The 2016-17 House Championship, the first where five Houses competed for the House Challenge Cup proved to be a fiercely contested competition, right until the final event (Sports Day) with three of the five House in with a chance of winning the competition.
Over the course of the year, the lead changed many times and each of the five Houses were successful in winning a number of competitions.
The Stanley Stags were the great unknown quantity for 2016-17.
The new House however, demonstrated a keen enthusiasm from the word go and although outright victories alluded them until the House Art, Stanley House steadily picked up points with wins following in Junior Table Tennis, the Swimming Gala, the Intermediate Tug of War and at Sports Day.
Last year’s champions, the Taverner Bears got off to a strong start winning the Senior Girls and Junior Boys and Girls Hockey, House Drama and the MFL Quiz but as the year progressed they seemingly began to fade and even a valiant effort at Sports Day (where they finished second) was not enough to retain the title.
Walworth Tigers demonstrated their prowess in Netball and on the Ergos winning both the senior competitions but they were equally adept at the more cerebral challenges winning House Technology and Junior Debating too.
Mr Scott’s Queen’s House led the competition on more than one occasion throughout the year and confident wins were achieved in House Dance, Junior Netball, Senior Football and House Cricket amongst others but fourth place finishes in the Swimming Gala and at Sports Day undid Queen’s hopes and despite a memorable performance of Cee Lo Green’s Forget You at House Music, Queen’s have been unable to win back the Championship Trophy they last lifted in 2015.
The Lovekyn Eagles have soared under the guidance of Mr Beggs and Mrs Jones this year. They opened their account early with victory in the Senior Boys’ Hockey and demonstrated their mental skills by winning House Chess too.
Victories in Junior Football, CCF, Shooting, Senior Debating, Basketball (in all three age groups), Junior Tug of War and House Music also followed.
The final points totals revealed the closest contest in a number of years.
In fifth with 423 points were Walworth, in fourth with 510 points were last year’s champions Taverner, in third with 527 points were Queen’s.
But just eight points separated the winning House from the second placed House. Second with 541 points were Stanley House, meaning that the winners for 2016-17 with 549 points are Lovekyn House (who last lifted the trophy in 2014).
Mr AJ Beard, Assitant Head Co-Curricular
