 There is absolutely nothing wrong, in fact there is everything right, about young people in this School enjoying their sport. I often think that one of the reasons why the boys learn to like learning more is that every day they have the opportunity to sample the Merchiston 'magic roundabout' of activities: academic work (have I worked hard today?), activities (have I developed hard today?) and fun (have I played hard today?) So much playing has occurred - basketball, clay pigeon shooting, fives, football, squash, sub aqua, swimming, let alone the development of a boys' game, namely rugby football.
Massive fixture lists have come about as a result of our rugby links with Stewart's Melville, Ampleforth, Dollar, Sedbergh, George Watson's, Fettes, Edinburgh Academy, Strathallan, and often 15 sides have been playing on a Saturday. What is so important is that schoolboy rugby remains a fast-flowing, dynamic, athletic game, not focused on big 'hits' but in fact the opposite - good passing and handling. What is also so critical at Merchiston is that the C or D team player is coached to the highest of standards, as much as the A or B team player. I have watched so many great games played by boys of all age groups (including our Under 10 festivals and our fixtures against prep schools, after which the real education continues with a special match tea in the Dining Hall), but our senior teams are in a particularly rich vein of form. I have been hugely impressed by the athleticism, the movement, the technique and, yes, all our dogged and fair defence which has been seen on the pitches this term, both at home and away.  We have not won all of the time and that is absolutely fine, for life entails coming second occasionally, bouncing back and learning to move forwards. There have been so many highlights but I smiled wryly when I saw our 7th senior XV playing its inaugural fixture this season, cheered on to the words of the School song by supporters. For these boys, this was the equivalent of a 1st XV match, and it mattered just as much. After a successful Scottish School's Rugby Cup campaign, Merchiston is now through to the semi-final of this competition.
Let us not forget that four of our swimmers won a Gold Medal in the 4x50m Senior Relay in the Edinburgh Schools Swimming Finals at the Commonwealth Pool - we last won this event in 2003. It is remarkable that we have a Great Britain coach and a wonderfully committed Merchiston parent supporting this sport at Merchiston. |
