Abingdon News No.55

18 July 2020 Staying active Since we have been remote learning the Sport & PE Department has been encouraging all boys to #StayActive and although there are lots of live Zoom lessons and sport specific tasks being set, we are also encouraging the boys to go beyond the ‘new normal’. Each week boys have been submitting short videos of their sporting exploits. This video montage shows just a few of the activities. Global Running Day Elliot Birkbeck, who teaches athletics and cross-country, set the standard for the Global Running Day on 3 June running 50km from his home to Henley. Elliot reflects on the challenge here . Abingdon Sport Sporting simulations During the first stage of lockdown, when sport was only allowed from home, two lower sixth formers found inventive ways of practising their hobbies. View the video . With lockdown preventing the lower school boys gathering for sports day, the PE department organised a Virtual Garden Games live via zoom. After a few personal words of encouragement and inspiration from former British long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe (MBE) all the boys competed in six events: a cereal box jump, throwing & catching tasks, a standing long jump, shuttle run and the grand finale a toilet roll keepy- up challenge. All the boys gave it their best efforts, providing plenty of fun and encouragement for each other along the way. It was fantastic to see both the friendly competitiveness but also the level of enthusiasm and camaraderie. The overall results saw 1J and 2P narrow victors in the separate year group competitions. Lower School sports day Director of Rugby, Matthew Gold, has been honing his podcasting skills and in this edition he interviews England and Abingdon Fly Half, Charlie Atkinson who shortly begins a three-year professional contract with Wasps Rugby. Charlie leaves school this year having played in the 1st XV for the past two years and was Vice Captain last season. Charlie toured South Africa with England Rugby U18s. Topics discussed include: Charlie’s rugby pathway, overcoming challenges, sacrifices, managing academics and rugby, and school memories. Listen to the podcast .