This week has seen the welcome return of competitive sporting fixtures to Oakham School across all age groups. Saturday 24 April sees the return of the first fixtures at home for Middle and Upper School pupils: Boys & Girls Tennis and Boys Cricket against Stamford Endowed Schools and an Athletics Relay Meet with Uppingham, Oundle and Stamford teams attending.
As national lockdown regulations have lifted, grassroots sport has re-emerged in the wider community and the Oakham School Sports Department is able to deliver a full programme of sport.
Director of Sport, Mr Iain Simpson is delighted to see the return of fixtures for pupils after a 13-month absence and said, “The nature of our major summer sports – tennis, cricket and athletics – means that they can all be played outdoors in their full formats and our coaching practice is led by the government-approved guidance by each sport’s National Governing Body (NGB). It will be great to see pupils from all year groups out enjoying sport again and to be able to welcome visiting schools to Oakham after so long since hosting competitive matches.”
For the first half of term, Oakham School have bubbled up with local schools, Stamford, Oundle, Uppingham and Witham Hall to avoid the complications of travelling further afield and to share Covid-safe protocols and procedures. After half-term and as restrictions ease further, Oakham hope to play fixtures with schools that are a little further afield such as, Trent College, Stowe and Wellington College – and with parents also in attendance.
The School sports grounds have been carefully prepared by Head Groundsman, Richard Dexter who leads a team that has worked tirelessly over lockdown to get the grounds pitch-perfect, ready for the first cricket over and relay race to take place.
Director of Tennis, Mrs Girdwood commented, “Although it will have been two years since many girls and boys were last playing tennis at School, the standard of play that has been seen in the last week paints a really exciting picture. The winter programme provided the opportunity for many pupils to continue developing their basic skills, allowing for a quick start to the season. The squads are ready and prepped to face our local opponents!”
Please visit the Sports website for all fixtures: Oakham School | Sports, Teams, Fixtures & Results (oakhamschoolsport.co.uk)
Report by Antonia Scott
