Blog Page 1625
Review: Rust and Bone
Every now and again a film comes along that makes you feel everything the characters feel and makes you experience every single moment with them as they experience it. Rust and Bone is very much one of those films. This sense of feeling is primarily owed to the focus in this film on the visual. From the bloodied tooth spinning ominously on the ground to the lonely image of the wheelchair- bound lead actress, this film is nothing if not emotionally demanding. The movie is actually in French, the mother-tongue of lead Marion Cotillard (Inception, The Dark Knight Rise, La Vie en Rose) and far from being an arduous subtitle-reading session the language barrier does not in any way bar enjoyment of the film, in fact it evidences the power of the visuals.
It could be said the main theme of this film is the idea that some of the most beautiful things in life are often also very dangerous. This is portrayed brilliantly through the two main characters Stephanie and Alain. At the start of the film we meet Alain who has obviously fallen on hard times with his son Sam on his shoulders, thumbing a lift. Then Stephanie is introduced looking somewhat worse for wear on a night out. The orca trainer is in love with her job but it quickly becomes clear that outside of work her life is not as fantastic as it seems. On this night out Stephanie crosses paths with Alain who has moved in with his sister and found work as a bouncer. The meeting is brief and it is the sense of reality in this film through the use of random acquaintance which makes it so believable and so powerful. This method of film-making can be compared to the ‘cold, hard facts of life’ presentation of hits like The Fighter, directed by David O. Russell, and The Wrestler, directed by the mighty Darren Aronofsky.
The main event is the horror of the accident suffered by Stephanie whilst leading an orca show. This leaves her waking up in a hospital bed only to discover her legs have been amputated. This is the point where Cotillard comes into her Oscar-winning own showing her true acting credentials to deliver what is arguably the best dramatic scene of the film. This is not to overlook Schoenaerts (Bullhead, Black Book) who plays the angry, complicated and struggling Alain with so much depth of character the scenes involving the two are incredibly intense. Young actor Armand Verdure is also important to mention as his turn as Sam is extremely promising with his character leading to yet another amazingly dramatic scene at a frozen lake which is jaw-droppingly tense.
What director Jacques Audiard (A Prophet, The Beat That My Heart Skipped) has done is raise the movie-making bar. It is not often a film of such depth (of characters and emotion), reality and visual effect sweeps across our cinema screens. This movie definitely puts its audience through the emotional-ringer but it’s well worth it. Prepare to alternate between staring wide-eyed and hanging on to the edge of your seat as despite the emotional rollercoaster, Rust and Bone will leave you speechless.
Why secession in Mali matters
On 17th January 2012, as the western world basked in self-congratulation over the Arab Spring, violence broke out in Northern Mali. By April a variety of rebel armed groups controlled most of the North, declaring it an independent state of Assawad. Yet this little commented upon event is not some afterthought to the Arab Spring, but a profound and long term challenge to Saharan and Western security. Not only does it have the potential to become more general Saharan unrest, but among the armed groups active in Northern Mali are Ansar Dine, MOJWA, AQIM and Boko Haram, all stated Islamist groups with links to Al Qaeda. The crisis in Mali has the potential to become a significant threat in the region and to the UK.
The roots of this crisis are to be found in the decolonisation of the Sahara through the 1960s. As North and West Africa were partitioned into sovereign states, the nomadic Tuareg people found themselves divided between Algeria, Niger, Burkina, Libya and Mali. Nomads became minorities in new states and found themselves marginalised from political life and unable to move freely across borders. These dissatisfactions were expressed by prolonged periods of uprising affecting several Sahel states throughout the 20th Century. Tuaregs and other ethnic groups have taken this opportunity to assert demands for an independent state. Contagion is a real possibility, with common Saharan dissatisfaction shared across borders and between ethnic groups, meaning this unrest could well snowball to neighbouring states.
The development of a rebel movement, with Islamist and Saharan elements, represents a substantial threat to the security of a number of West African states, including Niger, Chad, Burkina, Algeria, Libya and Nigeria. Consequently ECOWAS, a regional political union, has been active in pushing for an international intervention to retake the territory as quickly as possible, reducing the threat of the rebellion spreading to other territories. These calls have been mandated by the UN security council, with promises of logistical and political support from both France and the USA. However messages have been contradictory about the degree of commitment for the various partners, with Algeria dragging its heels and substantial concerns over the quality of Nigerian and Malian troops earmarked for a possible counter offensive.
However this rebellion is threatening beyond the Saharan region. While a Tuareg rebellion, intent on developing a Saharan state, would have profound regional security implications, the growing strength of militant Islamist groups provides the real global threat. The secessionist movement, the MNLA, has clashed repeatedly with Islamist groups such as Ansar Dine and MOJWA in North Mali. Iyad Ag Ghaly, a skilled and pragmatic leader, has united these Islamist groups, gaining the upper hand over the MNLA. The spread of this rebellion across the Sahara potentially creates a vast stateless area, with considerable access to supplies and arms for Islamist militants with consequent security implications.
While the downfall of Gadaffi has removed the nomads’ most potent political ally, the turmoil across North Africa has allowed access to a wide range of weaponry and experienced military personnel from other theatres of conflict. Despite ongoing uncertainty over the degree of unity among the Islamists, if history is any guide, these secession movements will be difficult to extinguish. The prospect of a prolonged conflict in the Sahara not only raises the possibility of a humanitarian crisis in an already resource stressed area, but an enhanced chances that Western powers will be involved. A combination of weak local armies, kidnapping of hostages and the need for air power to control the desert make some form of Western involvement increasingly likely. Secession in Northern Mali therefore provides the possibility of a widening Saharan conflict, creating an open stateless space with significant access to arms, and as such representing a significant security concern. With current commitments in Afghanistan winding down, it is possible that Britain will find itself facing another spate of terrorist activity and military entanglement in the Sahara.
View From A Blue: Max Denning
Could you introduce OUSSC for those who aren’t aware of it?
OUSSC is the university Ski and Snowboard club. It is often confused with Varsity Trip but we are a separate club. Of course, we all go on the Varsity Trip, compete and enjoy Val Thorens but we also organise a number of other trips throughout the year including cross-country skiing, ski touring, summer race training, attending the university championships and of course weekly training a bit closer to home.
How does the varsity competition itself work? Is this regarded as the main event in the skiing calendar?
The varsity competition has two events: a slalom and giant slalom. Each event is made up of two runs. Giant slalom is faster and has flagged gates whereas slalom is slower and more turny with single flexible gates. The most important thing in racing is speed preservation and generation. For both races, each team sends down a team of 6 skiers, alternating with Cambridge. As with any Oxbridge sport varsity is the biggest event on our calendar as nothing is more important than to ‘FTT’. Unfortunately as the Varsity Trip takes place in one of the first weeks that ski resorts are open, this would cut our season rather short, so we try to get out and do some other events as well!
Is it all about racing? If people want to get involved do they have to have been racing for years to have a hope of making the team?
No, as with Varsity Trip, although there is a strong racing component, there is also a strong social side to the club with a number of socials and holidays for both the seasoned pro and beginner alike. There are no joining requirements and we welcome everyone. Beginners may want to get in a couple of lessons before heading to the slopes at Milton Keynes whereas the Blues may simply want to hone their skills prior to the varsity races. The annual cuppers event has already occurred this year, in fact around 30 non-regular team skiers attended to enjoy the slopes of Milton Keynes with their friends.
Is there a lot of pressure on those varsity races? I imagine it’s very competitive…
Losing is not an option. The varsity ski race is the oldest annual ski race in the world.
Could you describe a little more the mental process you go through leading up to and during a race? Is there a conflict between the individual nature of the racing and the team element?
In many individual sports, including skiing, the most important thing is to finish a race as fast as possible, in others it is to jump as high or as far as possible etc. The aspect that makes the Blues ski racing more interesting is that only the top 4 times count towards the team score and for a time to count an individual needs to make it through 2 runs without falling, crashing or being disqualified. This is harder than it sounds. When you are going for it there is a surprisingly high crash rate – meaning that not only is there pressure to ski fast but also to be consistent/reliable/safe, a balance which few skiers achieve. It has been the case in many blues races that the first 2 skiers out of the start gate have fallen, leaving a lot of pressure on the remaining skiers to finish.
Other than that, where and who do you race?
This year we are hoping to have an exhibition race against a french university based in lyon. After shoeing the tabs and the frogs we will then set our sites on the university championships over the easter vac.
How are blues awarded in skiing? How prestigious are they?
It is a discretionary full blue sport, meaning half blues are awarded to everyone on the 1st VI. To earn a full blue, you will have to have a top 5 finish at BUSC (the university championships). Alternatively you have to have skied to around 130 FIS (federation internationale du ski) ranking points, the equivalent of national team standard for an 16-20 year old.
What does training involve?
Everyone on the first team will have been ski racing long before they got to university. For some this means a season on their gap yah when they taught part time and trained part time, for others it simply meant ‘sacrificing’ every christmas and easter holiday to go and train since the age of 13. Although skiing frequently is not the worst eventuality in most peoples minds it is worth pointing out that the racers will have been up most mornings at first light and will have to go out wind, rain or snow with little vin chaud to blunt the cold. It is important to maintain leg strength so the best skiers all do a secondary sport when in england to maintain fitness. In addition to fitness sessions, certain members of the team do cycling and others (sadly) row.
Quidditch flying high
**Cherwell Tries: Quidditch – June 2013**
Quidditch is certainly one of Oxford’s quirkier phenomenons. How did a sport from Harry Potter become a sport in reality?
Well it all started off being played in America at Middlebury College, before being picked up by the Ivy League universities like Harvard and Princeton. Since then it had spread across America to the point where they have over 200 teams now, so it’s all very serious now: they have multiple tournaments on weekends and have hosted six world cups. This year is really when Quidditch as a sport spread overseas and an Oxford team was formed, by pure coincidence, at the same time as the organisation “Quidditch UK”, which co-ordinates between established teams.
In terms of specifically in Oxford, it started off quite spontaneously. My friend at Oxford Brookes challenged me to a match, which I accepted and so I formed the rest of the team. In the end we played Teddy Hall, and the inaugural match became Worcester verses Teddy Hall, although I remember Worcester getting hammered!
We played two matches, and those two teams came together to create the Oxford team, which exists now. Ever since then, we’ve grown rapidly. It’s so difficult to estimate numbers, but we always have enough for two practice teams. In terms of how I personally got involved, it was really a coincidence! I had absolutely no dreams of starting a Quidditch team when I came to Oxford. When I did get involved I only intended it to be just a couple of matches. But as I started playing I really got into it.
What is the weekly training schedule like for an Oxford Quidditch player?
So we play every Saturday at 12:00, and we also hold Wednesday training sessions for the really keen. To become a good Quidditch player, it will probably take a term to get into the game and to really understand rules and strategy. There are, after all, 4 balls, the snitch, the quaffle and two bludgers, in play at any one time and keeping all this in mind at the very start if often difficult. Having said that, you don’t need to have a grasp of the rules before coming up: it’s quite easy to learn as you start playing.
So you have a university team and inter-collegiate matches?
There are both. Some colleges have enough players to make full teams. My college, Worcester, sometimes is one but this varies: we certainly had enough last year for a team. University College are very serious about it, and can field three teams. If we have enough college teams, then we will look to expand this. However as I said, the focus is mainly on the Oxford team and I think that’s good because it gives a community atmosphere to the sport around Oxford: whenever I go to a social event or just on my bike around Oxford I see people who I know through Quidditch which is always nice.
Do you play other universities?
Yes, our upcoming match on the 24th November is against Reading, and then the big one is the British Quidditch Cup. I think we are probably going to win it because we are one of the biggest teams in the country and also biggest in the actual size of our players too! There are about 20 teams in the UK at the moment, so hopefully at least half of those will be at the tournament. I think it’s very much a growing sport, it’s growing in France so at the end of the term we are actually going to be touring France, rent a mini-bus and play the French team.
In the Harry Potter books, Quidditch is played on flying broomsticks. Obviously (and sadly) we can’t do this in real life, so how does the sport work?
You don’t fly obviously, but you have to keep a broomstick between your legs throughout the game. In general the rules are pretty much the same as in the books, although capturing the snitch is worth far less than the 150 points you get in the books, as this would make it unfair in reality. The snitch is also not a flying ball obviously, but a impartial player dressed in gold. The interesting thing about him is that he can run wherever he wants around Oxford while being pursued by both teams, so isn’t confined to the playing area of University Parks! The beaters throw bludgers at players, and if you are hit by one, you have to get off your broomstick, run back to touch your hoops, and then you are able to come back into the game.
It sounds really strange, but Quidditch is not as related to Harry Potter as everyone thinks. Obviously a lot of people who love Harry Potter love Quidditch, and we have lot of Potter fans; but I’m the captain of the team and I’ve read four of the books, but I play Quidditch for the sport itself. I think Quidditch is definitely a sport in its own right. We are loosely affiliated with the Harry Potter Society, just because it makes sense, but at the same time, I wouldn’t say we are a close part of it. In terms of sport
What are some of your favourite moments playing the sport?
There are so many! We once played snow Quidditch last year, where the spectators would throw snowballs at us while the match was in session. We were fortunate enough to play on a UK team in a tournament between Canada, USA, France and Australia in Oxford. It was particularly memorable for me, because I was the UK’s top scoring chaser!
Is it quite a social sport?
We do a bar crawl once every two weeks, and we do the whole crew date thing. We have played drinking Quidditch once, where both captains have to down a pint before playing the match, which made it a pretty interesting match
Exeter dominate JCR Premier League
Magdalen hosted St Catherine’s in the 5th Week of the JCR Premier Division, with both teams looking for an important victory in much contrasting circumstances. Having conceded 9 and thus scored 0 so far, the home team were desperately in need of a win to kick-start some kind of turnaround to what has proved a disastrous start to the season. Catz, on the other hand, were looking to keep the pressure up on first-placed Exeter with another 3 points.
The game started as a scrappy affair, with Catz unable to assert control due to dogged harassment from the Magdalen midfielders. As the first half drew to a close the Catz pressure mounted but Magdalen coped admirably, particularly with the aerial bombardment from Kevin Weiss – Catz’s answer to Rory Delap.
Eventually, in the second half, Magdalen resistance was broken: Joe Davies got round the defence to slide a square ball across to a predatory Chris Lambert, who tapped into an empty net from 3 yards out. 20 minutes later Davies got the reward his endeavours deserved when James Gibson floated a perfect cross into the box for the Catz striker to head home.
The result leaves Catz with 9 points from 4 games, sitting in second place behind Exeter, who continued their perfect start with a 3-0 win against Wadham. Magdalen remain bottom, but they should take heart from a gritty performance that shows there’s still hope of avoiding relegation.
Premier Division pace-setters Exeter continued their impressive start to the season as they stormed to a comfortable 3-0 victory over defending champions Wadham. Despite the absence of influential ex-captain and centre-back, Chris Bennett (denied the chance to break his personal scoring duck stretching to 1060 minutes), Exeter produced another resolute defensive display to ensure they enter their crunch Cuppers tie against Worcester next week full of confidence.
The first half was a tight affair, with Exeter shading the early exchanges as Blues player Ben May crashed a 35-yard strike against the crossbar via the keeper’s fingers. Adam Halewood then created a couple of chances but a cross eluded strike partner Charles Cooper and another effort was prodded wide. Wadham’s best chance came just before the break but birthday boy Jack O’Mahoney was alert and tipped an effort onto the post.
The referee was keen to start the second half quickly and it was Exeter who were fastest out of the blocks. Ten minutes after the break, assist king Manesh Mistry took his personal tally for the season to 12 with a cross that found Cooper who then beat the approaching Wadham keeper to the ball and nodded it into the open net. Wadham created occasional chances on the break but the new centre-back partnership of Dale and Sandy Clark held firm.
Exeter were denied a strong penalty shot when Halewood was fouled in the box. However, soon after, and only 15 minutes from full time, Ben May kept up his impressive record of scoring in every game. An incisive through ball from Cooper allowed May to casually round the keeper and a defender on the line to seal the win.
Exeter fans will be hoping this impressive victory gives their team vital momentum for next Friday’s mouthwatering Cuppers showdown, giving themselves a great chance of an historic double.
They are certainly in a very strong position at present, especially with the much-anticipated Lincoln verses Worcester match being postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Magdalen hosted St Catherine’s in the 5th Week of the JCR Premier Division, with both teams looking for an important victory in much contrasting circumstances. Having conceded 9 and thus scored 0 so far, the home team were desperately in need of a win to kick-start some kind of turnaround to what has proved a disastrous start to the season. Catz, on the other hand, were looking to keep the pressure up on first-placed Exeter with another 3 points.
The game started as a scrappy affair, with Catz unable to assert control due to dogged harassment from the Magdalen midfielders. As the first half drew to a close the Catz pressure mounted but Magdalen coped admirably, particularly with the aerial bombardment from Kevin Weiss – Catz’s answer to Rory Delap.Eventually, in the second half, Magdalen resistance was broken: Joe Davies got round the defence to slide a square ball across to a predatory Chris Lambert, who tapped into an empty net from 3 yards out. 20 minutes later Davies got the reward his endeavours deserved when James Gibson floated a perfect cross into the box for the Catz striker to head home.
The result leaves Catz with 9 points from 4 games, sitting in second place behind Exeter, who continued their perfect start with a 3-0 win against Wadham. Magdalen remain bottom, but they should take heart from a gritty performance that shows there’s still hope of avoiding relegation.
Premier Division pace-setters Exeter continued their impressive start to the season as they stormed to a comfortable 3-0 victory over defending champions Wadham. Despite the absence of influential ex-captain and centre-back, Chris Bennett (denied the chance to break his personal scoring duck stretching to 1060 minutes), Exeter produced another resolute defensive display to ensure they enter their crunch Cuppers tie against Worcester next week full of confidence.
The first half was a tight affair, with Exeter shading the early exchanges as Blues player Ben May crashed a 35-yard strike against the crossbar via the keeper’s fingers. Adam Halewood then created a couple of chances but a cross eluded strike partner Charles Cooper and another effort was prodded wide. Wadham’s best chance came just before the break but birthday boy Jack O’Mahoney was alert and tipped an effort onto the post.
The referee was keen to start the second half quickly and it was Exeter who were fastest out of the blocks. Ten minutes after the break, assist king Manesh Mistry took his personal tally for the season to 12 with a cross that found Cooper who then beat the approaching Wadham keeper to the ball and nodded it into the open net. Wadham created occasional chances on the break but the new centre-back partnership of Dale and Sandy Clark held firm.Exeter were denied a strong penalty shot when Halewood was fouled in the box.
However, soon after, and only 15 minutes from full time, Ben May kept up his impressive record of scoring in every game. An incisive through ball from Cooper allowed May to casually round the keeper and a defender on the line to seal the win.Exeter fans will be hoping this impressive victory gives their team vital momentum for next Friday’s mouthwatering Cuppers showdown, giving themselves a great chance of an historic double.They are certainly in a very strong position at present, especially with the much-anticipated Lincoln verses Worcester match being postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Blues fall to Russian might
On a cold, bleak Sunday afternoon, the Rugby Blues played the Russian national team. In some ways, it was a slightly implausible game. A group of students who are squeezing rugby in between studies took on a hardened group of professionals and came perilously close to victory. It was a performance of such heroism and tenacity that even stoic coach James Wade looked pleased, or at least slightly less grumpy, with the team’s magnificent efforts.
As the Russians ran out, your humble author, who plays 2nds at the rugby club and so knows the lads well, was more than a little concerned. Their two props had more meat on their thighs than a well-stocked butcher and the number 8’s biceps were the size of a normal man’s torso. Their faces seemed to indicate that breaking one another’s noses formed a core part of the Russian training program.
Early on, these fears appeared justified. A try to the Russians in the first five minutes indicated that the Blues might be in for a long afternoon. However, some astute kicking from fly-half Charlie Marr gave the Blues good field position and put the Russians under considerable pressure. Marr, alas, was unable to convert some tricky penalties over the first 30 minutes.
But the best was yet to come. A delightful back-line move, designed by backs coach and former Blue James Gaunt, opened the Russians up. Cass Braham-Law sliced through the line before passing to fresher winger Henry Lamont. Lamont, who boasts a sublime left-foot step, literally turned the Russian full-back inside-out before diving over.
The Blues entered half-time 12-10 down and there was a palpable sense of optimism. Unfortunately, the Russians scored a couple of quick tries after the break through their monstrous forward pack and surged to 29 points. The Blues scored another exceptional try through full-back Jonathan Hudson to make the final score 29-15.
The Blues had worked the ball back-and-forth across the pitch and again opened the Russians up out wide. Gav Turner, Braham-Law and Lamont were heavily involved.
New hooker Nick Gardiner, whose ball-running and improbably large backside have proved a boon for the club, won Man of the Match. Not to undermine his courageous efforts, but it was a little like picking the most valiant of the 300 at Thermopylae.
Captain John Carter was magnificent and put in some thunderous hits on the Russian forwards. In terms of sheer physicality, Captain Carter, a former professional at Sale, was one of the few Blues players who could match their Russian counterparts for size. Prop Bob Baker, who played at Wasps last year, was another who continually drove the Russians back over the gain line. Second-rower Will Rowlands, unlucky to miss last year’s Varsity, was similarly immense. In the backs, Braham-Law was superb in attack and defence, as was Hee Won-Cho on the wing.
Alas, there were a few low moments for OURFC over the weekend: scrum-half Sam Egerton’s blue head-band to keep his increasingly awful pony-tail in check; team manager Tim Stevens mangling various Russian names as they scored; and the Greyhounds (2nd XV) getting pummelled 83-14 by a very good Welsh team.
All in all though, a triumphant a weekend for the Blues and one that bodes well for the Varsity game on the 6th December at Twickenham.
On a cold, bleak Sunday afternoon, the Rugby Blues played the Russian national team. In some ways, it was a slightly implausible game. A group of students who are squeezing rugby in between studies took on a hardened group of professionals and came perilously close to victory. It was a performance of such heroism and tenacity that even stoic coach James Wade looked pleased, or at least slightly less grumpy, with the team’s magnificent efforts.As the Russians ran out, your humble author, who plays 2nds at the rugby club and so knows the lads well, was more than a little concerned.
Their two props had more meat on their thighs than a well-stocked butcher and the number 8’s biceps were the size of a normal man’s torso. Their faces seemed to indicate that breaking one another’s noses formed a core part of the Russian training program.Early on, these fears appeared justified. A try to the Russians in the first five minutes indicated that the Blues might be in for a long afternoon. However, some astute kicking from fly-half Charlie Marr gave the Blues good field position and put the Russians under considerable pressure.
Marr, alas, was unable to convert some tricky penalties over the first 30 minutes.But the best was yet to come. A delightful back-line move, designed by backs coach and former Blue James Gaunt, opened the Russians up. Cass Braham-Law sliced through the line before passing to fresher winger Henry Lamont. Lamont, who boasts a sublime left-foot step, literally turned the Russian full-back inside-out before diving over.The Blues entered half-time 12-10 down and there was a palpable sense of optimism.
Unfortunately, the Russians scored a couple of quick tries after the break through their monstrous forward pack and surged to 29 points. The Blues scored another exceptional try through full-back Jonathan Hudson to make the final score 29-15.The Blues had worked the ball back-and-forth across the pitch and again opened the Russians up out wide. Gav Turner, Braham-Law and Lamont were heavily involved.New hooker Nick Gardiner, whose ball-running and improbably large backside have proved a boon for the club, won Man of the Match. Not to undermine his courageous efforts, but it was a little like picking the most valiant of the 300 at Thermopylae.
Captain John Carter was magnificent and put in some thunderous hits on the Russian forwards. In terms of sheer physicality, Captain Carter, a former professional at Sale, was one of the few Blues players who could match their Russian counterparts for size. Prop Bob Baker, who played at Wasps last year, was another who continually drove the Russians back over the gain line. Second-rower Will Rowlands, unlucky to miss last year’s Varsity, was similarly immense.
In the backs, Braham-Law was superb in attack and defence, as was Hee Won-Cho on the wing.Alas, there were a few low moments for OURFC over the weekend: scrum-half Sam Egerton’s blue head-band to keep his increasingly awful pony-tail in check; team manager Tim Stevens mangling various Russian names as they scored; and the Greyhounds (2nd XV) getting pummelled 83-14 by a very good Welsh team.All in all though, a triumphant a weekend for the Blues and one that bodes well for the Varsity game on the 6th December at Twickenham.
Keep up!
You know things are bad when you’re being out-knowledged by your dad about sport. Years of carefully cultivating an image as the sports-obsessive, the one that really cares about knowing his onions rather than just being a partisan, wiped out in a second when he knew more about the new boys in the England cricket team (young Joe Root, it will take years of consistent century-scoring for me to forgive the humiliation you’ve indirectly caused me) than me. “I thought you were supposed to be interested in sport?”
I did, and do, take a bit of pride in staying up on things in the wide world of sport. But it’s tricky at university. Possibly it’s because at home there’s simply less to do, or less to do that’s within a five minute amble of where you’re sleeping. I get through hours and hours of sport at home in my own version of what a friend once termed his Living Room Stadium (capacity 4, with unretractable roof). There’s less of an opportunity cost – it’s the Heineken Cup or a nap on most Sundays – and it’s also accumulative: once you’ve got back into it you want to keep it up. Quality control and triage also giddily plummet southward, and I’ll suddenly find myself watching a Carling Cup match I have no stake in whatsoever,
When I’m back in Oxford, however, between the work, the actual playing of sport, the fun and the Torschlusspanik (look it up), there doesn’t seem to be time for anything more than a weekly couple of Premiership games and possibly the odd international rugby game. This is also to do with timing, though: in a fairly relaxed 8th week of Michaelmas one could potter in to watch it start, either from an evening’s work or a night out. The only thing you had to sacrifice was the resource everyone here thinks they can do without: sleep.
Normally though, it doesn’t quite work like that. Cup finals could well clash with your own finals. What to do? At least the feast-and-famine routine between term and holidays is only temporary.
Moreover, there’s a vast amount of sporting opportunities here aside from sitting in a pub watching the great and the good play on the telly. Rarely will any of us be able to play as much regular sport as this again so easily; at whatever level of rigour you desire, be it ramshackle reserves football or 19 year olds tackling 30-year old lumps of Siberian granite in the Blues vs Russia rugby game, or a United game at the Kassam. Also, perhaps best of all, you’ll sometimes get to write about it.
You know things are bad when you’re being out-knowledged by your dad about sport. Years of carefully cultivating an image as the sports-obsessive, the one that really cares about knowing his onions rather than just being a partisan, wiped out in a second when he knew more about the new boys in the England cricket team (young Joe Root, it will take years of consistent century-scoring for me to forgive the humiliation you’ve indirectly caused me) than me. “I thought you were supposed to be interested in sport?”
I did, and do, take a bit of pride in staying up on things in the wide world of sport.
But it’s tricky at university. Possibly it’s because at home there’s simply less to do, or less to do that’s within a five minute amble of where you’re sleeping. I get through hours and hours of sport at home in my own version of what a friend once termed his Living Room Stadium (capacity 4, with unretractable roof).There’s less of an opportunity cost – it’s the Heineken Cup or a nap on most Sundays – and it’s also accumulative: once you’ve got back into it you want to keep it up. Quality control and triage also giddily plummet southward, and I’ll suddenly find myself watching a Carling Cup match I have no stake in whatsoever.
When I’m back in Oxford, however, between the work, the actual playing of sport, the fun and the Torschlusspanik (look it up), there doesn’t seem to be time for anything more than a weekly couple of Premiership games and possibly the odd international rugby game. This is also to do with timing, though: in a fairly relaxed 8th week of Michaelmas one could potter in to watch it start, either from an evening’s work or a night out. The only thing you had to sacrifice was the resource everyone here thinks they can do without: sleep.Normally though, it doesn’t quite work like that. Cup finals could well clash with your own finals. What to do?
At least the feast-and-famine routine between term and holidays is only temporary.Moreover, there’s a vast amount of sporting opportunities here aside from sitting in a pub watching the great and the good play on the telly. Rarely will any of us be able to play as much regular sport as this again so easily; at whatever level of rigour you desire, be it ramshackle reserves football or 19 year olds tackling 30-year old lumps of Siberian granite in the Blues vs Russia rugby game, or a United game at the Kassam. Also, perhaps best of all, you’ll sometimes get to write about it.
Hockey Blues truimph in gritty victory
The Oxford team looked relaxed and in good spirits warming up, as I set up stall pitchside with the few hardened hockey fans who braved the sharp winds down at Iffley Road. Talk of that evening’s crew date and past encounters brightened up an otherwise chilly afternoon, while, on the other side of the pitch, the Cardiff Metropolitan boom box kicked into action to get their own warm up started. The Blues were looking to capitalise upon their good form and undefeated start in the Southern Hockey League to invigorate their BUCS campaign, which had seen them pick up an impressive four points from their first three games. But this would not be easy, as they were up against an energetic Cardiff team who came to Oxford on the back of a solid result against Bath and were hoping to pick up more points on the road in their third consecutive away fixture.
The Blues started the game well with some good early pressure and quick play down the wing by LMH’s Paul Bennett. This led to a penalty corner, which was duly converted by Alex Stobbart. Another penalty corner quickly followed as the Blues looked to double their advantage, and Stobbart was unlucky to see his shot just knocked wide of the goal. They continued to pile on the pressure, and a good through pass, by captain Oliver Lobo, was tapped on to Tom Mullins in space at the edge of the circle, and he easily dealt with the bouncing ball to find the top left corner. 2-0 up after just 13 minutes played; it was Cardiff, rather than Oxford, who were looking decidedly blue this 5th week.
Cardiff got their first chance with a debatable penalty corner a few minutes later, but were denied by a good save. After this, the game began to settle down with both sides trying to utilise space and width with some long passing and expansive hockey. Oxford’s third goal, scored by Tom Jackson from another penalty corner after 19 minutes, as well as more examples of excellent goalkeeping created visible frustration amongst the maroon-clad Cardiffians and tempers began to fray after a few contentious decisions. The visitors were also unable to challenge the scorers despite a decent spell of possession after the third Oxford goal. Exeter College’s Joe Mills made some well-timed tackles and interceptions in defence to maintain Oxford’s advantage and the Blues were absorbing the pressure well. With this in mind, Cardiff probably deserved the overruling of their initially disallowed goal just before the end of the first half, and, with 3-1 the score-line at half-time, neither side could complain.
Oxford started the second half scrappily, whilst Cardiff were obviously keen to add to their late first half goal and were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty corner after just 2 minutes. The resulting shot was again saved by the Blues keeper but an unlucky ricochet led to another penalty which he was, this time, unable to prevent. The Cardiff forward sent the ball high into the roof of the net to make it 3-2, with half an hour still to play. This quick goal seemed to wake up the Blues, and they once again probed the Cardiff defence with some testing passes and quick shots.
As the half progressed, fatigue was evident on both sides and wayward passing and stick control meant that neither side really gained any kind of momentum. Dark clouds moved in overhead as the game entered the last 20 minutes and Oxford found themselves pushed onto the back foot by Cardiff’s increased efforts for an equalizer. A penalty corner with eight minutes remaining proved fruitless too, and despite looking dangerous through the middle, one got the feeling that it just wasn’t going to be their day. When Stobbart dribbled smoothly around the keeper, to make it 4-2 to Oxford, as the game entered the last 5 minutes, the result was all but confirmed.
In the end, the result was perhaps a bit flattering to the Blues but they were rewarded for a strong first half performance. Having said that, they will need to cut out the sluggishness that Cardiff capitalised on so easily if they are to continue their winning streak against upcoming opponents in the BUCS.
The Oxford team looked relaxed and in good spirits warming up, as I set up stall pitchside with the few hardened hockey fans who braved the sharp winds down at Iffley Road. Talk of that evening’s crew date and past encounters brightened up an otherwise chilly afternoon, while, on the other side of the pitch, the Cardiff Metropolitan boom box kicked into action to get their own warm up started.
The Blues were looking to capitalise upon their good form and undefeated start in the Southern Hockey League to invigorate their BUCS campaign, which had seen them pick up an impressive four points from their first three games. But this would not be easy, as they were up against an energetic Cardiff team who came to Oxford on the back of a solid result against Bath and were hoping to pick up more points on the road in their third consecutive away fixture.
The Blues started the game well with some good early pressure and quick play down the wing by LMH’s Paul Bennett. This led to a penalty corner, which was duly converted by Alex Stobbart. Another penalty corner quickly followed as the Blues looked to double their advantage, and Stobbart was unlucky to see his shot just knocked wide of the goal.
They continued to pile on the pressure, and a good through pass, by captain Oliver Lobo, was tapped on to Tom Mullins in space at the edge of the circle, and he easily dealt with the bouncing ball to find the top left corner. 2-0 up after just 13 minutes played; it was Cardiff, rather than Oxford, who were looking decidedly blue this 5th week.Cardiff got their first chance with a debatable penalty corner a few minutes later, but were denied by a good save.
After this, the game began to settle down with both sides trying to utilise space and width with some long passing and expansive hockey. Oxford’s third goal, scored by Tom Jackson from another penalty corner after 19 minutes, as well as more examples of excellent goalkeeping created visible frustration amongst the maroon-clad Cardiffians and tempers began to fray after a few contentious decisions.
The visitors were also unable to challenge the scorers despite a decent spell of possession after the third Oxford goal. Exeter College’s Joe Mills made some well-timed tackles and interceptions in defence to maintain Oxford’s advantage and the Blues were absorbing the pressure well. With this in mind, Cardiff probably deserved the overruling of their initially disallowed goal just before the end of the first half, and, with 3-1 the score-line at half-time, neither side could complain.Oxford started the second half scrappily, whilst Cardiff were obviously keen to add to their late first half goal and were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty corner after just 2 minutes.
The resulting shot was again saved by the Blues keeper but an unlucky ricochet led to another penalty which he was, this time, unable to prevent. The Cardiff forward sent the ball high into the roof of the net to make it 3-2, with half an hour still to play. This quick goal seemed to wake up the Blues, and they once again probed the Cardiff defence with some testing passes and quick shots.As the half progressed, fatigue was evident on both sides and wayward passing and stick control meant that neither side really gained any kind of momentum.
Dark clouds moved in overhead as the game entered the last 20 minutes and Oxford found themselves pushed onto the back foot by Cardiff’s increased efforts for an equalizer. A penalty corner with eight minutes remaining proved fruitless too, and despite looking dangerous through the middle, one got the feeling that it just wasn’t going to be their day. When Stobbart dribbled smoothly around the keeper, to make it 4-2 to Oxford, as the game entered the last 5 minutes, the result was all but confirmed.In the end, the result was perhaps a bit flattering to the Blues but they were rewarded for a strong first half performance.
Having said that, they will need to cut out the sluggishness that Cardiff capitalised on so easily if they are to continue their winning streak against upcoming opponents in the BUCS.
Preview: O Human Child
I was intrigued to be lured into the woods of Trinity one chilly November night, with instructions only ‘to bring a coat’.
But I couldn’t have thought of a more appropriate form of invitation to O Human Child, which is dark and primal, with the plot revolving around the luring away and initiation of a child in a paganistic fairy ritual. I couldn’t help feeling like that child.
The writer and director Tara Isabella Burton draws both on great literature – Yeats (who gives the play its title), Shakespeare, Keats – and the physical theatre of Punch Drunk to create an intriguing high Romantic mashup. The cast list is divided into ‘Fairies’ and ‘Mortals’, with the former taunting, controlling and seducing the humans throughout the play. All of the characters spend the whole 90 minutes on stage, leaving the viewer free to wander around various plots and sub-plots, occasionally being dragged into the action, and fed ‘Fairy fruits’ (grapes, apparently).
These sub-plots give the play a constant tension, as the lovers circle each other, some in grape-induced passion, others in confusion and rage. Throughout the play, the sound of human emotion bubbles up – screams, giggles, cackles, growls, groans, moans. This cacophony was led by Emma D’arcy, as Puck, with a raucous, vitriolic laugh. She shone throughout. This primal soundtrack meshes well with the physical theatre – the pack of fairies that constantly dog the human characters, and the terrifying convulsions of Thomas Bailey’s Knight as he is thrown across the stage by the Fairy Queen (Hannah-Kate Kelly). Unfortunately, it sometimes fails to interact with the poetic language of the script. At one point the Fairies discourse in impeccable Shakespearean tones, as the ritual destruction of the child’s doll takes place at their feet in a howling gaggle.
Occasionally, the script itself seems to lack cohesion, with the plot sometimes difficult to untangle (though I was only shown a sample of the scenes). One actor acknowledged that they were thinking of introducing a narrator role, to explain the plot to the audience, but it is difficult to see this working without breaking the intensity and immersion of the experience, which is the real strength of this production. At one point, the play introduces a story within a story, which was compellingly told and acted, but seemed like a rather clunky way of introducing Rossetti’s ‘Goblin Market’.
All that is forgotten when Leonie Nicks, as the Fairy King strides across the stage, dominant and implacable, to drive the Fairies to frenzy. As soon as Puck, the King and their Fairies lead the action again, complemented by rather than accompanying the script, the play’s vitality shines through again. Luckily, the director has allowed this to happen throughout most of the play. So despite some lack of cohesion, the emotional intensity on show here should be reason enough to allow yourself to be lured into this Bacchanal ritual.
FOUR STARS
O Human Child will be perfomed at the Moser Theatre during 6th Week
