by an array of signing, flags, drums and face paints.
The afternoon was split into two sections. The first invites girls to compete in Track events, whilst the boys head to the Field, with all Houses entering a minimum of two athletes per event. There is a mass participation 1500m for all boys and then all girls, in which every pupil (and member of House staff!) is encouraged to take part and earn House points, with anyone completing the event in under 7:00 minutes earning double points. The girls then do their Field events, and the Boys the Track events.
There were of course numerous outstanding personal achievements over the course of the afternoon and the sight of happy pupils proudly earing their winners’ medals was evident to all.
The overall results were calculated as:
GIRLS
1st – Isabella = 876 points
2nd – Caverel = 853 points
BOYS
1st – Roberts = 690
2nd – Smythe = 648
3rd – Barlow = 628
