Shiplake are showing that they are a force to be reckoned with on the sporting fields and on the river. Having first won the Society of Heads’ 7s, rowers from the Oxfordshire school went on to prove their worth on the Thames, claiming victory for the first time in the Schools’ Head of the River. And it seems that the school’s budding athletes have no intention of slowing down now; they have just been crowned winners of the School Quidditch U18 Tournament. Taking on teams from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Durmstrang Institute and even Castelobruxo, this international competition proved very close.
This was the first time that the Shiplake team had entered the contest, which sees teams of seven mount their broomsticks and go head to head in the popular airborne game. Having been coached since January by new Professor of Flying Mrs B Room, the team felt eager to take on competition from the big Quidditch schools. Making it through to the finals, the 1st VII found themselves up against the Hogwarts team for the final.
Shiplake played host to the final. State-of-the-art Quidditch pitches were built on the riverside pitches over the Christmas break, providing the ideal solution to the often-flooded fields, which made earth-bound sports unplayable. Students came down from Hogwarts to Oxfordshire and stayed in Skipwith, enjoying its similarities to the castles of Hogwarts. Deputy Head Magical, Maggie Ical was refereeing the match, and commented on the skill and dexterity of the Shiplake players. Keeper Isaac Beasley managed to save several attempts on goal from the Hogwarts chasers, whilst chasers Cameron Bell, Ross Johnstone and Angus Wood ensured that the College were 60-40 up before the snitch was caught. Well-aimed bludgers from Charlie Thomas and Hal McLaren unseated the Hogwarts’ seeker, at the precise moment that a glitter of the golden snitch appeared above Headmaster Gregg Davies’ left ear. Shiplake seeker Ollie Potter pulled off a spectacular dive, retrieving the snitch and winning the game by 310-40.