Sport - Rugby School

Activities
2009/10
Activities
Pushcart Race 2009
If I were a betting man, I would suggest that one of the safest bets is
for fine weather on the day of the pushcart race. There has yet to be
a race affected by rain or snow. Is it the fact that the Close has a true
all-weather surface, or is it more probable that fortune favours the
bold Those intrepid push-carters who brave the event put so much
on the line, whether it be their muscle power and running ability or
their brain power and engineering skills. They risk ridicule if it goes
wrong. Get it right, however, and glory is theirs. Hours, days and
weeks can be spent designing, building and tweaking the machines
that need to survive for only a few minutes. Costumes and make up
that take longer to apply than the duration of the race can go to
waste in the moment of a puncture or a buckled wheel.
So why do they do it Look to this year’s winners: dark horses looking
to break the lengthy dominance of School House and School Field
with a machine concocted from junk, built in a shed and propelled
by a team lacking pedigree. However, the writing was on the wall
from the start. Each lap got quicker and quicker, the lead bigger and
bigger, as the underdog Whitelaw boys raced to ultimate victory.
School House, the dejected and depleted former champions,
despaired as their favourite silverware was ceremoniously passed to
their conquerors in view of their own front doors. Rarely has there
been such a show of unbridled passion and joy as the Whitelaw
boys took their prize.
While the partying began, so did the plans for next year: scores
to be settled, lessons to be learnt, machines to be built. The
pushcart race is not just about the spoils of victory, but also about
the journey: house bonding as those who can build, build; those
who style, style; and those who can push fast, push fast. A role for
everybody and even if competing for prizes is beyond all houses
every year, there is something about the atmosphere and the event
that brings out the best spirit in the houses. Early starters this year
showed well and stayed in contention until the final pairings, with
Michell holding on to fourth place with their decent time. Dean
rolled out a new machine and a new energy, and went so close to
holding off the challengers that followed. The certainty of good
weather is matched by the certainty of an appeal: were Bradley
right to have male tutors pushing Did this weigh too heavily in
their favour Will the rules be discussed Will changes be made
What, indeed, will 2010 bring
PAB
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