ISA National Swim Finals
Pupils from a North Yorkshire School are set to make a splash at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park later this month. Youngsters from Cundall Manor School will compete at the ISA’s National Swimming Finals in the London Aquatics Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday 21 January. FIVE pupils from the school, based between Ripon and Thirsk, will compete for the prestigious national prize across three races. Swimming Captain, George Sanderson, will compete in the 50 meters breaststroke and as part of a medley team made up of other members from ISA North schools. Year 7 girls, Millie Baker, Lauren Gaunt-Edwards, Minnie Pollock and Pippa Bentley, will compete in the 4 x 50 meters Freestyle relay award, after winning both the Freestyle and Medley relay events at the ISA North qualifying event in late 2016. Swim squad coach, Jo Pollock, said: “The team have been fantastic this year. We have seen some wonderful results and a great amount of effort put in to both their training and their competitions this year.” She added: “The competition is due recognition of how hard they have worked but it is also great opportunity for our pupils to go down to the Olympic Park and be inspired by the London 2012 legacy.” The event will be the second time this academic year that some of the squad have been to a national final at the Olympic park, with members of the Girls’ relay team having recently claimed the ISA Under 13 National Junior Hockey Champions Trophy.
PP2 Parents’ Lunch
PP2 had a busy day on Thursday leaving the classroom to become event planners, chefs, waiters and waitresses. They began the day by learning how to lay a table correctly. Some children made beautiful table decorations with Mrs Wick and Mrs Majewski using flowers from Mrs Wick’s garden. Then the children prepared a delicious lunch of salmon with lemon sauce, green salad and potato salad, with meringues, cream and summer fruits for dessert. The children worked really successfully and carefully to produce 33 plates of beautiful food complete with garnishes. Finally it was time for the parents to arrive. Each child met their guests welcoming them with a menu before seating them and offering drinks. The parents were all impressed by the children’s waiting skills and are hoping they will be served at home in future! Well done PP2 for looking after your parents so well.
Summer Ball
On a fittingly balmy evening last Saturday, Cundall Manor hosted their Midsummer Night’s Ball. To the serenades of Mr Simpson’s ragtime band, the guests assembled on the the lawns for a champagne reception before entering the marquee for the wonderful three course meal. Rodney Tennant presided over the auction which featured some incredibly generous lots including a ski chalet holiday, salmon fishing trip, golf days and fully catered private dinner at Ripley Castle. The live band kept the dance floor busy whilst the blackjack tables and photo booth provided endless thrills and giggles in the bar area. Many thanks to the ball committee for laying on such a wonderful party, and to all those who supported the event so generously.
Summer Fair
It was lovely to see such a fabulous attendance at this year’s Summer Fair. The friends had worked tirelessly to lay on a superb range of activities, entertainments and stalls for all the family, and even the weather made a special effort to be nice for us! The Form competitions were a huge success with the miniature gardens and vegetable characters seeing a spectacular range of entrants. Thank you to all who entered and well done to our winners: George Dunn (Miniature Gardens), Stanley Clarke (Vegetable Characters) and Oscar Staveley (Photography). The Friends would like to extend a huge thank-you not only to all the families who supported the event, but to those who did so much to make the event happen: to all the Friends who manned stalls, to Mrs Partington’s Leckby Business Studies students who provided so many attractions, and to the school catering staff for all their help setting up and helping out on the day; to Mr Bayne for his marvellous balloon creations, to Mrs Saxby and Mrs Sowerby in the Bursar’s Office for all their help behind the scenes; to Mr Lister for the generators, and to Mrs Lister for all the meat for the BBQ.
Waterbabies Coffee Morning
We were delighted to be able to host our second coffee morning for the Waterbabies swimming group who use our pool for their baby and toddler swimming lessons. Just before the end of term, the youngsters and their parents joined us for Easter themed refreshments and a recital in the library; The junior choir offered a short but perfect programme of amusing and uplifting songs on a waterbased based theme, all carefully selected and accompanied by Mr Fitzsimons.
Waterbabies Christmas Coffee Morning
We were delighted to host the inaugural Waterbabies Coffee Morning at Cundall recently. Waterbabies use our pool for their parent and toddler swimming lessons and it was lovely to be able to welcome them into the warmth of the library to enjoy Christmassy refreshments and entertainment after their pool session. Our Pre-Prep House Captains were brilliant waiters and waitresses, Mr Bayne delighted the children with his Father Christmas balloon models and our Junior Choir’s festive performance wowed all our guests.
Cundall Clay Shoot
It was a chilly but beautifully clear day that greeted the guns and guests at the Cundall Clay Shoot last Sunday. Hosted by Mr and Mrs Bell (parents of former pupils Chloe and Toby) at Breckenbrough, the shoot attracted teams and individual shooters from all over the county. With U16 and U18 team classes (for both schools and other groups) as well as individual classes, competition across the five stands was fierce. The day also offered a wonderful opportunity for novice shooters to receive expert caching from BASC coaches as well. And no doubt everyone relished the wonderfully warming stew laid on by Mr and Mrs Bell and their team at the end of a successful, albeit chilly day! All the proceeds from the Clay Shoot go towards the Upper School Summer Expedition, this year to Canada, so a huge thank you to everyone who supported the event. Thank you too, to Mr and Mrs Bell for organising and hosting the event, and to Kevin and Mandy Tonks for offering the coaching services throughout the day. The winners in the various classes are as follows: Best U16 Team Pocklington School Edward Wraith, Jack Nutt, Jimmy Wraith, Ashley Johnson Best U18 Team Ampleforth Harry Huddleston, Jack Ogden , Roddy Saxby ,Seth Smith Best Open shot team Hunting Crew M Parker, G Cribbs Steve Tate, Kevin Handley Best U16 Individual Jimmy Wraith Best U18 Individual Harry Huddleston 1st Open Individual Kevin Handley Best Lady M Parker Best Cundall Junior Sam Bentley 2nd Cundall Junior Luke Bourne-Arton Best Cundall Father Simon Young 2nd Cundall Father Jonathan Turner
Bonfire Night
Thank you to all parents, pupils, families and friends who supported our bonfire and fireworks part y this year. It really was a very successful evening. Special thanks go to Carl and the groundsmen for putting on such a fabulous display, and to Sylvia, April and the kitchen staff for their wonderfully warming bonfire supper.
Halloween disco
As the sun went down and dusk fell on Cundall Manor, all manner of ghost and ghoul, witch and wizard, vampire and werewolf made their way to the darkest recesses of the school gym for the annual spectacular that is the Halloween Disco. Organised by Thornton and Mrs Hall, the Halloween Disco is a major event in the Upper School Expedition fundraising calendar and it was wonderful to see so much effort going into the event and so many children supporting it. Mrs Hall is very proud of the Thornton crew who decorated the gym, ran the tuck bar, and laid on an array of attractions for the children including a ‘tattoo’ parlour, nail bar and glow stick stall. Special thanks must also go to Mr Smith for all his help and support, ex pupils Will and Louis Shaw for their fabulous disco, Mrs Edgar for running the photo booth, and Miss Creed for keeping the dancing going! Thank you too to all those who attended and helped Thornton raise over £400 for their summer expedition.
Cundall Ladies’ Lunch
The Cundall Manor Ladies’ Lunch at Swinton Park last Thursday, was another resounding success. Ladies were entertained by Patrick Macbeth playing jazz on the piano before lunch whilst, after the delicious meal, Francis Macbeth provided the piano accompaniment to Ione Cumming. Mother to Form 5 pupil Alexander Cumming, Ione is an extremely talented opera singer whose stunning performance had the whole room mesmerised. Friends of Cundall chairwoman Mrs Susan Edwards said a few words about the year’s fundraising and the many exciting events the Friends have in the pipeline. Susan and the Friends Committee would like to pass on their sincere thanks to Felicity Cunliffe Lister and staff at Swinton Park for making the luncheon so successful.