Achievements of former pupils
Two former Rugby Academy stars made their presence felt in the Principality Premiership.
Dan Owen and Adam Sabri, who left the school this summer after successfully completing their A-level studies, turned out for RGC and Newport respectively and were huge contributing factors in their success.
Welsh U18 international Owen, who is about to embark on his further education journey at Aberystwyth University where he will study Agriculture, produced a stunning display during the Gogs’ 32-24 win over Aberavon at Stadiwm Zip World, which saw him power over for the first senior try of his career.
He was also recognised for his sensational performance with the Man of the Match award.
There was further cause for celebration in the form of former Head Boy Sabri, who was given his first start by the Amber and Blacks in their 27-25 triumph at Ebbw Vale.
The Dentistry student at the University of Cardiff made his debut count with a number of penetrating runs which were the catalyst behind their victory.
Both were members of the Rydal Penrhos Rugby Academy, which is run in partnership with RGC and the Welsh Rugby Union and has seen a host of top flight and international players emerge from the programme.
Mr Boyd, said: “Both Dan and Adam are going to have glittering careers thanks to their incredible talent and work ethic, and to be not only playing in the Premiership but to be making a huge impression is no mean feat."
Dr Alan Nicholas Chantler, who attended Rydal School, was presented with his Order of Australia Award “for service to computer science, particularly as a contributor to the development in security concepts and methodology, and as an educator”.
He said: “I'm humbled, I feel privileged for the recognition.
"This recognition is also a recognition of all the people who have given me opportunities and allowed me to do things and achieve things."
The old Rydalian arrived in Australia in 1973 and after qualifying as a teacher from the University of Queenslan, he went on to become an Education Officer with the Australian Regular Army from 1981-1993.
During this time he also worked with the Australian Intelligence Corps after developing a hobby of monitoring Russian imagery satellite with home-built equipment.
Dr Chantler stayed in the active reserves whilst lecturing at Queensland University of Technology and the Defence Intelligence Training Centrem and completed a PhD on the subject of computer hackers in 1996.
From 2001 he worked with the United Nations for three years in Kosovo to rebuild information and communications technology which had been devastated by war.
Suzy Drane, who plays for Celtic Dragons , has been selected to lead the Welsh charge at the Netball Europe Open Championships, which will take place at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff between Thursday, October 5 and Sunday 8.
The talented athlete, who is also a lecturer in Sport Development and Performance Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University, will be hoping to put her experience to good use and help the 15-strong squad continue their impressive list of recent tournament performances.
Drane recently returned to her roots to provide Rydal Penrhos and Coleg Llandrillo hopefuls with a special master class as part of Cardiff Met’s North Wales recruitment afternoon, and she was also part of the school’s coaching staff on their tour to Greece.
Wales are currently ranked eighth in the world and they will be taking on England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and Cardiff will also welcome Fiji’s national netball team the Fijian Pearls for the very first time, who currently hold seventh place in the rankings.
Mr Boyd, said: “Welsh netball has gone from strength-to-strength under Suzy’s leadership in her role as captain, and hopefully this will continue at the Europe Open Championships.
“She has also been hugely influential on our pupils in recent months, and her achievements continue to be a great source of inspiration to our young athletes in all areas of sport.”
An Armed Forces veteran claimed a podium finish at the Invictus Games in Toronto.
Flt Lt Nathan Jones, who left the school in 2001, is part of the Great Britain side competing at the games, which is an international Paralympic-style multi-sport event in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and their associated veterans take part in sports.
After crashing out on the final corner when leading during the 2016 event, Jones more than made up for this disappointment by claiming a silver medal in the Men’s Road Cycling IRB3 Final.
This is the second time in as many years that the athlete has made the podium, having secured a bronze medal in the 50 metre backstroke at last year’s event in Orlando.
The former international skier and rugby player was involved in a flying accident while serving as a Royal Force Air Force pilot at Camp Bastion, which resulted in a broken back.
After extensive rehabilitation, Flt Jones has been left with nerve damage and partial paralysis of his calves. Although he is now unable to take part in his specialised sports of rugby and skiing due to their high impact nature, the son of ex-teacher Ken won a series of competitive skiing titles after competing for six months following the injury.
Rob Hall, who left the school in 2011, is currently touring the United States with the Llandudno four-piece, who are the chief support for iconic rock band Green Day on their landmark Revolution Radio tour.
The indie band, who secured number one in the UK Album Chart earlier this year with their second release The Ride, have played at a number of large arenas throughout the 24-date tour including the Oakland Coliseum, the Holywood Casino Ampitheatre and AT&T Centre in Texas.
A review from Chris Conde, who writes for the San Antonio Current, said: “Starting the evening at the AT&T Center were British rock band Catfish and The Bottlemen. The band seemed pretty stoked to be on tour with Green Day and throughout their five-song set kept thanking the crowd for being there as well as the band for letting them open.
“The sound of the Wales four-piece had a distinct alt-'90s rock vibe but would transition into these mini post-rock intervals with echoing guitar reverb and interesting drum breaks from the talented Bob Hall.”
The tour concludes on Wednesday, September 13 when they take the stage at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California.
Mr Williams, said: “To be invited to perform alongside one of the most successful bands in history just shows how far Catfish and the Bottlemen have come in such a short space of time, and it is fantastic to see Rob doing so well on the international stage.”