Skrine's News

Skrine's

News    

  Winter Wonderland

The completed igloo

Whilst 2ft of snow and rolling blackouts plunged other houses into havoc and anarchy, there was a converse effect on Skrine's. Rather than taking to their prep in the remaining hours of fickle light, or snuggling under a duvet with a head torch, fixated on a book, Skrine's took to the adverse conditions with relish and gave a real display of the meaning of saltus reges by transforming a somewhat bleak terrain of snow beyond the back door into a rather homely-feeling igloo. The igloo took approximately two and a half hours in total to complete and portrayed an excellent attitude of teamwork and endeavour.

The construction of such a feat relied on blocks of snow shaped by the Tesco home delivery boxes and an astonishing amount of manpower; even Ben King of L6 took to the snow.

The igloo, featuring three bedrooms, all of which were en suite, and a billiards room with an open fireplace was destined to become the home of some of the upper sixth during the night of the power cut. However the plan was abandoned as they felt that sleeping in such a comfortable and homely atmosphere would be unfair to the rest spending the night indoors. Overall the event was a fantastic display of house spirit, congratulations to those all involved. The igloo however will be sadly missed when the sun, if ever, appears.

International Success In Winter Sports

Alexander Barker has had a busy time on the slopes. He was in the Glenalmond team that went to compete in the British Schools Championship in France. The boys did really well and pulled out a spectacular performance in the slalom in white-out conditions. The sum result was that the boys pulled up from 7^th place to fourth place overall. He also emerged as the strongest skier in the school coming first in the inter-house competition held at Glenshee. Alexander is at the time of writing this report representing Scotland at the World Schools Ski Championships in Italy.

A week before Christmas Sandy Snowball, after a training camp in Switzerland, where he trained with Andrew Young and Andrew Musgrave, two Vancouver 2010 Olympic athletes, travelled to Austria to compete in the British Nordic Cross Country Ski Championships. Sandy raced in the under sixteen category, achieving some outstanding places including a 3^rd in the 1k night sprint and raced alongside world class Olympic athletes such as Lee Jackson. Sandy's goal is to make it to the youth Olympics, 2014

Victory at last in House Swimming

Junior Captain Charlie Sandison IV

I was proud to captain Skrine's junior house swimming team culminating in a dramatic win in a tough competition. My team put in 110% but there were some truly outstanding moments which deserve a mention. Cameron Howie swam a blistering 50m backstroke, Ben Gardner swam an epic 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle and I raced against two of my good friends, both fantastic swimmers, in a real battle with only a second between 1^st and 3^rd. Going in to the relays, we were 11 points behind Reid's the front runners and favourites. The first relay was the 25m Medley Relay. The race commenced with Howie flying off, Martin Brennan maintained our lead passing over to myself doing the butterfly leg, handing over to Gardner who stormed home to win. We knew that we had to win every single relay to win and it was really important that the Bs worked their magic. And they did! Simmonds, Snowball, Vidal-Hernandez and Hamish Barker set off. Initially we were placed 4th and it was not looking hopeful but against the odds we powered to an amazing finish. This was a great end to our half term and I look forward to swimming as a senior next year.

Senior Captain Mac Sinclair-Parry UVI

With half term around the corner, the perennial joys of the house swimming approached, this year. Hopes were higher than in previous years, with strong swimmers from 5^th form coming up from the juniors, like Sandy McCleery, Dougie Wainwright who went above and beyond the call of duty. The highlight of the afternoon undoubtedly was the senior boys B 4X50m freestyle lead off by head of house French international polo player Tristan Doumen who displayed his supreme athleticism doing the whole house proud. Other performances of note were the 4X50m A freestyle coming second anchored by Mac Sinclair–Parry who also won the 50m freestyle, 25m butterfly and came 2^nd in the 50m butterfly. Overall this year was a considerable step up on last both in performance and spirit finishing third in the seniors and second overall, we look eagerly towards next year's gala.

Creature Comforts

The new gym

Senior Colts Rugby

U16A squad members from Skrine's were:

Sam Smith-Maxwell (prop) Dougie Wainwright (flanker)

Sandy McCleery (full back) Alexander Watt (reserve prop)

Skrine's Gentlemen's Society

Whilst other houses indulge in frivolous activities notably mindless gaming or 'abuse of the internet', Skrine's do not adhere to such barbaric activities. This year was the launch of the new Skrine's 6^th form common room dubbed the S.G.S. Our aim has been to restore the previous and legendary John Huntley Skrine Gentlemen's Society which Skrine's boys once boasted so proudly of prior to moving into our new home. The club's new home, a once characterless, white room has seen a dramatic paint & decoration job. As well as the generous donation of our handsome snooker/billiards table we have introduced a darts board and the club is busy as ever. The newest addition has been the antique corner benching completing the atmosphere of the club. We are proud to be re-opening the society and we are fittingly once again the envy of the college.

There is also an oche