Brockenhurst College Rugby Academy completed their amazing season last week by adding the British Colleges National Cup to their already impressive trophy haul this season.

Having already secured the British Colleges South East League title for a second year, the British Colleges South East & East England Cup and the Hampshire league title, they went to Worcester Warriors Sixways Stadium to play Myerscough College.

Brock had been given a tough side of the draw with continual away fixtures. Trips to Peterborough and West Suffolk showed the resilience of the squad by grinding out results, especially at Peterborough where they were losing with 5 minutes to go but somehow found their ‘never say die’ attitude called into action to complete a fantastic come back.

Brock were thankful of a home national semi final draw where they entertained Bodmin College and controlled the game from start to finish and registered a 20-0 win.

Brock travelled to Sixways Stadium with a fully fit squad. To make the finals even more special for them, local companies James House Fencing and www.thegardeners.co.uk sponsored the squad for their warm up tops and new match kit for the occasion.

Mysercough College were Brocks national semi final opponents last season with Brock coming out victorious courtesy of an intercepted pass to score under the posts.

With this in mind, Brock knew that Myerscough (part of the Sale Sharks Academy) would be out for revenge.

Brock took to the Sixways pitch knowing that could make College history by being the first team to win the National Cup and also four trophies in a season. They didn’t disappoint.

Brock controlled the game from start to finish and eventually ran out 43 – 5 winners. A hat-trick of tries, two conversions and a penalty for captain Cameron Duffus (Portsmouth RFC), and one a piece for Brendan Streather (Trojans RFC), Lewis Royley (Bournemouth RFC), Chris Soards (Fawley RFC), Harry Dolbear (New Milton RFC) and a drop goal from Tom Keir (Oakmedians RFC). 

Coaches Alan Steel, Bryn Coslett and Dan Ap Dayfdd were all full of praise for the Academies achievements this season. Coach Alan Steel commented:

“The Rugby Academy has gone from strength to strength since it started 6 years ago. This season’s trophy haul is down to the shear hard work and determination of all the players involved. To finish the season as National Cup champions and to win it in the way they did at Worcester’s premiership ground shows the level that the College Rugby team aims for. It has been an immense season and all three of us as coaches couldn’t have asked for any more from the players. We are all very proud of the whole Academy.”

Brock are already planning for next season by holding trials for their Academy team with over 80 players battling it out for a place in the Academy. Players from local Rugby clubs such as New Milton, Tottonians, Fawley, Trojans and further reaching areas such as the IOW, Bournemouth, Salisbury and Swanage & Wareham are all vying for a place in the highly successful squad.      

The Hengistbury Head Supporters' Group Wildlife of the Year Photo Exhibition, 2012, is supported by Bournemouth Borough Council. Prizes are sponsored by Brockenhurst College and Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre and awarded to the talented winners of the adult and children’s category.

Local amateur photographer John Lambon scooped a prize of a photography course at Brockenhurst College and youngster Thomas Sands won a multi-activity fun day at Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre.  Brockenhurst College Director, Dr Robin Gadd, presented the talented winners with their prizes and John, of Southbourne said of his win, “I am really pleased. I spend many enjoyable hours on Hengistbury Head in all weathers with camera on tow!”

The competition was open to amateurs, and judges were looking for the best and the most creative visions of Hengistbury Head's wildlife. Twenty of the best photographs are being exhibited at the upstairs gallery, Bournemouth Library, throughout May 2012. Entries will also be published on the Hengistbury Head Supporters' Group| website, and displayed at Hengistbury Head itself, on the digital information screen.

There were two categories of entry; adults, and young people under 18 years of age. The themes were plants, birds, insects and mammals.

The two runners-up in each category (adults and children) received book tokens.

Award-winning professional photographer Jackie King sat on the judging panel for the competition. Also a photography lecturer at Brockenhurst College, who has been rated as ‘outstanding’ in the classroom by Ofsted, Jackie said of the competition, “The standard was incredibly high.”

On the 9^th April, (Easter Monday) the Centre will be holding a Fun Day where people of all ages will have the opportunity to try out an Olympic sport. Olympic sports on offer will be Sailing, Windsurfing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Rowing and Archery. Climbing and Environmental activities such as pond dipping and nature walks will also be available to try. All activities will be just £1.

Hengistbury Head Outdoor Centre is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors. Set in gorgeous surroundings, with direct access to the shallow waters of Christchurch Harbour, the Centre has an experienced team of staff who will make sure you stay safe, and have fun learning new skills. The Fun Day will give everyone the opportunity to try out a new sport, and see the Centre’s great facilities.

Centre Manager, Rob Howlett, is looking forward to welcoming the public to the Centre:

“We wanted to give everyone the opportunity to come and try out an Olympic sport, as well as experience some of the other activities we have here,” he said.

“The Fun Day will be a unique opportunity for everyone to give them a try for a very small fee. We’re really excited about showing off our facilities, and getting the community involved with an activity that they may not have tried before.”

The Open Day will kick off at 9:30am and finish at 4:30pm. Entry is free, and the Centre provides all equipment including wetsuits and lifejackets, but you will need to bring swimwear and suitable shoes that you don’t mind getting wet! Children will need to be accompanied by an adult, and with activities for all ages, it’s the perfect day out with family or friends. There’s no need to book, just turn up and be ready for a fun-filled day.

Sailing and Climbing are suitable for those aged 7 and over, while Rowing, Kayaking, Canoeing and Windsurfing are suitable for those aged 9 and up. Nature walks and pond dipping is suitable for all ages. If you have any questions about the day, please call the Centre on 01202 425173, where staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the day.

The Centre is based at The Broadway, Southbourne, BH6 4EN, with two pay and display public car parks nearby.

The two day salon, hosted for the first time at Brockenhurst College saw Brock students demonstrate ‘the wow factor’, winning 12 Gold, 5 Silver and 10 Bronze medals on the day for a variety of classes from ranging from Restaurant service, Pastry Operations and Cold Chicken preparation.

Organised in association with the Craft Guild of Chefs, this year's demonstrations of culinary skills and techniques included a wide range of hot, cold and restaurant service classes, from cocktail and coffee and marzipan modelling to fish course and guinea fowl.

This year Gerard Basset, the renowned master of wine and owner of local Hotel Terravina, opened the show. Local businesses supporting the event included headline sponsor Coastline Produce, Hotel Terravina, FJB Hotels, Balmer Lawn Hotel, Chewton Glen and Badgers Holt Care Home.

Over 400 competitors participated over two days, as well as around 35 judges who represent some of the finest industry experts in the country.

Brock students competed particularly strongly in the Restaurant Service category of the competition. Of the 12 Brockenhurst College entries 9 students won gold medals. The judges were blown away with the quality of the designs.

BTEC student Amy Scott, 19, won 2 Gold medals and particularly impressed judges with her Royal Horticultural Society themed table lay-up. Amy said of her award,  “It’s great to get the chance to attend prestigious events such as this whilst studying at Brockenhurst College. Winning these award will hopefully help demonstrate my commitment and passion to prospective employers and help my CV stand out from the crowd. It’s an excellent way to showcase my skills and has been a great networking opportunity for me.”

John MacArthur, Chef Director of the prestigious New Forest Cookery School, International Hotel School and Head of Hospitality at Brockenhurst College, hosted the event.  He said “The quality of work that went into achieving such a wonderful medal haul was fantastic and I am overwhelmed by the results achieved by the talented students in the Restaurant classes. We’re proud to have hosted this prestigious event and it’s gratifying to see our own students perform so well.”

17 year old Brockenhurst College student Jordan Moody recently impressed the lawn bowls world when he beat the world ranked no. 27 lawn bowls player in a competition.

The Westlecot Open held in Swindon this March saw Jordan, who is from Salisbury, play an excellent match against Andrew Ware, who is ranked no 27 in the world, and win 2-0.

Jordan, who has been playing Lawn Bowls from the age of seven, was very surprised by the win. “It felt quite a good achievement. I was worried going into it, because I’ve never played  anyone that good before. So when I won, I was really happy.”

Jordan started playing seriously two years ago, when he started entering competitions, and was selected for the Wiltshire Liberty Game, the Wiltshire men's top team.

As a result of his excellent performance at Westlecot, Jordan has been encouraged to join the Singles Series.  He will need at least £200 to support his entry into this series, with £110 to join the association and £20 for each competition. This doesn’t include travel, food and accommodation costs, and Jordan is currently looking for a sponsor who could help him cover his costs.

“It’s quite a lot of money to enter the Singles Series, but it would be a great opportunity,” says Jordan. “But unless I get a sponsor, it’s not really affordable because of all the travelling involved, and the cost of entering all the competitions.”

If you think you can help Jordan, please get in contact with Tarryn or Erin at Brockenhurst College on 01590 625562.

With plenty of students and staff getting involved, much fun was had by all. Our Continuing Education students were the overall victors, beating the Sports Department to claim the prize!

Money raised went to Sport Relief, which contributes to a number of very worthy causes.

Swimming for the Reading Royals, 16 year old Rhiannon, who is from Newport, Isle of Wight, won the technical solo with 67.6 points, then topped the free solo scores with an outstanding score 72.09, clinching a win with an overall score of 139.69.

Not content with just one gold, Rhiannon then went on to win the duet, with Reading Royals teammate Sophie Usher. The duo scored highest in the technical and free routines, and won the gold with an overall score of 135.85. This was a huge leap from last year’s British Gas ASA National Age Group Championships, where the pair won a bronze.

Rhiannon is exceptionally pleased with her achievement. “I was really happy with the result, and so was my duet partner, because we’ve been working really hard all year. It’s a great start to the year, which will hopefully have more successes to come.”

 This exceptional achievement required the team to win matches against a number of prestigious teams including Peterborough College, Sussex Downs College and Bodmin College, who they played in the Semi-Final and won 20-0. The squad will meet Myerscough College from Lancashire in the final.

 Coach Alan Steel is very proud of the team’s success:

“It’s been an incredibly tough journey getting to the final, especially as we had to come from behind in two games,” he said. “This is the second year in a row the Academy has achieved this. This year we hope to beat Myerscough in the final at the Sixways Stadium which will be a fantastic experience for the squad actually playing at a premiership stadium, and one that doesn't come around too often. I know the players are looking forward to it, as are the coaches and though it will be tough, we are confident we can win.”

 Player Joe Desmond is excited about being in the final:

“Myself, and all of the players are really looking forward to final. The opportunity to play at a premiership stadium has been a great motivation for us and we are glad to have made it,” he said. “We have trained really hard all year and it’s great to see the hard work paying off. For players like me it will be our last game for the college so we really want to win and bring the trophy home.”

 On the 28^th April and the 1^st May, trials will be held for next year’s Academy Rugby team. The trials are open to any student who is either at Brockenhurst College, or has applied to the College to start a course in September 2012. For more information, please contact Nicky Hartwell on nhartwell@brock.ac.uk or call 01590 625555 and dial extension 256.

These images were taken using the Faulkes Telescope North, the world’s largest robotic telescope.  This telescope is situated on Mt. Haleakala, a volcanic dome on Maui, Hawaii.  A time slot was booked for the telescope and the images and data were downloaded via the internet and then viewed at Brockenhurst.  The aim was to demonstrate that different colours can be used to highlight the different chemical structures present in the supernova remnant.  

The results are quite stunning. 

Please click on the following link to view the article and images http://lcogt.net/blog/slowe/veil-unveiled