Another sunny day in the far north-west
Rock climbing, abseiling and orienteering and its all square in the contest between the Reds and Blues
Reds and Blues went head to head today, on the first day of competition for the ‘Ardmore Olimpets’
The Red Skies and Bluetooths were first out on ‘search to survive’, a huge orienteering course out on the remote Ardbeg peninsular. Not only is it a test of team work and their map skills but it is a step closer to making their own decisions and applying their own judgment in the wild landscape of rocky crags and water. A great preparation for ‘survival island’. Setting off in little squads that they had organised themselves to cover the course and find the posts that are plotted on the map. With equal scores at the end of the two hours the Red Skies took the honours having just sneaked in less than a minute before their Blue contenders.
Meanwhile the Red Faces were battling against the clock and the Blue Moons on the climbing crag. With the five climbs and the abseil split in half each team had an hour on the upper section before swapping to the lower section, with points on offer for knot tying, good attempts and successful ascents of the different routes.
After a picnic lunch at the crag the teams swapped. Any remaining cloud had burned off by then and we were treated to blue skies and hot summer sunshine.
It is difficult to keep these pupils out of the water and when we returned from Ardbeg most of the team kitted up for a swim. A hardy handful have been swimming this week without wetsuits, and this now seems to be the default option…. what a team!!
With the scores computed the teams are on level peggings with the Reds winning ‘Search to Survive’ in both the morning and afternoon, and the Blues winning both climbing sessions.
It is the raft race and collecting lobster creels tomorrow before a high tea and off to the Island!
The forecast suggests that we will hang on to some of the best weather in Britain tomorrow, these S. Anselm’s leavers certainly deserve it.
