The OC Club at Thames Ditton has descended into its relative summer slumber with the end of the hockey and rugby seasons. The OCRFC 1st XV just avoided the drop after a difficult season in which several matches were lost by one score. The OCHC men’s 1st XI also secured another season in the national League Division One South despite squandering leads in several key matches, while the ladies 1st XI won their third promotion in four seasons into the London Premier Division. The junior sections of both clubs continue to go from strength to strength. In the Halford Hewitt, the OCs reached the third round, defeating Fettes and Bradfield before losing to Canford.
In rugby, Hugh Tizard, who moved from Harlequins last summer, was named Saracens’ Young Player of the Season. Back at Quins, Oscar Beard, Will Collier and Dino Lamb-Cona were all regulars in the side, while Will Trenholm (right) made his Premiership debut in May. As many of you will have seen, Cranleigh won the Plate competition at the Rosslyn Park Sevens, defeating Millfield in a gripping final.
Ollie Pope continues to win plaudits after an excellent start to the season which saw him score 91 and then 122* off 102 deliveries in Surrey’s second match v Hampshire. In the same game Tom Lawes took six wickets and followed with a career-best 5 for 22 (and match figures of 8 for 63) v Kent. Mike Burgess has started well at Warwickshire, his 88 in their last Championship match helping them to an innings win.
Izzy Petter and Will Calnan both featured in Great Britain’s hockey Pro League matches in New Zealand.
European junior cross country champion Will Barnicoat won his third successive English National title in February, retaining his junior crown. “It was a big win,” he said, “and a good way to end my junior career before I join the big boys.”
At the London Marathon, Callum Job (Guildford & Godalming Athletic Club) ran what is believed to be the fastest marathon time by an OC when he finished in 2:25:49. Despite injuries in training, Laura Ebb (Reigate Priory Athletic Club) set the fastest time by an OC woman when she completed the course in 2:53:14.