The Sports Department at Oundle is extremely grateful to the Foundation and its donors for enabling pupils to benefit from a variety of essential equipment.

The Cricket Scorebox was purchased following a notable donation from the father of Colin McInnes (1st XI Captain in 1993). The electronic device is operated from the Pavilion balcony - a significant improvement on the antiquated system in use beforehand!

School cricketers have also benefited from the all weather, fully enclosed nets generously provided by the Assassins - a group of OOs consisting mainly of former 1st XI players from the 1949 and 1950 cricket teams. The hard surface nets have proved a great success, not only for 1st X1 players to practice on, but for cricketers of all ages and standards. Furthermore, the bowling machine and video can be better used within these nets to analyse and improve players' batting techniques.

The scrummaging machine used by the School's rugby players was funded by donations from parents and OOs, as was the electronic scoreboard that takes pride of place on the Two Acre.

The School's main sports award – the John Jackson Award – is funded by John Jackson, OO. Each year, during the last term of the recipient's Lower Sixth, it is awarded by the Sports Committee to a talented, all-round sportsman or woman who has contributed significantly to the sporting life of the School during his or her time here.

Marianne Layden
Head of Sport

August 2004