Annual celebration a success
A strong Old Girls’ team returned to the school to take on its First XI for the Natalie Kate Moss Trophy on Saturday, September 15, which saw a big crowd descend on the Astro to witness the contest.
The encounter eventually went the way of the returning Old Girls’ for a third successive year thanks in no small part to the efforts of former Head Girl and Welsh international Hannah Cashell, who demonstrated her enormous talent to score four times during another accomplished display from the University of Newcastle student.
Sister Sophie Cashell was also on target during their victory, but the Rydal Penrhos side worked incredibly hard against their accomplished opponents, who had all played in National Finals during their time at the school.
Goalkeeper Tallulah Batley produced a number of superb stops throughout the clash, with Deputy Head Girl Nuria Montolio, Head Girl Gowri Pradeep and captain Lucy Carnall all performing well during the game.
Mrs Head, said: “As always, the Old Girls’ were able to gather their strongest players, all of whom played a National Hockey final.
The school’s annual Vikings game took place on Sunday, September 16 and took on a new short game, round-robin format for the first time.
A host of former Rugby Academy stars made a welcome return to New Field, with six teams playing each other with a view to securing the overall crown.
The competition saw a large crowd descend on New Field to see old pupils and the school’s current First XV take the field, and after a hugely competitive day of action it was the 2012 Leavers’ squad that emerged victorious on tries scored from the 2010 team.
There were a host of standout performances on the day, with the school side demonstrating their outstanding defensive prowess to hold the eventual winners and a side that featured former professionals Pat Leach and Gareth Wynne to a 0-0 draw.
Harry Ormerod scooped the try of the day accolade and the overall trophy was named in honour of legendary Welsh international centre and old Rydalian Bleddyn Williams.
Mr Boyd, said: “As always, it was a thoroughly enjoyable occasion and I would like to thank everyone that participated."
The school once again hosted the fifth annual Welsh Open Fives Competition over Founders’ Weekend on Saturday, September 15 and Sunday 16.
It was a hugely competitive first day of action at the competition, which saw the team of Matty Fiorita and George Watkins triumph over schoolmates Anthony Bowe and Christian Cheesley in a pulsating final to claim the coveted Paul Bowden trophy.
Current Eton Fives World Champion Seb Cooley was among the field for Sunday’s action, which began with Jonathan Osbourne and Ella James winning the Junior Open Championship with a hard fought victory over Oliver Davies and Ariana Milligan.
The Wales Invitational Senior Championship was also hotly contested and saw Cooley and Fiorita take home the title after a standout display against Josh Stewart and his partner in the final.
This ensured that Fiorita has now won on both days and the competition in consecutive years.
Mr Cashell, who was present for both days of the event, said: “This is the fifth time we have hosted the competition and it was once again another marvellous showcase of talent both at the school and further afield."
As part of the school’s Founders’ Weekend celebrations, the second annual Mathers’ Boys’ Hockey contest took place on Saturday, September 15, pitting a team of former pupils against the current first XI.
The trophy has been named in honour of former Head of Hockey Phil Mather, who stepped down from his role after a 99-term stint at Rydal Penrhos which concluded with the U18 and U16 sides both securing Welsh National Schools’ Championships.
The game was played in fantastic spirit and saw the Old Boys’ triumph by an eventual score of 3-1 against a school squad that was depleted by illness and still in recovery from Rugby matches played earlier on in the day.
There were a host of standout individual performances from a school perspective, which saw Matty Fiorita hit the only goal of the contest for the home side and Welsh international goalkeeper Josh Thomas pulling off a host of stunning stops to keep his side in the contest.
Fellow national squad member Jacob Heaton-Rue also demonstrated his enormous talent with an accomplished display, with Rafeez Mortuza, Jack Jones and Joe Gardner also catching the eye with their respective contributions.
The inaugural Rydal Penrhos Open took place on Sunday, September 16 at the home of North Wales Golf Club in Llandudno.
A host of former and current pupils, parents and staff competed at the competition, which was played under stableford handicap rules, and after a hugely competitive day of action Sue Wood was crowned the overall winner thanks to a fantastic round.
Mike Hindley also came away with something to show for his efforts after securing the Men’s category in fine style.
There were a number of other impressive displays throughout the hugely successful event.
Barbara Easton, who is the Director of Education for the Methodist Church, gave an inspiring address at the school’s annual Founders’ Day service at St John’s Church on Friday, September 14.
The service was attended by staff, pupils, governors and parents to kick-off the Founders’ Weekend festivities, with Headmaster Simon Smith and the Reverend Nick Sissons opening proceedings with their own
This was followed by a reading from Head Girl Gowri Pradeep and Head Boy Nick Fiorita, with Maths teacher Andy Thomas also lending a contribution in the form of a prayer.
Mrs Easton then gave her highly-anticipated address to the congregation, before the service concluded with Ewan Luke laying commemorative flowers in remembrance of Rydal Penrhos’ founding fathers and a fine rendition of the iconic Welsh hymn Calon Lan.
Mr Cashell, said: “Our Founders’ Day service is always something that fills every member of the Rydal Penrhos community with an enormous sense of pride, and we were delighted that such a well-respected figure such as Barbara agreed to join us at the event.
“It was another weekend that will live long in the memory and was further proof of our rich history and the extremely solid foundations from which Rydal Penrhos is built.”