Of the many OI sports events organised by the OI Club, the annual Spring Sports Festival is the largest. It is held on a Saturday during the Easter holidays, to allow the many active sporting OIs who are at University to attend. Of course, all OIs are welcome. In 2013 well over 100 OIs and their families, current pupils and members of staff participated.
As of 2013 the Sports Festival is now held at Ipswich School Sports Centre, Rushmere, located on the edge of Ipswich about three miles from the School. The centre is still being developed but already possesses fully refurbished and expanded changing rooms, bar and social areas. There are three large grass pitches for football and other field sports plus a state of the art all weather hockey pitch resplendent in (London 2012) Olympic style blue and pink. The facilities are being expanded too, notably with the addition of further hockey pitches. There is ample car parking for players and spectators.
The events currently organised at the Festival are:
- Hockey – Matches between OI sides, and sometimes against the School/ Also “social hockey”
- Netball – Matches between OI sides and often against the School
- Football – 5 a side Tournament involving a number of OI and other sides
- Table Tennis – Tournament for all comers
- Badminton – Tournament for all comers
Given the expanding facilities at the centre, the OI Club hopes grow the festival further with more teams, and possibily additional sports added to the programme in the future. The OI Club is keen to hear from anyone who would like to participate or organise a team to participate in the festival, or who would like to organise any other sport at he festival.
As with all OI sports there is a social gathering afterwards, with food and refreshments being provided in the centre’s bar area.
Spectators are also very welcome, you don’t have to be a sporting legend to be involved.
