Sporting
Success Autumn 2025
A Message from the Director of Sport
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It gives me great pleasure to share some of the highlights from what has been an exceptional Autumn Term of sport at Habs Boys. In my previous message, I reflected on how success is defined at Habs – celebrating excellence at the highest level while championing participation, wellbeing, and the lifelong value of sport. This term, our students have once again excelled across all fronts.
One of the most rewarding aspects for me personally has been witnessing our noncompetitive programme flourish, ensuring that every student feels valued and can experience the full benefits that sport can offer.
Among the many achievements, football has continued its remarkable rise since becoming our focus sport for the Autumn Term. With 24 teams competing against traditional footballing powerhouses such as Repton, Whitgift, and Bradfield, we have firmly established ourselves among the leading school football programmes nationally. All our A teams remain in their respective cup competitions, reflecting the outstanding strength in depth within our programme. Furthermore, our partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club continues to provide unparalleled opportunities for our students to access football at every level, enriching their development both on and off the pitch.
The Rugby Club, which has faced challenges in recent years, is now thriving. Every year group fields competitive teams, enabling students to enjoy all the benefits of this great game. The highlight of the season was undoubtedly our celebration at StoneX Stadium – a truly memorable occasion showcasing sport across the Habs Elstree schools.
Beyond these traditional Autumn Term sports, our students have achieved notable success in badminton, becoming U16 County Champions – a testament to the breadth of opportunity and excellence at Habs. Our water polo teams continue to impress in London League tournaments, while our runners have not only set the pace at the ever-popular Habs Dash but also excelled in cross-country at county and regional levels.
Finally, a bold venture into trampolining culminated in our team proudly claiming the national title.
As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. None of these successes would be possible without your unwavering support as parents – not only in transporting your children to co-curricular sessions and Saturday fixtures but also in modelling the importance of living healthy, active lifestyles.
Finally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the staff who have supported sport this term. Their energy, commitment, and enthusiasm remain a constant source of inspiration.
I hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter, and I look forward to seeing many of you on the sidelines, in viewing galleries, and in the stands at a fixture soon.
With best wishes, Mr Peter Pickford
Acting Director of Sport and Head of Sports Science
Scholarship at Habs
Sports scholarships are awarded to candidates in recognition of sustained sporting excellence, talent and future potential.
Candidates will be active members of their top ranked school sports teams and are likely to be involved in sporting clubs outside of school with representative experience or its equivalent at county level or above.
Outstanding skill, expertise or potential in any one or several sporting fields will be considered, but candidates are encouraged to show their potential in at least one of the focus sports at Habs.
Award holders will be ambassadors for sport who will make a full contribution to the sporting life of the school. Scholars will be allocated a mentor, who will encourage their sporting participation - in time, sports scholars will become mentors for younger award holders.
The value of a scholarship is usually between 10 to 15% of school fees (but can be up to a maximum of 25% in very exceptional circumstances). Scholarships are held for the duration of a student’s time at the school, subject to sustained levels of progress, participation and performance.
The Habs Way
We are always well presented, articulate and act with kindness towards others.
We are fiercely competitive but always play and act with respect and sportsmanship.
We understand that everyone is learning and show empathy for others as we adopt a people first and everyone is welcome approach.
We show confidence without arrogance and take 100% responsibility.
We are always striving to be the best that we can be and expect to see excellence everywhere.
We encourage everyone involved to challenge unhelpful stereotypes, encourage allyship, demand a zerotolerance approach to bullying or behaviours which might belittle others, and support everyone in finding a safe place in which to enjoy physical activity.
Football
Mr Thomas reports on a year of growth, culture and competitive success
The 2024–25 football season has marked another significant step forward for football at Haberdashers’ Boys’ School, reflecting not only competitive success but also the continued development of a strong, inclusive and aspirational football culture across the school.
Participation in football continues to grow year on year, with over 600 pupils representing the school weekly through curriculum lessons, co-curricular training and fixtures. This breadth of engagement remains central to our philosophy, ensuring football is accessible, enjoyable and developmentally appropriate for all pupils, while still providing high-level challenge and opportunity for those operating at the performance end of the pathway.
From a competitive perspective, the season has been extremely encouraging across all age groups. Every team is currently through to the county cup quarter-finals, with fixtures resuming after the Christmas break, highlighting the depth and consistency of performance throughout the programme. In addition, the Under 13s have progressed to the ISFA National Cup quarter-finals, placing them among the leading school teams in the country and representing a significant milestone for the programme.
These cup runs have been achieved alongside a demanding fixture card that regularly pits our teams against some of the strongest footballing schools nationally. Competing consistently against high-calibre opposition has been a deliberate strategic choice, designed to stretch players technically, tactically and mentally. Across these fixtures, our teams have more than held their own, demonstrating resilience, adaptability and a clear playing identity regardless of opposition.
Football
A further highlight of the season was the football tour to Villarreal, which provided pupils with an outstanding footballing and cultural experience. The tour offered unprecedented access to elite facilities, professional coaching environments and a live matchday experience, reinforcing the standards and behaviours expected at the highest level. Importantly, this tour means that every year group within the football programme has now experienced a football-related tour, underlining the school’s commitment to providing memorable and meaningful sporting opportunities.
Beyond results and performances, the behaviour and attitude of pupils throughout the season has been exemplary. Whether representing the school in high-profile fixtures, national competitions or overseas tours, players consistently demonstrated respect, professionalism and pride in wearing the school colours.
Finally, none of this would be possible without the dedication and commitment of the staff involved in delivering the programme and the continued support of parents, who play a vital role as the “team behind the team”. Their time, trust and encouragement enable pupils to access these opportunities and to represent the school with such pride.
Looking ahead, the programme remains focused on sustainable growth. Continued investment in facilities, including the planned introduction of a new 4G surface, alongside further development of coaching, strength and conditioning provision and competitive pathways, will ensure that football at Habs’ continues to thrive.
In summary, this season has been about far more than results alone. It has been about identity, challenge and opportunity, providing pupils with high-quality football experiences that support their development both on and off the pitch. The progress made this year provides a strong foundation for the future, and the programme moves forward with confidence and ambition.
Football Focus: Villareal Tour
Mr
Doolan
reports on a great experience overseas for our Habs Boys
Our football tour to Villarreal was an unforgettable experience for the boys, both on and off the pitch. Over the course of the trip, the squad enjoyed three high-quality training sessions at Villarreal’s impressive José Manuel Llaneza training ground, where they were coached by official Villarreal coaches and immersed themselves in a true professional football environment. The team also played three competitive fixtures during the tour, including a memorable night match played under the floodlights in heavy rain – a challenge the boys rose to brilliantly. A major highlight of the tour was the visit to Villarreal’s home stadium, the Estadio de la Cerámica. The boys were lucky enough to watch Villarreal play out an exciting 2–2 draw against Real Betis, soaking up the atmosphere of a live La Liga match. They later toured the stadium of the Champions League club, learning about its history and traditions while getting the chance to sit in the dugouts and explore the home changing room.
Away from football, the boys enjoyed team workouts on the beach, making the most of the Spanish sun. They also had plenty of downtime to relax on the sand and in the sea, helping them bond even further as a group. To round off the trip with some fun, they spent an evening bowling together – another memory added to an already incredible tour.
Rugby
Mr Metcalfe reports on the improvements and general enthusiasm of the Habs Rugby program
Whilst playing numbers remain relatively low, the sport of rugby at Habs has strengthened its position at the school this year. The students have been more invested in training than in previous seasons and they have shown greater determination and passion during matches. Whilst results remain patchy at best, the enjoyment that this season has brought the players and staff has been clear and obvious to all involved.
For the first time in five years, we have fielded two teams at U12 level, and the students are committed to improving their understanding of the game. Many of these pupils are new to rugby so initial progress was slow, but they have developed markedly over the last month. Rugby is a game of territory, and it is often best to keep it simple by running as ‘the crow flies’ (i.e. straight towards the try line rather than to run across the field to find space). This is a lesson that takes some learning, but we are getting there. Two good performances against Watford GS showed how far this group has come in 3 months of rugby and I look forward to seeing this group continue to improve.
The U13 squad is relatively small but it contains some keen and enthusiastic individuals. These students attend training religiously and just love their rugby. Whilst they have struggled to compete physically at times, they are unbelievably resilient and continue to come back for more. Some from this group enjoyed a wonderful weekend in Bath on the junior rugby tour, acting as flag bearers for the Bath v Gloucester premiership match before playing against an enormous Tadley RFC team on the way home on the Sunday. The tour squad (made up of U13 and U14 players) bonded superbly well and lasting friendships were forged.
The U14 squad has improved markedly this season. More boys have chosen rugby as their games option in year 9 and this has resulted in a match day squad that does not have to rely on footballers to field a team. Whilst the group does remain small, crucially, we can now work upon team dynamics during games sessions. Some of these newcomers have improved significantly because of this and they will continue to improve as they gain in playing experience. A superb performance against Hitchin Boys was an accurate reflection of their development.
In contrast, only four year 10 students chose rugby as their games option, yet we still managed to play some fixtures when the footballers were available. An epic encounter against St Columba’s at the start of the season showed the potential of the group but we were unable to field the same team again until the middle of November. A relatively comfortable win against Bancroft’s sealed a great finish to the home season, with only the StoneX showcase left to complete the season for this group.
Rugby
The senior rugby squad has been wholly committed all season, and I have been delighted both with the attitude of the group throughout the term. Many who established and maintained high standards within the squad. We had enough players for two teams during games on a Wednesday and this allowed us to train with vigour and purpose. Our contact and rucking skills improved steadily as we progressed through the term, and this enabled us to retain possession with relative ease. That said, we struggled to produce the quick ruck ball that puts defences under pressure, so this inhibited our effectiveness in attack. Our performances during the season were strangely inconsistent, playing well one week and not the next and this was a frustrating element of the term. As an example, seven days separated a stellar performance against Hitchin Boys and a poor showing against St Columba`s. Not what we need when we are trying to build momentum.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Year 13 boys who have played their last game of 15 a side rugby for the school. This cohort contains some outstanding players and supporters of Habs Rugby. They have given vast swathes of time and effort in support of the game at the school, and they leave ch of the credit for this must be handed to our senior players rugby in a stronger position than it was three years ago.
Rugby Focus: StoneX Event
Mr Metcalfe shares the Autumn showcase event for Rugby at Habs
On the 3rd of December Stone X played host, by courtesy of Mr and Mrs Jagpal’s generosity, to the showcase event. It was an excellent opportunity to finish the season on a high.
The U15As set up the night with a floodlit match against the old foe, QE Barnet under the lights of the StoneX stadium, the home of Saracens. Facing a well drilled and experienced outfit, the boys relied upon their natural game awareness and athleticism to produce a performance that will live long in the memory. They capitalised upon opposition errors to score some scintillating tries and defended like lions against a determined QE Barnet. As our celebrations of a magnificent victory ebbed away, I couldn’t help but think what this group could be capable of given a commitment to training and greater access to some very talented games players. Perhaps the rugby 7s programme next term will see this group in full bloom.
As the main event began, the 1st XV unfortunately, did not anticipate the intensity levels of our opponents, QE Barnet who were smarting after 3 successive defeats in this fixture between the two schools. To win rugby matches, one must get over the gain line and adopt an effective kicking game to exert some pressure, but we never really got to grips with the sustained defensive rigour of our opposition. They were deserved winners on the night.
Rugby Focus: Tour to Bath
Mr Metcalfe reports on an unforgettable tour experience
19 students from year 8 and 9, accompanied by Mr Metcalfe and Mr Coleman, went on a short rugby tour to Bath over the weekend (10th-12th October). Staying at the YHA Bath at the top of the very steep Bathwick Hill afforded us some spectacular views of the city centre (and a challenging walk home...). The students trained on Saturday morning in front of Royal Crescent, an example of Georgian architecture at its finest. The afternoon was spent in small groups enjoying the beauty of the rest of this stunning city before descending upon the Recreation Ground, the home of Bath Rugby, for the Bath v Gloucester rugby match. Before the game, we were very fortunate to be a part of a Guard of Honour to welcome the teams onto the field.
The students also enjoyed a half time pitch walk and a squad photo under the posts, all courtesy of the Bath Rugby community team. An unforgettable experience for all involved. The match itself saw Bath race into a 28-point lead before a Gloucester fightback threatened to make things interesting... (Bath emerged as deserved winners in the end). On Sunday morning, the weary tourists played Tadley RFC, a club just outside Reading on the way home. Despite a significant size difference between the teams, a combination of some excellent game management by the referee and a newly forged team spirit made the experience a positive one. The weekend was very enjoyable for all concerned and I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr Coleman for his time and expertise.
Swimming and Water Polo
Mr Brkovic headlines a very successful Autumn
term of Aquatics
This term has been an outstanding one for our water polo squads, with strong performances across all age groups
• U19 Boys competed in the first round of the London League, securing impressive wins against Bedford Modern (5-3), Queen Elizabeth’s Barnet (7-2), and Bishop’s Stortford (5-2), alongside a hardfought 5-5 draw with Northampton progressing in a semifinal with 4 teams from south and north of the river
• U15 Team excelled in the National Cup first round, defeating Queen Elizabeth’s Barnet (6-2), Warwick School (6-3), Whitgift (2-1), and Bedford School (11-0), earning a well-deserved place in the semi-finals
• U16 Squad showed great determination in their London League fixtures, recording victories over Northampton (4-3) and Highgate (7-4) in a competitive start to their campaign to progress into semi finals which are going to be played on 10th of December
Looking ahead, next term promises even more excitement:
• U13 and U14 teams will begin their competitions.
• U12s in friendly tournament to prepare for their regional competition
It has been a busy and successful term for our swimming teams across HABS Elstree School. Our swimmers competed in the ESSA Regional Qualifiers at Watford Woodside, the London Independent Swimming League at Highgate for Years 7 and 8 and began their journey in the School Super League competitions hosted at HABS.
We also took part in the Herts League, swimming in three galas, including an away fixture at Berkhamsted for our Year 7 team. Across all events, our students demonstrated outstanding effort and competitiveness, with strong performances in every race. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to building on this momentum in the next term. We are proud of the boys’ skill, teamwork, and resilience, and look forward to building on this success in the coming term.
Cross-Country
Mr Kerry reports on a very positive start for Habs
It has been a strong and encouraging first half of the Cross-Country season. In the County Cup, all year groups represented the school with determination and pride. The U18s secured a solid 4th-place finish, while the U15s finished their race in 5th.
The standout performance came from the U13 team, who finished an impressive 2nd overall, earning qualification for the Regional Final at Dulwich College.
At Dulwich, the U13s faced exceptionally tough conditions, with torrential rain throughout their race. Despite the challenging weather, the boys showed great resilience and teamwork, giving everything on the day. While they narrowly missed out on qualifying for the national championships, their effort and commitment were commendable.
The squad now looks ahead to the new year, with more racing opportunities on the horizon, including the Individual County Cross Country Championships in January. The team remains motivated and ready to build on this season’s strong foundation.
Badminton
Dr Chapman reports on the thriving Badminton Habs community with some great successes
Badminton at Habs continues to thrive, with participation and playing standards rising thanks to the dedication of our coach, Keith Burns. This term, students have had plenty of opportunities to get involved, with three lunchtime clubs, squad training three evenings a week, and a games option for most year groups – there are sessions for all abilities.
National Schools’ Badminton Competition
The standout achievement this term was our U16 team (Adi, Avighnan, George, and Sharanjan, pictured on the right) winning the Herts Schools’ County Championship in December, and earning a place in the national finals in March.
The County victory followed on from the local competition that was held at Habs in November in the first round of the national schools’ competition. In this round Habs fielded two teams in both the U14 and U16 competitions. The U16A team for these matches (Avighnan, Sharanjan, Joshua, Aarav) fought off strong opposition to qualify for the finals in Hatfield. The U14 teams faced tough competition, and despite their efforts, narrowly missed out to a very strong Watford Grammar side. In the County finals the U16 squad foursome won the group stage without dropping a game. In the final against Sir John Lawes, the competition stepped up, but so did the Habs players. After some close matches, they secured a 5–0 victory to claim the county title.
Interhouse Badminton Cup
This term also saw the commencement of the Interhouse Badminton Cup, with Year 9, Year 10, and Senior competitions completed. Standards have been impressively high and matches close; several of the placings have been decided on a difference of only 1 or 2 points. With Year 7 and Year 8 still to play, the overall cup looks set to go to Hendersons or Russells, though Crossman points remain up for grabs.
Squash and Table Tennis
Mr Cooper reports on the exciting young talent at Habs Boys & Zoli, our Table Tennis Coach reports on a busy term of Table Tennis
Squash at HABS is in a very healthy place currently, with participation numbers at an all-time high. Curricular sessions are at full capacity, and the number of students playing club squash is increasing steadily.
Our KS3 team progressed through to the main draw of the National School Squash Championships after finishing second in their opening group. Captained ably by E. Padayachy, the young squad showed early signs of nerves but grew into the competition as the matches progressed.
The KS4 and KS5 teams moved into the National School Plate competition. With both matches taking place on the same day, the squad was stretched, but this allowed debuts for a number of keen players. Despite not winning many matches, the teams gained valuable experience, which they will take with them into the second round after Christmas.
Our Table Tennis teams continue to impress this season!
Under 11 Boys, Under 11 Girls, and Under 13 Boys have all qualified for the Regional Butterfly Table Tennis England Qualifiers after strong performances at the Hertfordshire County Finals. The U11 Boys and U13 Boys were crowned County Champions, while the U11 Girls finished as County Runners-Up. The U16 Boys put in a determined effort; finishing tied for 2nd place at the County Qualifiers. Unfortunately, they missed out on progressing due to points scored, bringing their journey to an end this season.
All three qualifying teams will compete at the Regional Finals in Wellingborough in February, where they hope to earn a place at the National Finals in Wolverhampton.
In addition, the School Individual Championships take place in Harlow in February, and we look forward to seeing how our players perform in the Hertfordshire qualifiers.
Good luck to all our table tennis players!
Habs Dash
Mr Broadwidth reports on the start of the 8th season of the all inclusive Habs Dash built to unite the community
Across the Autumn Term, HabsDash once again presented itself as one of the unifying sporting traditions of the Elstree campus. Over thirteen consecutive weeks, from early September to a gloriously soggy SantaDash finale in December, pupils and staff came together week after week to run, support, volunteer and celebrate. Through sunshine, wind, rain and distinctly splashy puddles, HabsDash remains a regular and inclusive stalwart in the school calendar.
Participation throughout the term has been exceptional. Weekly turnouts regularly reached well into triple figures, with particularly strong engagement from the Prep School and a growing presence from the Girls School. The atmosphere on the renown, and speedy, Unity Course was consistently upbeat with that final ride to the Roger Llewelyn lamppost already steeped in Habs folklore. There are always smiles on the start line, encouragement mid run, and genuine celebration at the finish line. HabsDash continued to exemplify sport at its best, inclusive, energetic and welcoming, where first time runners were cheered just as loudly as front runners, and progress is valued even more highly performance.
Alongside this community spirit ran a fierce but friendly competitive edge. The House competition gathered momentum as the weeks progressed, culminating in the Red Foxes becoming the first Franchise of Season 8 to reach the coveted 1000 km Golden Goat milestone. This achievement was not about individual brilliance but collective commitment. Hendersons and Powell both played their part, contributing runners, points and weekly House Party awards, ensuring that the competition remained lively and meaningful throughout the term.
At the heart of the Autumn Term story sit the Ever Presents of Season 8, runners who have not missed a single HabsDash since September. Their commitment has been extraordinary. This group includes Ms C Willows, Mr J Teague, Mr T Jones, Blake Sher, Ms S Adat, Louis Chew, William Liang, Jura Ahmad, Ms S Slade, Enzo Bassinder, Miss C Harrison, Miss J King, Mrs L Miller, Oliver Chapman, Aayan Prasai, Henry Wenzerul, Ari Gaon, Mr J Keys and Reuben Kriteman. Together, they represent consistency in its purest form, turning up week after week through heavy rain, busy school schedules, school events, minor injuries and inevitable fatigue.
Special recognition must go to Ms C Willows, who this term became the first person in HabsDash history to earn a sixth Obsidian Skull, representing more than six years of uninterrupted participation. It is a great milestone within the HabsDash history.
The term also delivered countless moments of personal progress. New Personal Bests are a weekly occurrence, often achieved by runners who already had hundreds of kilometres in their legs. Few moments captured the spirit of HabsDash better than Reuben Kriteman recording a new Personal Best after more than one hundred and fifty consecutive runs, a reminder that improvement remains possible at every stage of the journey.
None of this would be possible without the remarkable team of volunteers who support HabsDash each week. Marshals, timekeepers, recorders and encouragers gave generously of their time throughout the term, ensuring the event ran smoothly and safely in all conditions. Their contribution underpins everything HabsDash achieves. The Autumn Term concluded with a joyful SantaDash, bringing festive costumes, laughter and one final surge of collective energy before the winter break. It was a fitting end to a term defined by enthusiasm, resilience and togetherness.
At its heart, HabsDash is a simple idea. Turn up on a Tuesday lunchtime, run together, and come back next week. And for thirteen weeks this term, that is exactly what the community has done. See you in 2026!
Prep School Sport
Mr Miller and Mr Hedger report on a term full of sporting success on the field and in the pool for our prep boys
Football
The autumn term began with a fantastic Year 6 football trip to St George’s Park, where the boys trained in the same facilities used by England’s national teams. It was an inspiring start to a busy season. Year 6 also finished a strong second place at the Manor Lodge Football Competition. The Under 9s took part in the Lochinver House Football Tournament, while the Year 6 A team were thrilled to play in a Habs festival at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground. We also hosted a Year 5 Futsal Festival.
Cross-Country
The annual Donkin Cup was a great event of inter-house cross-country running, with Davids House taking the win.
Rugby
Our rugby teams represented Habs proudly at both the Belmont U11 Rugby Festival and the IAPS tournament at Gayhurst. This term we also hosted an U9 Rugby Festival. We closed the term with our much-loved interhouse rugby competition – competitive, spirited, and great fun as always.
Table Tennis
In table tennis, our U11 boys have reached the Area Finals and now aim for a place at Nationals. Year 5 and 6 hockey players have shown real progress, completing their first fixture of the term against UCS. They can now look forward to IAPS Hockey and the UCS Festival next term.
Swimming
The Prep Swimming team have had a busy term, with the first two rounds of the Hertfordshire Schools Swimming competition under our belts achieving a win over The Beacon and a narrow defeat against a strong Heath Mount School. We made our debut in the London Independent Swimming Schools League coming a credible third place out of the five schools in our group. Additionally, there was individual success at the East Region English Schools Competition which saw many personal bests and several medals.
Prep School Sport
Water Polo
Our Prep Water Polo Club has had a fantastic start, competing in three Magnificent 7s tournaments as part of the new U11 London league. We proudly hosted two events and travelled to Notting Hill & Ealing for the third, with the next exciting round taking place at Latymer Upper School on 8th December, where three additional teams will join the competition. We will continue to attend more events next term
Basketball
The boys also enjoyed taking part in the Watford and Hertsmere Basketball Festival at Queens School, gaining valuable experience in both training and match play.
Biathlon
A new step for Habs Prep saw our U11 boys enter their first Biathlon event, and we wait eagerly to hear if they have qualified for the National Finals.
Gymnastics
The prep gymnastics team took part in the ISGA 2-piece event, producing outstanding individual and team performances. Highlights included a superb 1st place on vault out of all the Under 11 boys. More gymnastics events are lined up for next term.
Chess
Our U9 chess team have earned a place in the IAPS Tournament next term. We look forward to hearing about all their success and reporting on this in the Spring edition.
Every boy has represented the school this term, showing commitment, teamwork, and pride. We now look forward to building on this progress and celebrating even more sporting success next term.
Student Focus: Jarrett Clark
Extraordinary from one of our own...from Habs to Abu Dhabi F4 Trophy
10J racing driver Jarrett Clark has been making an impact on track this term. 2025 has seen his first season driving cars, after 5 years of kart racing. He has been racing in the Junior Ginetta Championship for top drivers aged 14-17 years old.
Jarrett came into the final round at Donnington Circuit having been very close to a podium in previous rounds but just missing out. He started well, with a strong qualifying, that put him in P5 for the first race and P3 for the second race. In the first race he raced well in an action-packed race to finish 5th. The action continued for races 2 and 3 with Jarrett achieving double podiums P2 in both races.
Jarrett finished the season strongly in October and then returned for the winter series at the start of November. The Ginetta Junior Winter Series took place at Silverstone National Circuit. Jarrett achieved double pole in qualifying and went on to seal his first race win in a car!
Jarrett also had his first experience testing in a single seater in a Formula 4 (F4) car. Having excelled in testing he was subsequently offered a seat with Virtuosi Racing to race in British F4 in 2026! Whilst testing and preparations have been underway a call was received out of the blue on Wednesday December 3rd, to offer Jarrett the opportunity to race in the UAE F4 Trophy event being held as a support race to the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix. The only catch alongside not having done much testing or having raced an F4 was he needed to be in Abu Dhabi the next day! Jarrett was scheduled to do his first F4 event in January, but the opportunity to be at the biggest F1 race of the season, and to get some experience was too good a chance to turn down.
After getting back from school, it was a quick change, then off the airport for an overnight flight to Abu Dhabi. Once he arrived, he went straight to the track to mould and fit his seat, a process that took a few hours. Even though he was shattered, Jarrett needed to get some track familiarisation, so he jumped in a cab for the 1.5-hour drive to Dubai to use the team’s simulator
Student Focus:
Jarrett Clark
After a 1-hour session, it was back to the hotel for some sleep, and then an early start, as he needed to be at the track at 7am (3am London time) for his first and only free practice. Despite the lack of sleep, and having never driven at this track, Jarrett impressed being 4th fastest in practice. After a brief interlude it was back to the track for qualification. Jarrett again impressed, qualifying 6th fastest for the first race (based on your fastest time) and 6th fastest for the second race (based on your second fastest time). In the first race, as should be expected due to his lack of experience, Jarrett got off to a slow start, and fell back to 10th, but improved as the race went on. He managed to gain positions back, then went on to complete an excellent 8 corner wheel to wheel battle and eventual overtake - to finish 5th. His second race was equally successful crossing the line 8th and top rookie, but a penalty applied post-race meant an end position of 12th. He then got to watch Lando Norriss become World Champion!
In 2026 Jarrett will be competing in the FIA British Formula 4 Championship after finishing a season of Ginetta Junior.
Jarrett previously spent 2 seasons Karting in Europe at the highest level in OK Junior achieving multiple top 10 and top 5 finishes.
Jarrett started Karting in the UK at the age of 8 in Honda Cadet. He subsequently went on to become the Rotax Festival Champion, 3rd in the British Championship, 3rd at the Kartmasters GP, and represent GB at the Rok Super final in Italy.
Habs Staff Highlights
Celebrating our Habs Staff’s sporting success over the term
On the evening of Tuesday 2 December, four members of the Professional Services team – Suzy Lough (Reception), Chantal Gilbert (Admissions), Shalaka Karlekar (Foundation) & Julia Braun (Attendance), walked 10k through the centre of London for the charity Shelter & raised over £450!
Back in 2012, Mr Metcalfe ran Staff Olympics – a huge spectacle for the students!!
Mr Hardman thought to himself…… “Well, I can swim…..yup, no problem!! I’ll enter the staff front-crawl race! I can swim 4 lengths of the pool”
The day came for the race and in front of hordes of spectators, Mr Hardman dived into the pool and swam a single length of front-crawl. So unfit was Mr Hardman, that he managed the next 3 lengths using a mixture of doggy paddle and breaststroke. By the time Mr Hardman had finished his 3rd length, the lead swimmer had already finished!!
Utterly humiliated and embarrassed, Mr Hardman hauled himself out of the pool and considered how he was going to improve his fitness. That was 13 years ago.
The answer to the fitness question was to buy a road bike and start commuting 22 miles a day to & from school. 48,000 miles later, Mr Hardman is happier and fitter than ever before!!!
Inter House Sport
Inter House Cross-Country Results
Year 7: 1st Russells, 2nd Calverts, 3rd Meadows
Special mentions to Lucas Xie (1st), Harry Sykes (2nd), Niam Patel (3rd)
Year 8: 1st Strouts, 2nd Russells, 3rd Hendersons
Special mentions to
Year 9: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Special mentions to
Year 10: 1st Calverts, 2nd Meadows, 3rd Strouts
Special mentions to Ethan Moss (1st), Jonathan Gruppetta (2nd), Aiden Barretto (3rd)
Senior: 1st Russells, 2nd Hendersons, 3rd Joblings
Special mentions to
Inter House Football Results
Year 7:
Year 8: 1st Hendersons, 2nd Strouts, 3rd Meadows
Year 9:
Year 10: 1st Calverts, 2nd Meadows, 3rd Joblings
Senior: 1st Russells, 2nd Calverts, 3rd Meadows
Inter House Badminton Results
Year 9: 1st Meadows, 2nd Calverts, 3rd Hendersons
Year 10: 1st Strouts, 2nd Russells, 3rd Meadows
Senior B: 1st Hendersons, 2nd Russells, 3rd Joblings
Senior A: 1st Russells, 2nd Hendersons, 3rd Calverts
Football Team of the Year
Congratulations to those who have been selected for the Habs Boys Football Team of the Year for their impressive skills over the Autumn Term!
Starting XI:
1. Leo Lewin (Year 9)
2. Raphael Barsam (Year 9)
3. Zach Spillman (Year 10)
4. Tom Finch (Year 13)
5. Ashton Chuah (Year 8)
6. James Burkeman (Year 11)
7. Francis Meehan (Year 10)
8. Rafi Baliti (Year 9)
9. Harry Sykes (Year 7)
10. Max Loebinger (Year 10)
11. Luca Lane (Year 8)
Substitutions
12. Zach Jacobs (Year 7)
13. Luca Edlinger (Year 10)
14. Blake Clark (Year 7)
15. Lani Jaiyeola (Year 11)
16. Mohammed Lawal (Year 13)
Final Thank You to Staff
Thank you to all the following staff for helping take teams this Autumn Term. Your support and efforts do not go unnoticed!
Football
Head of Football: Mr Thomas
2nd XI, 3rd XI, 4th XI: Mr Mehta, Mr Oldfield, Mr Plotkin, Mr Lee
U15s: Mr Choderuk, Mr Huntley, Mr Keen, Mr Ayre
U14s: Mr Doolan, Mr Howgego, Mr Chiattelli, Mr Metcalfe
U13s: Mr Miller, Mr Kerry, Mr Pickford, Mr McIntosh
U12s: Mr Cooper, Mr Lowe, Miss Godsave, Mr Hewitt
Rugby
Head of Rugby: Mr Metcalfe
Rugby Coach: Mr Hughes
U15A: Mr Kerry
U14A: Mr Tabener
U13A: Mr Keen, Mr Martin-Brown
U12A/B: Mr Metcalfe, Mr Huntley
Badminton
Head of Badminton: Dr Chapman
Badminton Coach: Mr Burns
Badminton Squad: Mr Shi
Cross-Country
Head of Cross-Country: Mr Kerry
Golf
Head of Golf: Mr Lee
Squash
Head of Squash: Mr Cooper Squash Coach: Mr Ockwell
Aquatics
Head of Aquatics: Mr Brkovic
U12-U18: Miss Godsave
Prep Aquatics: Mr Hedger
Table Tennis
Head of Table Tennis: Mr Miller
Table Tennis Coach: Mr Kószó
Trampolining
Head of Trampolining: Ms Brazier
