PORTORA ROYAL
SCHOOL
AWARD OF COLOURS
& HONOURS
June 2015
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The Colours Committee will consist of the teachers in charge of athletics,
cricket, rowing, rugby, soccer, music and performing arts and will be chaired by
the Headmaster or Assistant Principal.
Colours and Honours are awarded by this Committee, which will meet once a
year for this purpose. This Committee is the final arbiter in the award of
Colours and Honours.
COLOURS are awarded to students who show a high level of commitment
and skill to their particular extracurricular activity.
Senior Colours are the supreme accolade for all extracurricular
achievement.
Senior Colours
- a certificate and badge will be awarded
- a tie specific to Senior Colours can be worn
- blazer pocket (Rugby)
Junior Colours
- a certificate and badge will be awarded.
Colours may be awarded in any school extracurricular activity if a student
reaches standards comparable with those for which colours are awarded
according to the criteria listed.
The Committee reserves the right to award Colours to a student who was likely
to fulfil the criteria in a particular activity but who, through injury or other
cause, was unable to do so.
HONOURS are awarded to students who have obtained representative colours
at provincial, national or international level in any sport, at any age group up to
U19 level.
A framed certificate will be awarded, usually at the end of a recipient’s career at
school. Honours can also be awarded to students who have attained similar
levels of achievement in the Arts.
MERIT AWARD
A Merit Award is intended to cover activities not
covered by School Colours, and are awarded for representative colours at least
U15/U16 level.
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CRICKET COLOURS
Senior Colours
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Senior Colours will be awarded to a student who achieves representative
colours at Ulster or Irish level, at senior school level.
2
Senior Colours will be awarded to a player who has shown a high level of
commitment and skill over two seasons for the 1st XI and has been Club
Captain in at least one of these seasons.
Junior Colours
1
Junior Colours will be awarded to a cricketer who has shown a high level
of commitment and skill and attended at least 70% of all organised
practices, over two consecutive seasons, and has been a regular member of
the 1st XI.
OR
2 Junior Colours will be awarded to a cricketer who has represented Ulster at
the J16 level.
A scorer shall be eligible for Junior Colours, if he has scored for the 1 st XI
for at least two seasons.
CROSS-COUNTRY & ATHLETICS
CROSS COUNTRY
Senior Colours
To qualify for Senior Colours as a sixth former a student
must have qualified for Junior Colours and continued to train and race in the
senior age category representing the school in the provincial Ulster Schools
Championships or national Irish T&F Championships.
Junior Colours To qualify for Junior Colours an U16 student should have
consistently and reliably supported the club in training and finished in the
qualifying places at the E-Districts for the Ulster Schools Championship.
In the event of a student joining the school in Year 13 and supporting the club in
training and racing as specified above that student should be eligible for junior
colours.
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ATHLETICS
Senior Colours
To qualify for Senior Colours as a sixth former a student
must should be in receipt of Junior Colours and will have continued to train and
compete in the senior age category representing the school in the provincial
Ulster Schools’ Championship (through qualification from the E-Districts) or
national Irish T&F finals.
Junior Colours For an award of Junior Colours at U16, through athletics, a
student should have represented the school at the Ulster Schools’
Championships through qualification from the E-Districts.
In the event of a student joining the school in Year 13 and supporting the club in
training and racing as specified above that student should be eligible for junior
colours.
ROWING COLOURS
Senior Colours will be awarded to an oarsperson who has satisfied at least one
of the conditions below.
1
Has shown a high level of commitment and skill throughout the season,
and who has been a key member of a crew which has competed
successfully at Junior 18 level at Irish 'Heads' and regattas.
2
Has won a gold, silver or bronze medal at the Irish Junior Rowing
Championships.
3
Has represented Ireland at one of the following regattas:
(i) the Home International;
(ii) the Coupe de la Jeunesse;
(iii) the World Championships.
Junior Colours may be awarded to members of a Junior 17 or Junior 18 crew
who have shown commitment and skill throughout the season, but who are not
eligible for Senior Colours.
Coxswains
Senior Colours can be awarded to a Coxswain who satisfies:
Condition 1
: for 3 successive seasons;
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Condition 2
Condition 3
: for 2 successive seasons;
: once
Junior Colours may be awarded after two seasons coxing the Club's most senior
boat.
RUGBY COLOURS
Senior Colours will be awarded to a player who has satisfied at least one of the
conditions below.
1
Has shown a high level of commitment and skill, and played for the 1st XV
for at least half of the fixtures over each season, for two successive
seasons. (Subject to a minimum of 10 games. Playing is member of
starting XV for friendlies and member of squad for cup matches. Injury
qualifies as having played)
2
Has gained representative honours for: (i)
(ii)
Ulster Schools
Irish Schools
Junior Colours will be awarded to a player:
1
Has shown a high level of commitment and skill, and played for 1st XV for
at least half of the fixtures in one season.
2
The Captain of the 2nd XV may be awarded Junior Colours.
GOLF COLOURS
Senior Colours
Senior Colours will be awarded to a student who achieves provincial or national
representation at the Q-F stage or better in either the Ulster or Irish Schools
Championships in any format (individual/team/stableford/scratch etc) at senior
school level. The golfer will be playing off a single digit handicap.
Junior Colours
To be awarded Junior Colours a student should have represented the school
successfully for two successive seasons with a handicap of 15 or under in a
recognised
Ulster
Schools
Golf
competition
in
any
format
(individual/team/stableford/scratch etc).
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*In the event of a student joining the school in Year 13 and supporting the
school club in school competitions as specified above that student should be
eligible for senior or junior colours as applicable.
SOCCER COLOURS
Senior Colours will be awarded to a player who has made an outstanding
contribution to the game of soccer in the school and has represented Portora in
the Schools’ Soccer Cup or international youth tournaments for at least two
seasons, reaching the quarter finals on both occasions.
OR
Senior Colours will be awarded to a player who has been an outstanding
member of the Schools’ Cup soccer squad for at least five seasons.
Junior Colours will be awarded to a player who has made a significant
contribution to the game of soccer in the school and has represented Portora in
the Schools’ Soccer Cup or international youth tournaments for at least two
seasons, reaching the quarter finals on both occasions.
OR
Junior Colours will be awarded to a player who has been a key member of the
Schools’ Cup soccer squad for at least five seasons.
PERFORMING ARTS COLOURS
Senior Colours
Performing Arts Senior Colours will be awarded to those, usually in sixth form,
who have made an outstanding contribution to music or performing arts in the
school over a period of time.
 In music students will normally be outstanding performers on an
instrument or an outstanding vocal soloist. They will normally have
achieved grade 7 standard on an instrument and will have performed in
at least three public performances during the year.
 In performing arts students will have taken a leading role in at least three
public performances requiring a sustained period of preparation and
rehearsal as well as contributing to less formal productions.
Students will be awarded a certificate and will be entitled to wear the
appropriate tie and badge.
Junior Colours
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Performing Arts Junior Colours will be awarded to those who have made a
significant contribution to music or drama in the school over a period of time.
 In music students will normally be performers on an instrument or a vocal
soloist and will have achieved at least grade 5 standard, or equivalent for
instruments not assessed by graded exams. In certain circumstances
junior colours for music may be awarded for an extensive number of
public performances during the year.
 In performing arts students will have had a significant role in at least
three public performances requiring a substantial period of preparation
and rehearsal as well as contributing to less formal productions.
They will be awarded a certificate and will be entitled to wear the appropriate
badge.
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