211075 Downing Record 07 - Downing College - University of ...

Music SocietyPresident: Mark BrowneThe past year has been a very successful one for Downing College Music Society.A total of twelve concerts took place, featuring a wide variety of performers andensembles. Michaelmas term’s freshers’ recital included a number of accomplishedperformances, while the orchestral concert that term featured Tom Oldham’sspirited rendition of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. The main concert in Lent termwas another Mozartian affair: pianists Andy Bennett and Phoebe Bointonperformed the Concerto for Two Pianos, while the first half comprised the littleknown Duo for Violin and Viola, superbly performed by Brendan Gillis and IanGoh. The year concluded with the annual leavers’ concert, and we are grateful toall performers who played on that occasion and wish them well for the future. Inaddition, there was a full series of recitals in the Master’s Lodge, which weretypically well attended. As always, the music society is extremely grateful to theMaster and his wife, not only for hosting the Master’s lodge recitals, but also fortheir kind and generous support of music in Downing.RugbyCaptain: Peter KnipeThe season began, as all college sport seasons do, with an assessment of the oldplayers lost to graduation, and the new players gained from matriculation. Almostevery member of the large Downing pack that had dominated the first divisionfor several years was lost, while several younger, more athletic forwards enteredthe team. The new season also gave the opportunity for some of the second andthird year players who had fought hard but failed to secure a steady place in the1st XV in previous years to become regular players.After an easy win against a weak St. Catherine’s side, our league campaignhit a slump, with several successive losses leaving us vulnerable to relegation fromthe first division, which we had occupied for at least the past 8 years. However,a hard fought and very close match against Trinity Hall, and a win the followingweek against Girton before the Christmas break left us confident that our placeamongst the elite of Cambridge college rugby would be secure, although therewas clearly still a lot of work to be done.In the New Year, the Cuppers competition began, but an unlucky draw meantDowning did not proceed, having no Blues ourselves and facing a Trinity teamwith strength and depth, we never really had a chance. The league season carriedon concurrently, and a win against St. Catharine’s left the table very open indeed.St Catharine’s, having won no matches, were sure to be relegated, but the second84