Sporting performance is on an upward curve at Harrodian and not just in the familiar team games, as remarkably recent success stories in fencing and bridge demonstrate
Fencing: Ayaan
At a rangy 6’4”, Ayaan looks ideally equipped for Harrodian’s sports teams. Over the years he’s played his part in school rugby and football teams – in particular as a commanding goalkeeper. But fencing has been the thoughtful Sixth Former’s number one since he joined the Harrodian fencing club run by Professor Mark Kent at the age of 8. In the last few months he’s upped the ante by spending most weekends travelling alone to compete in ranking tournaments from Newham to Nottingham.
Single-minded dedication to the foil is paying off in results. His breakthrough came last autumn when won the London Under 18s Championship. Mark Kent, his coach for the past 10 years, is impressed by the progress Ayaan has made, praising the ‘extremely fast compound reaction time and physical reflexes’ which took him to the London title. ‘He fought off some of the top London fencers from the top clubs,’ says Professor Kent. ‘He is currently ranked 30th in the under 20 category so in one or two years he is on trajectory for the top 10 and the GB team.’
The Upper Sixth Former, whose career ambition is to be an aeronautical designer, is excited about the prospect of making the national squad but is keeping the cool head which, to a top fencer, is as essential an attribute as quick reactions. ‘Keeping your nerve is key in a close fight. You have to learn to find comfort in discomfort,’ he says.
Fencing has given me confidence to take things in my stride. I don’t get nervous anymore when it comes to the big things
Ayaan, Harrodian Sixth Former
Unsurprising, then, that Ayaan is as undaunted by the twin challenges of taking 4 A levels – in Maths, Physics, Graphics and 3-D Design – this summer as he is by the challenge of competing for a place in the UK fencing team. ‘Fencing has given me confidence to take things in my stride,’ he says. ‘I don’t get nervous anymore when it comes to the big things.’ 
Professor Mark Kent runs lunchtime fencing clubs for beginners and experienced fencers at Harrodian. Pupils interested in the sport can find out more about these club options at the start of the summer term.
Bridge: Ned and Will
Harrodian 14s pupil Will may be two years junior to his big bro, Sixth Former, Ned but when it comes to their partnership as a bridge pair, it seems the younger boy is the boss. ‘Will likes to take control when we’re playing bridge,’ smiles Ned. ‘If I make a mistake I get shouted at.’
Will is challenging for one of six places in the England Under 16s Bridge squad for a tournament in Holland in July.
It doesn’t sound as if either boy has made too many mistakes recently. In February the pair triumphed over stiff competition from crack teams from schools including Westminster, Kings College School Wimbledon, Haberdashers Aske, Putney, Epsom College and St Paul’s to scoop the Surrey Schools Championship for Harrodian. Now Will is challenging for one of six places in the England Under 16s Bridge squad for a tournament in Holland in July.
Learning to play bridge teaches you to think strategically, to adjust to change and to make decisions under pressure.
Ned, Harrodian Sixth Former
Ned rather plays down his part in the brothers' success but is in no doubt about the value of the life skills that the pair are acquiring from this most intellectually demanding of card games. ‘The World Bridge Federation is recognised as a sports organisation by the International Olympic Committee,' he points out. 'Learning to play it teaches you to think strategically, to adapt to change and to make decisions under pressure. And I’m hoping to work in the finance industry where all those skills can be pretty useful.’