HART HOUSE WILL DEFEND THE SHIELD IN ACADEMIC CHALLENGE FINAL 2015

Hart House defends the Griffiths Shield in the Academic Challenge next week, on the 30th Anniversary of this fiercely contested inter-House competition. The final takes place on Thursday 5th February at 9pm in the School Library – Hart will be competing with Sedgwick House.

Last night’s Semi-Final drew huge support from all four Houses involved, with House flags and scarves dangling over the balcony from the Gallery.  Robertson House recently took the Plate, which is the ‘second tier’ competition for the Houses coming 5th – 9th, and this year marks the first time it went to one of the Girls’ Houses – Robertson.

Powell House boys donated the Plate in 2010 to mark MAFR’s 25 years of service as House Tutor. In 1996, Mrs M. E. Griffiths presented The Shield in memory of her son James (Old Evanian). The Shield is the major trophy and each of the boys’ Houses has won it at least once, apart from School House who progressed to this year’s Semi-Final. 

In 1985 the competition was inaugurated by Mr Andrew Maynard, who taught Classics. In 1986, MAFR became quizmaster. After a couple of years in abeyance, the competition was revived in 1995, with MAFR as quizmaster and HRD as scorer.  

Powell was the first House to win Academic Challenge in 1985 (J.E Porter, M. Alban, S.R.B Beaufoy (yes, the Oscar winning one), and B.S Browning. The photo shows last year’s winning Hart House team – A Barker, R C M Strachan, J Cowen and O Cowen. Alex Barker and Oliver Cowen are in this year’s team. 

MAFR reports that this year’s final promises to be a cracker!