 There is no record harder to maintain than a perfect one, indeed a legacy can often be perceived as a curse. There was a certain weight of expectation which accompanied my new job in Spain. Fortunately, the students and staff I had the pleasure of working with, were consistently up to the challenge. The year began with high levels of perfection as we proudly hosted the International Schools’ Swimming Gala here at EIC. I was instantly impressed by our students’ appetite for success and desire to win as we duly triumphed. This hunger for success was to shine through time and time again over the course of the year as each team, in each event, strove to be number one. We are blessed at this College with students who are naturally driven by a desire to improve, develop and succeed. Indeed, I could eulogize for pages on why my own subject area teaches young people life’s most important lessons. Furthermore, it has been evidently clear throughout the year that the excellent exam results achieved each summer from this school, are built on a foundation of teaching students to give of their best in pursuit of being number one, not only in the classroom but evidently on the sports field.
Having left England behind last year, I was also glad to see that the growing philosophy of noncompetitive school sports, that everyone should be a winner, has not yet made its way to Spain. Inter-school sport here is fiercely competitive and long may this continue to be the case. I personally revel in witnessing young people pit not only their bodies but also their wits against opposition in a competitive format.
After our successes at the Swimming Gala more triumphs arrived in football as the Sixth Form boys comfortably triumphed as overall champions in the tournament hosted by Laude. Other successes at Laude included the Year 8 boys and girls, Year 9 boys and girls, Year 10 girls, and both Year 11 teams - a sizeable trophy haul that even Sir Alex would be happy with. As the staff team was to appreciate, the standard of football at the college has been increasing year on year and we now have some very talented players playing at a regularly high level both in and outside of school. Balancing these levels of performance with high academic achievement should be commended. At times in our unsuccessful staff campaign we often wished the students spent more time focusing on their studies than their football!
In basketball, hosted by Sotogrande, there were again many successes for the college and we even managed to foster a new link with Alboran, our nearest Spanish School, to enable us to test our Sixth Form team against their seasoned basketball outfit. Two major tournaments into the year and it was becoming increasingly evident to me that EIC was a major if not the major force along the coast in terms of sporting prowess. We are blessed with, in my opinion, the best facilities around. However, these would count for little if the commitment to training was not so strong from students and staff. Our history of dominance was further confirmed, shortly after Christmas, as an email arrived in my inbox, notifying staff of the upcoming Cross Country event. I was intrigued to see a request for the shining Schools’ Cross Country trophy, which sits proudly in the office, to be brought to the event at St Anthony’s. The jovial request hinted that the trophy had not been taken previously due to an assumption that EIC would naturally prevail. The trophy was indeed taken but I can assure you it was quickly returned!
50 students from Years 7 to 11 travelled to St. Anthony’s, for the International Schools Cross Country Championships. The difficult course and conditions provided a worthy challenge on the competitors but EIC once again proved unbeatable taking the trophy home for the sixth year running! EIC had a medal winner in every category and an outstanding performance by the Year 8 girls and Year 9 boys meant a clean sweep of the medals in their respective races. Many of these runners had been diligently attending running club on Monday and Wednesday mornings before school. I was delighted to see the fruits of their hard labour become so apparent.
In early spring we hosted the International Schools’ Tag Rugby Tournament for all ages. As a rugby player myself, I have to admit my initial scepticism for this sport. However, with facilities along the coast so few and far between, this sport still teaches students the principles of ball handling and helps develop explosive speed. In addition, the boys have been regularly attending after school Beach Rugby sessions each Thursday. I was well aware of our strength in depth at this sport, with many players representing Marbella Rugby Team and a healthy number again, currently being selected for Andalucia. With such pedigree, it is with great satisfaction that I can boast for the first time in our history a clean sweep in this event. Both girls and boys throughout Years 7 to 10 should be commended for this fantastic achievement. Similar success came in the volleyball with all but one group leaving Laude as champions.
The very origins of competition spring from the Greek Olympic days of old and the motto of ‘Citius, altius and fortius’ still serves every budding athlete as a reminder of the power of aspiration and the need for athletic betterment. As we entered the athletics season I again had high expectations of the school squad. Over 48 students across gender and age ranges competed in the biggest International Schools’ event of the year. This was held at the athletics stadium in Benalmádena, a wonderful setting for the show case event of the year (after the swimming gala!). This was attended by 11 other schools spanning from as far afield as Gibraltar to Málaga and some welcome Spanish school attendance. Many records were broken and personal bests set and I have to acknowledge that the teamwork on the day was what drove us to success. Every run, jump and throw was to count as we went to a nail biting conclusion through the relays and eventually triumphed with a 3 point winning margin.
Innate EIC athletic prowess was again on display in the school Triathlon event. With competitors having to swim 40 widths, cycle 5kms and run 3kms to finish; this was not an event for the faint hearted. Indeed, if you were to read current literature examining the trends of young people, you would be forgiven in assuming they would rather have another slice of pizza and play computer games than push themselves to the limit of human exhaustion. However, I have learnt very quickly that the students at this school have real sporting character and enjoy nothing more than a challenge! (see Polar Bear opposite). Over 80 students and staff took on the challenge with notable victories in the Staff and Sixth Form event and for Mr Alister Moses setting a new course record. Josh Steiger, Year 8, continued to show his excellent levels of endurance with a time of 32:39 and a first place finish. Tom Hargreaves claimed the Year 9 and 10 title in style. All in all, this was a truly mesmerising display of aptitude and commitment. Having seen the grim-reaper several times as I huffed and puffed my way around, I can tell you that the Triathlon is as tough as it gets and each finisher deserves real recognition. I would hope that many of you reading this (yes you parents) would look to participate next year and set your own personal goals.
As I write the sporting calendar begins to wind down but students are still training for the Marbella Mile. A sponsored one mile swim in the school pool (65 lengths) to help raise money for the AVOI Children’s Charity. This event, will I hope, set a trend of using sport to raise money for good causes and spread the opportunities for students who may not get to represent the school that often, to still achieve sporting self worth.
I find myself in the unenviable position, as I conclude, of trying to look for opportunities and challenges for students next year after a hugely successful campaign. However, even in perfection there is always opportunity to refine, develop and improve. The department has offered a wide variety of before and after school clubs this year and I have been delighted by the numbers attending. The current structure of school sport along the Costa has frustratingly meant it is impossible to give as many students as much competition time as I would have liked. Perhaps the challenge is for all those who did not make selection this year to come back stronger next year to gain a place in a school team. Extra curricular sport is a litmus test for character and commitment to improvement; I hope to see even greater numbers attending next year.
To those who took part, excelled and triumphed, I must remind you of a story about Bill Shankley the late, great Liverpool manager. On arriving in his winning team’s changing room on the final day of the season, after his team had amassed a record winning number of points, he informed all his players that they had just one night to enjoy the feeling of being champions because when they awoke the next morning, they would be winners of the past and they might as well put their medal in the bin! The challenge is always to pursue the next victory.
I would like to close by thanking firstly all those classroom teachers who have unselfishly allowed the PE Department to disrupt lessons to fulfil fixtures. I can happily state that not one colleague has questioned the place of sport in the academic calendar and long may that co-operation continue. May I also thank parents for your willingness to transport your children to fixtures and training, for never complaining when muddied, filthy, sea soaked rugby players returned from the beach and for the many words of encouragement and thanks the PE Department has received throughout the year. Can I lastly thank the wonderful PE staff, who continue to have the highest standards of expectation and professionalism so as to get the maximum out of each sportsperson in front of us. Lynsay Kerr has made a fantastic contribution to the department with her bubbly enthusiasm and provision of Step classes which were constantly oversubscribed.
Moreover, the Secondary department would be under greater pressure without the conveyor belt of talent which Mandi and Alex continue to supply through their dedication and commitment to Primary sport.
Thank-you Team PE! I wish you all a fit, fun and safe summer. Lastly, with the gala in September if you find yourself near a pool, swim in it!!
Adios. Hasta Luego.
Alastair Gibson |
At 8:00 am on Friday the 19th of December, students and staff set off on a new cross-country challenge that would climax with a length of the school pool. With the water at a breath-taking four degrees, speed was the order of the day as competitors completed the POLAR BEAR CHALLENGE. Well done to all 22 who took part. Hot chocolate and Christmas pudding have already been ordered for next Christmas so, until then, stay warm and keep training!
