The Other Half

Squash The superb courts in the sports centre provide a focus for home matches and training. We have a highly promising squad of talented players throughout the school, trained by a Squash England coach. Squash is available as a sports option to selected squad players in the Third Year and above, but other boys will have opportunities to play at various times as an activity. Senior boys and boarders are also able to play in their free time when the courts are not being used. Amongst the school that we have fixtures against are Radley, St Edward’s and Stowe. Swimming Our 8 lane 25m swimming pool provides the ideal environment to develop swimming technique throughout the year. The squad train at allocated times and cover up to 10,000m a week, with the possibility of dry land training during the Wednesday session. The majority of the galas are held in the Lent term, but we also enter swimmers for the English Schools National Championships in both the individual and relay events. It is recommended that the serious swimmers join the local club which uses the Abingdon School pool. For those that wish to swim recreationally there is space to swim within the allocated sessions and a programme to improve fitness is provided. Tennis The Tennis Club runs teams across the age groups, with coaching sessions and matches being held on the newly re-surfaced school courts, the MUSA, the clay courts at the Vale of White Horse and at Abingdon Lawn Tennis Club. Each age group has three coaching sessions per week and all teams compete in inter school matches on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Table Tennis Limited to about 20, so places are based on a first-come-first- served basis. At the top end the standard is very high and this year we aim to further develop our limited fixture list. To qualify for this sport you must be prepared to play every week.  SPORT AND FITNESS 42