HOCKEY

Owing to bad weather conditions many games were cancelled. Although the results are not very promising both teams played very well.

NETBALL

The first VII team did not do very well this season although the team tried very hard. However the U.15 team did very well, losing only one of their nine matches.

All the members of the school teams would like to thank Mrs. Chetham for the time and effort spent on games during the past terms.

LINDA ROUND (6L) - (Games Captain)

The match began at approximately 4.30 p.m. one evening, after school. During the first half both the staff and school played well, battling to score the first goal. However, there was still no score at half time. Unfortunately, during this half Mr. Hilton was hit and had to be taken to the nearby hospital and therefore could not play during the rest of the match.

On resuming play the staff were able to overcome the school defence and were able to score two very quick goals. The school fought back but were not able to score. They were, however, able to stop the staff from scoring any more goals. So the final result, at the end of the match, was a 2-0 victory for the staff.

LINDA ROUND (6L) - (Games Captain)

On Saturday, 3rd April, eight girls, Mrs. Cheetham and Mrs. Sawyer went to see the International Hockey match at Old Trafford between England and Ireland. From the first Bully Off, the game was very exciting. Considering the day was very hot and sunny, both teams played excellently, and to add to the heat they both wore heavy uniforms. Both goalkeepers were magnificent, each saving many excellent shots.

The game was fast and furious, the first goal being scored by Ireland, and by half-time the score was 3-2 in England's favour. In the second half the action was even more exciting. Ireland seemed to tire slightly and England took advantage and scored five more excellent goals. The final score was 8-4 for England.

I am sure we all gained valuable knowledge from watching these experts play. We all enjoyed the match thoroughly, and we would like to thank Mrs. Cheetham and Mrs. Sawyer for giving up their Saturday afternoon to come to the match with us.

S. M. CIPKOWSKI (5H)

SOCCER First XI Report

The first XI had a moderately good season 1964-65, winning more games than they lost. The team as a whole played with enthusiasm throughout. They had particularly bad luck in the Cup losing to Openshaw T.H.S. 4-2 after two replays, Openshaw being the eventual winners of the trophy.

There were no outstanding successes on the team, but the Fourth years who played gained a good deal of experience, which should stand them in good stead for next season. However, school colours have been awarded to P. Jepson, G. Brownhill and P. Parnell. E. Thornley has been re-awarded his Colours. The team was also fortunate in having good goalkeepers in R. Sharrock and W. Mee. The weakness of the team was undoubtedly to be found in the forwards.

During the season the team had two really successful games, one against Salford T.H.S. and the other against Wythenshawe T.H.S. After having been heavily defeated at Salford 5-0, we met them at Hough End and, with the half-back line playing one of their best games of the season, we defeated them 2-1, after leading by two goals for most of the game, an excellent victory as we were playing a team much bigger and faster than ourselves. The game against Wythenshawe resulted in a draw. Defeated during mid-week, the whole team played well above themselves, and after being in the lead for most of the game, held Wythenshawe to a well-earned draw. The point we obtained from this game was the only point Wythenshawe dropped during the season.

Our two games against Ducie T.H.S. produced fast, clean matches throughout winning away 3-2, and drawing at home 1-1.

SHIELD TEAM

The Shield team had a very successful year. They reached the final of the Knockout competition where they were beaten by Ducie T.H.S. When one considers the quality and quantity of participating schools, this makes the performance of the Shield team a very commendable one indeed. A very good team spirit was prevalent which shows that if every member of a team is prepared to do his best for the team then quite remarkable success can be achieved.

Cockerham, Dillon and Matthews are to be congratulated on playing for the area side. Dillon has also played for the Junior Manchester XI and is one of five Manchester boys chosen for special training with the Lancashire County.

Many thanks to Mr. Hilton for his enthusiasm, coaching and time spent in arranging all the matches.

THIRD DIVISION

After a very good start to the season, during which the team were in the top half of the league table, there was a slow decline as the season progressed. However, the team did well to finish around the middle of the league table and reach the third round of the Cup before being knocked out by Yew Tree Comprehensive.

Among the outstanding players in the team, Kucharczyk is to be congratulated on being top scorer for this team and second highest throughout the school. Among the forwards Dooley, Williams, Eddleston, McDonald, Hooper and Bieszke were outstanding while in defence Schofield, Maloney, Marvey, McCulley and Pilkington showed good form. McPartland, the team's goalkeeper played well in every match and saved the team on many an occasion.

BOYS' SWIMMING REPORT

Throughout the school swimming has progressed at a more leisurely pace than previous years. The number of non-swimmers has been reduced to less than 30. Some of the boys are medically excused but others have surprisingly adopted a "couldn't care less" attitude. During the year the school has had many passes in survival tests, free passes, and life-saving awards. Miles (4s) distinguished himself whilst taking his Bronze Medallion (a life-saving award) by genuinely saving a primary school boy who found himself in difficulties.

The winter and summer Swimming Leagues have again given boys of outstanding ability an opportunity to shine. Lawton (4H) has improved tremendously, Pollard (3A), Chesworth (3s) have both great potential but unfortunately are not prepared to train. It is the Juniors who have really caught the eye. Pridgeon (2A) doing breast stroke, Harvey (2T) doing back stroke have both done well. Bieszke Broughton, Hooper, Pilkington, Mountfort and Anderson (all of the 1st year) are all very promising in a variety of strokes.

The 1965 Swimming Gala promises to reveal an all round strength with general standards definitely improved.

Present day cycle racing is divided into three main groups, road racing, track racing and cyclo-cross.

Cyclo-cross, which was first introduced as an organised sport in 1955, is cycling across country and it entails cycling and running with the bicycle over one's shoulder and is one of the toughest types of cycling.

Almost every large city in the world has a cycle track, on which meetings are held regularly. In Manchester the track is at Fallow-field and meetings are held at 7.30 on Tuesday evenings. These tracks vary in size from 400 to 500 yards and each bend is banked at an angle of up to 50 degrees. This enables the riders to ride at a constant speed round the corners, it also enables the riders in a team to change places so as to get full advantage of the wind resistance from their team mates.

Road racing can be divided up into two classes: massed start racing and time trialling. Massed start racing, as its name suggests, is a group of cyclists, usually 50, starting off together and racing against one another. A team consists of three riders from the same club and the prize is awarded to the team with the lowest number of points. This is by far the most popular side of cycle racing. Time trialling is racing against the clock for certain distances-usually for 25 miles, 50 miles, 100 miles, for 12 hours and 24 hours, the latter two being the greatest distances covered in the given times.

In order to race in massed start and track events one must first become a member of the B.C.F. (British Cycling Federation) which costs 10/-, and have a racing licence which costs 12/6. Before every race a rigorous machine check is carried out by one of the officials. He checks the gears, to see if they work, the brakes, the tubular tyres, the handlebars, stem and seat stem. This is to ensure that you do not cause an accident in a bunch of riders travelling at speeds of up to 30 m.p.h.

When a rider is successful over here he usually goes over to the continent to race, as did Tom Simpson and Alan Ramsbottom. Here they race in the "classics" such as the Tour de France for the professionals and the Warsaw-Berlin-Prague for the amateurs. If you can race one of the classics and win you are one of the greatest cyclists in the world.

JOHN R. DAVIES (6L), Manchester Velo Club.