SEVEN years of pain was wiped out at Orange High School’s Astley Cup presentation assembly on Friday.
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The Astley Cup returned to Orange High for the first time since 2006 as school captains Trent French and Meaghan Kempson were presented with the trophy by their Bathurst High counterparts.
The Pickering Hall exploded after the cup changed hands, with hundreds of Orange High students on hand to celebrate.
Orange High principal David Lloyd’s excitement was palpable, speaking as his students produced a rendition of We Are The Champions Freddie Mercury would be proud of.
“It’s just fabulous,” Lloyd said.
“The kids worked so hard. We had a strategic plan and they absolutely implemented it, and we ended up very dominant.
“It’s all about school pride and people feeling good about Orange High, and being able to show that on the sporting field.”
After securing a 485-315 victory over Bathurst High last week, Orange High just needed to beat Dubbo on Wednesday and Thursday to secure the cup, and did so in dominant fashion.
Winning seven of eight events, Orange High’s stunning performance in Dubbo finished in a 521.5-278.5 victory.
Orange High finished the tri-series on 1006.5 overall, an incredible 200.5 points in front of second placed Bathurst (800), with Dubbo finishing third on 693.5.
Orange High Astley Cup coordinator Tegan Dray agreed with Lloyd, and said the title is just reward for the students’ hard work.
“It’s an amazing feeling, this has been our goal for the entire campaign,” Dray said. “It’s great to see the kids to achieve what they’ve been working so hard for. It really has been a whole school effort.
“Our seniors have been instrumental in that, but hopefully they have motivated the rest of the students to continue for many years to come. These guys have set such a good example that it can be done.
“The younger kids have seen that, and hopefully they will be able to replicate it.”