Sport
The Christmas term follows a now fairly well-established pattern. Tuesdays are devoted to “speed” sessions: relays, repetition runs (including the much loved “Mountjoy laps”), pyramids, the steps (the only incline in the school grounds), “devil-take-the-hindmost” and “hares and hounds”. On Thursdays we generally go off-campus. In September and early October the beach is a favourite destination, though as the weather deteriorates we find ourselves in Wareham Forest, Ferndown Forest, on the Castlemain trail or taking part in one of the monthly League races which Canford organises for the schools in the area. Saturday is an option day when runners may choose between going for a run or going to the gym where the weights/fitness room is a popular destination. In the Easter term we have a full programme of races ranging from short relays (at Bryanston, Clayesmore and our own Canford Park relay) to longer affairs (Sherborne, Milton Abbey, Downside, Kingswood). Interspersed are the county, regional and national schools’ championships for those runners who qualify. The Dorset Independent Schools Cross Country Organisation (DISCCO) runs a league within the races during the term where the best five performances from seven nominated races count. The unusual “e-race” has been in existence for four years: schools measure an exact distance on a flat part of their grounds and runners complete a set number of laps. Results are then sent to the DISCCO co-ordinator who collates them and produces results so that a match has taken place without the need for schools to travel. It is hope that this might become an international race in the future. We also stage the Canford Park Junior Relays for Prep and Middle Schools as well as a match for Old Canfordians and Parents on the final Sunday of term. We also stage a cross country meeting for Special Schools in Dorset. We are fortunate to have coaches who can join in the training sessions: Caroline Barrett is a regular in the London marathon while John James somehow fits in training between teaching and housemastering. Fiona McKinley and Jerry Orme have been stalwarts. In 2008 we look forward to welcoming Eleanor Halse to the team. In addition we are lucky to be able to call on the incomparable expertise of Roger Peart when a results service is required. Peter Fryer Golf
Canford School can boast the best on-site school golf course in the country and, together with the adjoining facilities at Canford Magna, the finest schools' golfing facilities in Europe. This is a bold claim but justified by the fact that, in addition to our own excellent nine hole course, we have ready access to two eighteen hole courses, a par three academy course, an extensive driving range, indoor and outdoor putting areas and five PGA coaches! The squad is directed by Chris Jervis, assisted by two other staff, Neil Watkins and Steve Ronaldson. With a dozen or more single-figure golfers in the school, it is possible to field a team of players with sub-six handicaps. Virtually all matches are played off scratch and the school has, for the past ten years, consistently won virtually all their games against some of the most prestigious independent schools in the country. In particular, we have been the South of England Foursomes Champions for four of the last five years, the National Foursomes Champions in 2004 and the West of England Singles Champions in 2005. Our golf team has established a number of overseas links. We are twinned with Racing Club de Paris, the French National Champions based at La Bouile, Versaille and play them home and away each year. We compete in the International Schools' Tournament at Sun City, South Africa and we have established links with a number of American Universities who offer golf scholarships. Added to this, Canford teams have played in recent years in Ireland, Spain, Portugal, America, Dubai and France. Two recent highlights have been securing a drawn match against the USA schools' team and defeating the Emerites junior team in Dubai. School golfers have gained invaluable experience in recent years by running some leader boards at The Open Championship. These experiences were both enjoyable and inspirational for the pupil golfers. When numbers permit, we field �B' and �C' teams and junior teams as well. There are ample opportunities for beginners and intermediate standard golfers at Canford and instruction with PGA coaches can be readily organised. The school golf is keenly supported by a thriving Old Canfordian Golfing Society into which our leavers progress. For anyone who is serious about golf, Canford has become an obvious school to consider and for many, a school of first choice. Chris Jervis Master i/c Golf Hockey
The facilities include two Astroturf pitches, six grass pitches and a full sized indoor arena. Our main pitch has only been down for four years and at time of building there was only one other in the country of similar design. It is a hybrid water/sand based design with water cannons. Our older pitch is currently being replaced having done 21 years of service! There are 22 staff involved in coaching. Terry Adby, former Reading Hockey club and Oxford University coach, is the school's Director of Hockey. Several other staff have also had national, regional or county coaching and playing experience. These staff oversee 11 girls and 13 boys teams. This equates to approximately 280 pupils over the Christmas and Easter terms regularly having fixtures. All teams, no matter how junior, have matches(for example the boys u14c team had 10 in the Easter term 2005) Opposition include Millfield, Marlborough, Wellington College, Bradfield, Sherborne, Bryanston, Kings Taunton, Taunton School and St. Edwards Oxford.
Individuals are encouraged to seek representative honours. In 2005 alone we have one international, 5 regional players and 12 county players. Tours are undertaken on a yearly basis and this year four teams are traveling to Holland in the Easter holiday. Rowing
Eights, Fours, Pairs and Sculls At the start Shell year boys and girls are encouraged to scull, this can be done in Octuples and Quadruples sculls giving a good foundation. Strength and conditioning training is an integral part of rowing at Canford. Anthropometric testing is a thorough way of looking after each individual needs and an excellent way of monitoring the process of boys and girls. Ergometers also play an important role in the preparation period. A large gymnasium fully equipped provides and excellent indoor faculties for different types of workouts, circuit training, spinning, core strength and stability. Ian Dryden, Director of rowing, was formally assistant coach at Cambridge University in the 1990s when Cambridge dominated both the Blue Boat and Goldie races. He then coached in Australia for two years at a major club and also for the Victorian Institute of Sport. Canford are also lucky enough to have a wealth of other coaching staff for boys and girls. Canford attend numerous regattas and head races throughout the year catering for all levels of athletes. The Schools' Heads, National Schools Regatta, Henley Royal Regatta and Women's Henley are the highlights of the season. We encourage all athletes who show potential to continue through to international honours or to simply enjoy rowing at Canford. Their is a supporter network comprising of parents and friends of Canford School's rowing teams called The Canford Crocodiles - please visit their new website for information, fixture dates and further details: www.canfordcrocodiles.co.uk Rugby
Numerous pupils have represented the County, Area, South West division and England at U16, U18 and U19 level in recent years and have gone on to play professional rugby after they have left Canford. One Old Boy, Steve White-Cooper, who has recently retired from top class rugby with Harlequins achieved international recognition during 2001-02 making his full international debut during the England tour of North America. Steve kindly donated one of his England shirts to the School and it sits proudly in the Sports Centre. Another Old Canfordian, Ben Gollings, currently holds the world record for points scored in the IRB sevens series. Ben is arguably one of the best 7's exponents in the world and often returns to Canford to share his knowledge of the game with current pupils. One of Ben's former team-mates in the Canford 1st XV is former Newcastle Falcons hooker Nick Makin. Nick and Ben were key members of the successful Rosslyn Park 7's winning team in 1997 and Nick is currently a full time professional with the Cornish Pirates in National League 1. An opponent of Nick's in National league 1 is Tom Allen who is a centre with Rotherham. Tom left Canford in 2001 and represented England U18's whilst at School. Heading the coaching team is Mark Burley (Moseley, Pontypool, Dorset & Wilts) and Andy Hobbs (Cambridge Univ, London Scottish) who work directly with the 1st XV but also oversee and co-ordinate the coaching of all the teams throughout the School. The coaches involved with all the rugby teams aim to encourage the development of fundamental skills during the games sessions. In addition, there is an emphasis on fostering team spirit through commitment and a positive attitude and these are characteristics that should be present in all Canford rugby teams, from the 1st XV to the U14d team. Mark Burley Master i/c Rugby Swimming
Swimming takes place in all three terms with the Summer being the main competitive one. Between April and July the school puts out two junior teams, one for boys and one for the girls, and two senior teams. Galas happen most weeks against a variety of schools; Marlborough, Winchester, Clayesmore, Milton Abbey, Sherborne girls and boys, Taunton school and Bradfield, to name a few. A coaching team of four staff ensure that the squad sessions are purposeful allowing individuals to reach their potential. Currently we swim in an outdoor pool that is covered by a polysphere for most of the year. However, there are plans for a new facility to replace this. Work on this should be started within eighteen months and will see our already outstanding sports centre improved further by the addition of a six lane, 25m state-of-the-art indoor pool. This development should see the standard of our swimming improve and make it a more attractive prospect for more of our pupils. It will also see more opportunity for canoe polo and diving. Tennis
The programme put together by Dylan Lloyd, Master i/c, and Giles Cooper, Director of Coaching, is designed to appeal to all standards. The level of players varies from national and regional representatives to those who purely enjoy it for their summer term sport. All of these pupils are coached equally. We have designated coaches for the less able in order to help them to progress. The elite players have access to coaching throughout the year on an individual and group basis. During the summer term pupils are coached through a programme that develops shot making, fitness and a tactical understanding of the sport. Staff manage teams and assist the team of professional coaches. Each week, most pupils will play for a team against a school or club. Schools that we regularly play include Millfield, Marlborough, Kings Taunton, Lord Wandsworth, St. Mary's, Winchester and Talbot Heath. We also run singles and doubles tournaments together with a parent/pupil event in May. In 2005 we were able to put out 5 girls senior teams and 6 junior sides. The boys will regularly play with 2 senior teams and 2 junior teams. D.Lloyd Golf Club Canford School Golf Club is a proprietary club owned by the school. The course is set within the school's 300 acres of mature parkland with many ancient trees and a rippling brook providing the context for some challenging holes of golf. This course, with its EGU, LGU club affiliations looks benign but it provides a severe test for golfers of all abilities and handicaps. There are 9 holes, but 18 different tees (the ladies have a total of 11 different tees). Some of the tees require long and accurate drives; like the 12th with its 195 yard carry over a brook; or the 13th with its 180 yard carry over a lake; or the 18th with a narrow pass between a bunker and a pond, at the point where the hole takes a dog-leg left. The SS of 68 for men and 70 for ladies is rarely achieved on this 6000 yard course (5,300 yards for the ladies). The course is well maintained by the school's ground staff, many of whom have gained a great deal of expertise in green-keeping skills over the past decade. Follow the link under 'Open to the Public' to find out more about the course and membership. Real Tennis Club Canford School boasts one of the few Real (Royal) tennis courts in England. The court dates back to 1879, when it was built by Sir Ivor Bertie Guest, then Lord Wimborne. The game of Real Tennis itself goes back to the days when the monks played in their monastery courtyards in the 11th Century. Today the court is actively used, 70 hours a week, by both Canford pupils and by outside club members. Every pupil is given the opportunity to experience Real Tennis, they can then choose to play it either as a voluntary activity or occasionally as a main sport. Canford School is very fortunate to have two professionals: Steve Ronaldson (Head Professional) and Matt Potter (Assistant). If you would like to play Real Tennis at Canford contact Steve or Matt on 01202 881232 or go to the club website: http://www.canfordrealtennis.co.uk Follow the link under 'Open to the Public' to find out more about Real Tennis and membership. |
