The Cups and Colours Assembly is the annual celebration of sporting achievement at Bolton School Boys’ Division. This event has been held virtually on Zoom for the past two years, but this year saw a welcome return to a packed Great Hall.
A large number of boys received Half and Full Colours for their involvement with a wide range of school sports: hockey, swimming, water polo, paddle sports, climbing, badminton, tennis, football, rugby and also, following a win in the English Schools Competition, chess.
For the very first time in school history, Colours for rowing were awarded to James Hopkinson in Year 13.
Individual sportsmen were congratulated on their wider sporting achievements, such as national call-ups and involvement with professional squads in several sports, and the school’s various sports teams were celebrated throughout. In Swimming, the Junior team won the Town Gala, with the Intermediates and Seniors both finishing second, and the squad also won the Cutty Sark Trophy: a fast water gala against strong opposition. With the return of competitive water polo, the Under 15s finished second in their National Finals and the Seniors continued the School’s streak of success with another win at Under 18 level following an epic final against Trinity to become National Champions. The Rowing squad entered their first competition and enjoyed a first taste of success. Badminton has seen a resurgence and the school’s players were chosen to represent Bolton at the Greater Manchester competition. The boys’ efforts and achievements in Football, Rugby, Golf, Tennis and Chess were also acknowledged.
Captains’ trophies were given out in each of the team sports, and the Trevor Pledger Award for Volunteering in Sport was presented to Ellis Matthews in Year 12 for his contribution to water polo training.
The Hindley Trophy is awarded for the best individual performance or outstanding sporting performance of the year. This year’s field of competition for this prize was particularly strong. Those up for the award were: Harry Bentham, Year 13, Great Britain water polo; James Blenkinship, Year 13, Great Britain water polo; Oliver Cook, Year 11, Sale Sharks Academy; Jamie Death, Year 12, Under 18 gold and Under 21 silver at the English Judo Championships; Kesh Fonseka, Year 11, North of England Cricket; Ben Price, Year 13, Lancashire Under 18s football; and Max Turner, Year 13, England Hockey goalkeeper. However, the Trophy was ultimately awarded to Sam Olawumi in Year 13, Captain of the ISFA Under 18s and member of the Bolton Wanderers FC reserves.
Cricket colours will be awarded at the annual MCC match later this term, and a number of further sporting trophies will be presented at Prizegiving.
The Cups and Colours Assembly also paid tribute to Year 13 student and 1st XV Rugby player Cameron Milton, who sadly died in March. His commitment to sport and to his teammates has been much celebrated and the assembly once again commemorated him as a well-liked and passionate young sportsman. Cameron’s Full Colours for Rugby were collected by his brother Connor, with the rest of his family watching from the audience. As the Colours were presented, the 1st XV and Year 13 led the Great Hall in a standing ovation in Cameron’s honour.
Mr Fernside closed the assembly by thanking pupils and urging them to continue to enjoy their sport.
