As the Headmaster, Mr Tyrone Howe, reflected in his end‑of‑term address: “Sport – Best. Term. Ever.” It has indeed been a truly tremendous finish to the Spring Term in Shiplake Sport. From historic breakthroughs on the rugby pitches of Rosslyn Park to landmark moments on the water at Dorney Lake, this week has showcased the very best of Shiplake’s sporting ambition, teamwork, and competitive spirit.
RUGBY SEVENS - ROSYLYN PARK
It was an exceptional week for Shiplake College at the Rosslyn Park National School Sevens, with multiple squads producing historic performances and showcasing the continued development of rugby across the College. Across all age groups, the players demonstrated resilience, skill, and determination against some of the strongest rugby schools in the country.
U18s
Shiplake’s U18s began the week with an extraordinary achievement: becoming the first Shiplake side in school history to reach Day 2 of Rosslyn Park. Monday’s group stage saw the team deliver four outstanding performances, winning all their matches, topping their group, and securing victory in the eliminator to book their place in the second day.
Monday 23 March U18s Results:
Shiplake College 28 – 10 Saint Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School
Shiplake College 10 – 7 The Windsor Boys’ School
Shiplake College 28 – 19 SEEVIC College
Tuesday 24 March, U18s Results:
Shiplake College 5 – 21 The King’s School, Worcester
Shiplake College 21 – 31 Trent College
Shiplake College 19 – 26 Scarborough College
Although Day 2 brought tougher opposition, the squad competed fiercely in every match and represented the College with pride. Their landmark achievement marks a significant milestone for Shiplake rugby and sets a new benchmark for future senior teams.
U14s
The U14s produced another highlight of the week, topping a challenging group that included renowned rugby school Whitgift. The team played with ambition and maturity throughout Tuesday’s fixtures, earning their place in the eliminator round. Despite a narrow loss to Eton in that knockout match, the squad’s performances placed them among the most successful Shiplake U14 sides to compete at Rosslyn Park.
Tuesday 24 March, U14s Results:
Shiplake College 38 – 14 Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera – Bro Dur
Shiplake College 15 – 17 Whitgift School
Shiplake College 29 – 19 Turo School
Shiplake College 17 – 25 Eton College
The U14s demonstrated impressive depth, consistency, and character—qualities that will serve them well as they progress through the College’s rugby programme.
U16s
The U16s delivered one of the standout achievements of the entire tournament, becoming only the second Shiplake side ever to reach Day 2. Their Wednesday campaign was exceptional, winning four from four in the group and securing the eliminator to advance into the top 32 teams in the nation.
Wednesday 25 March, U16s Results:
Shiplake College 40 – 21 Reigate Grammer School
Shiplake College 62 – 0 Mangotsfield School
Shiplake College 46 – 5 Exter School
Shiplake College 21 – 0 Christ College
Friday 26 March, U16s Results:
Shiplake College 0 – 33 Bedford School
Shiplake College 19 – 22 Jumeriah English Speaking School
Shiplake College 0 – 52 Millfield School
Day 2 placed Shiplake alongside some of the most established 7s programmes in the world. The boys recorded a memorable win over JESS on the main pitch and faced renowned rugby powerhouses such as Bedford and eventual tournament champions Millfield. Their progress is testament to the hard work they have put in throughout the season and highlights the strength of this age group.
Across all teams, Shiplake players displayed courage, teamwork, and a willingness to challenge themselves at the highest level of schoolboy rugby. The performances throughout the week underline the growing depth within the College’s rugby programme and the commitment of both players and staff.
A huge well done to all the pupils who represented the College with distinction:
- U18: D Stobie, M Taylor-FitzGibbon, F Holgate, A Mullens (Capt.), O Perkins, H French, O Beaney, I Doherty, S Crehan Mills, O Dix, E Jones, G Demery, F McCalley
- U16: J Calow (Capt.), B Oliver, E Tavinor, O Woodward, S Cripps, G Huckle, F Jenkins, D Siddiqui, E Grubb, L Waldegrave, A Lee, J Andrews, O Spearing, O Thomas, G Silver
- U14: S Casey, J Geromoschos, F Ferens, O Wray (Capt.), L Moss, T Maskell , D Stewart, C Goss, G Denning, J Venner, C Ruddick, P Findlater, W Hargreaves, J McDavid
ROWING - JUNIOR SCULLING HEAD
On Monday, a number of Shiplake crews travelled to Dorney Lake to compete at the Junior Sculling Head — one of the UK’s largest junior sculling events. The competition is run as a time‑trial over two legs of the lake, with crews racing against the clock rather than side‑by‑side. Each boat completes one 1,800m run in each direction, and the combined time determines the final standings. With hundreds of crews entered across all categories, it is always a demanding and exciting test of early‑season speed.
J16 Boys’ Quad
Despite spending the majority of this term training in the eight, several of our J16 athletes stepped into the quad scull for this event and produced an exceptional performance. The crew of Miles Vann, Sebastian Lee, Bengy Maggs and Flynn Burrow sculled with great rhythm and composure to secure the silver medal in a highly competitive field of 41 entries. This was an outstanding achievement and a testament to their adaptability and teamwork.
Year 9 Shiplake Girls
Later in the day, our Year 9 squads took to the water. A particularly special moment came as the Year 9 Girls raced in what was the first ever competitive outing for Shiplake girls since the school became co‑educational two years ago. Both crews handled the occasion brilliantly:
- The A crew placed 13th,
- The B crew finished 31st
in a large field of 36 octuples.
This was a landmark moment for the Boat Club and a proud step forward for girls’ rowing at Shiplake.
Year 9 Boys Quad
Not to be outdone, the Year 9 Boys also delivered a strong performance, racing in a quad scull and finishing 21st out of 46 crews. With many of these athletes new to racing at this level, the result shows real potential for the season ahead.
