International Masters Hockey

After first picking up a stick at MC, it has taken another 40 years for Dr Jon Marshall (C3/T 1965-69) to represent England. Just back from the 2009 IMH Tournament in Hong Kong, Jon won a gold medal with the England Vintage Masters (O55s), beating Australia in the final. England also won the O45 and O50 age groups. Although a rugby player at MC (1^st XV briefly), Jon took up club hockey in Zambia and still plays in the West Country. He has represented the West at O50s and O55 age groups and is looking forward to 2012. England and Marlborough hockey is doing well at present, so good luck to current and past players.

Freddie Puckle-Hobbs (LI 2004-2009) returned triumphant from the Canadian International Shooting Championships in August 2009. He won the Open Cadet/Junior target rifle Championship, the Russell Potter Memorial and the Strachan Trophy. He was also placed joint 3rd place in the Senior/Under 25 Pairs and helped the Athelings (the British Cadet Team) to win the Rex Goddard, the Michael Faraday and the Cadets Top Country.

In London on Wednesday 12th August, Kasase Kabwe (LI 1993-98) played for Zambia in a match against Ghana. Even though Zambia lost, Kasase now has an International Cap and has played against Premiership players!

Alasdair Niven (C3 1966-70) played in the winning England Over 55s Squash Team in Cardiff in May 2009 in the Home Internationals against Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. What probably clinched his selection for the team, was a narrow win over another OM, John Goodrich (B3 1966-70), himself an England Over 55 international in 2008 in November. John and Alasdair were contemporaries at Marlborough, playing at numbers 1 and 2 respectively in the Squash V in the late 1960s. John had always had the upper hand at School but they had not played each other seriously since school. Alasdair said the forty years of training in order to finally achieve a victory over John had been worth it!

There was a most enjoyable cricket match on Prize Day, 4th July 2009 between the Marlborough Blues and the School. Ed Kilbee (C2 2001-06), who is a student at the University of Cape Town, made a splendid century for the Blues who totalled 240 runs and, amazingly, the School were dismissed for 240 runs as well - the match ending in a tie!!! It really was a most exciting end to a very good match.

Peter Obolensky (PR 1988-93) has been playing for Stade Lausanne for the past 1.5 seasons during which time the team have become Swiss Cup Champions. Previously he has played for Varna RFC in the Bulgarian premiership, Nicosia Barbarians & Paphos Tigers in Cyprus and represented Cyprus against the British Combined Services and at an international 10's Tournament in Beirut in 2004 (which they won). Sadly he only took up rugby 5 years ago... he wished he had played it at Marlborough! I am sure we wish it too!!

Ralph Beckett (C2 1985-89) trained the 2008 winner of The Oaks, a filly named 'Look Here'. She won by an impressive 3 ¾ lengths at 33-1. He also trained Muhannak who was one of only five European winners at The Breeder's Cup (World Championships) at Santa Anita in Los Angeles and was one of four nominated for the Flat Racehorse Trainer of the Year at the Racehorse Press Association Awards.

James Wood (C1 1986-90) drove the 1967 Porsche 911-R prototype at the Press Event for the forthcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed to be held on the 3rd and 4th July 2009. Despite driving rain and dense fog, the Porsche won the 'Marathon de la Route' - 84 hour race at the famous Nürburgring circuit in Germany. To hear his read more click ...more» To listen to his interview click on the picture.

William Lough (C2 2000-05) was selected to play for Oxford University v Cambridge in the Rugby League Varsity Match which took place on Thursday 5th March at The Stoop Memorial Ground, Twickenham at 7:30pm. William has kindly let us know that George Sykes (BH 2000-05 ) was playing for Cambridge in the Match, gaining his second Blue. We think George is the first Marlburian to win a Blue in Rugby League. George was on the winning side on Thursday night and had a very good game. The Match was televised on Sky Sports 3.

In August 2008, Kate Stephens (NC 1991-1993) and her skydiving team, Bodyflight Storm, won the World Skydiving Championships in Maubeuge, northern France. In order to qualify for the world championship, Kate's team had to be the best all female team at the British Nationals in 2007. They won that event beating both other female teams - and all the male teams too! Giving up their jobs to train, spending 2 years in the gym, completing 1,400 skydives and training in temperatures from freezing to desert heat resulted in a win with a narrow 1 point lead. Kate said, "The relief and emotion of that moment was something that I will never forget. We then drank our bodyweight in champagne! It is always great for women in sport when we beat all the guys too!"  For more information on Bodyflight Storm see www.stormskydivingteam.co.uk

The Dunford brothers, David and Jason have been amazingly successful at the Beijing Olympics, 2008.  Jason, for some 7 minutes, held a new Olympic record for his event - 100 metres butterfly.  He qualified for the final and came a very respectable 5th out of 8.  The winner of course was the remarkable Michael Phelps from USA, however, Jason beat his previous personal best and created a new Kenyan National record and a new all Africa record for that event.  David won his heat, but alas was 24th out of 64 so he did not qualify for the next stage.  Both brothers felt they were lucky to benefit from the expertise of coach Peter O'Sullivan during their years at MC.

Barry Custance-Baker (B2 1929-33), veteran marksman, has won the top prize for a 200-yard match at the National Target Shooting Centre for Victorian muzzle-loading target rifles at Bisley in August 2008. He was presented with the Graphic Cup, given annually by the historic Arms Rifle Club. He won his first school trophy for shooting in 1928 and was a finalist in the King's Hundred in 1938.

In April 2008, at the Stanford Invitational Grand Prix in Palo Alto, California, David Dunford qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games in the 50 metres freestyle. Scroll up to see more recent article.

In May 2008, Christopher Martin Jenkins, well loved commentator for BBC radio's Test Match Special and erstwhile Chief Cricket Correspondent to The Times, visited Marlborough to air his views on modern cricket and sports journalism. To read the report on the College Website click ...more»

Richard Nerurkar, a former language teacher at MC and one of Britain's most successful marathon runners, has published Marathon Runner: from Beginning to Elite in April 2008. This new edition is in full colour which brings the action photography to life and the text has been updated to include the latest developments in running science. Richard has done phenomenal work in Ethiopia through adminsistering publics runs and promoting health education. He was awarded the MBE in 2002.

Kate Stephens (NC 1991-1993) and her fellow team members of the all female skydiving team, Bodyflight Storm, bacame British National Skydiving Champions. They won the gold medal at the British National Formation Skydiving Championships held at Target Skysports at Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire in August 2007. The team has secured a place at the World Championships to be held in France in August 2008. Kate said, "I am really excited we have won, but now we have our sights firmly set on the World Championships in August next year so the work has already begun to keep us very much focused on our ultimate goal."

Nick Gray won his first full international Rugby Union Cap in 2007, at the age of 36, when he represented Cyprus in a recent IRB triangular competition against Azabajan, Monaco and Slovakia. He came on as a replacement for 10 minutes in the match against Azabajan! He was quick to point out that playing against the might of Azabajan was not really top level international rugby but he is, we suspect, the first Rugby international since R E Prescott (B1 1927-31). Thanks to Bob Pick, Deputy Head, for this story.

At the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia Jason broke the African record in the 100m butterfly and the time he swam (51.85) makes him the 8th fastest performer of all-time in this event. He also gained qualification in the 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly for the Olympics to be held in Beijing. See more recent article