The 2015 Sports Day took place on 2nd April 2015 at the Panasonic Stadium; the first since 2013. The winner of the Sports Day was Bullseye. It took place from 3:00pm to 7:30pm.
Bullseye managed to achieve a back-to-back Sports Day victory, following the extension of Operation Speedrunner to the Sports Day 2015, following the success of Nobel Cup 2014. It was the first time Bullseye achieved such a streak, and the second house to do so, provided that the Blue House victory in Sports Day 2012 is counted as part of Touchdown.
This is the second of three consecutive Sports Day victories of Bullseye; the other two being 2014 and 2016. This was the final Sports Day of Mr Paul Lau as head of CCA, and also the first Sports Day under Principal Chia Bee Yong.
Sports Day and Nobel Cup 2014
For more information, see Nobel Cup 2014
The year 2014 was the 10th Anniversary of Nobel International School. After a devastating loss for Bullseye in 2013, the Bullseye members planned to win the Sports Day in 2014, which emerged successful.
The Nobel Cup 2014 was the turning point in Bullseye's history, as it marked the pivot towards a winning habit for Bullseye. Spearheaded by Lau Wei Yiang and Caleb Chuang, a carefully crafted strategy was proposed and consulted with every single Bullseye member from Year 7 to 10 on an one to one basis. The Bullseye members were taken in excitement by the strategy and subsequently led to the Nobel Cup victory in 2014, after Lau Wei Yiang's successful suggestion for Bullseye to win both the Sports Day and Nobel Cup in the same year, 2014.
Formal establishment of Operation Speedrunner
In 2015, Lau Wei Yiang and Caleb Chuang were once again put in the same class as in 2014, and most 2014 8O members retained their membership in 9O, the same class for 2015. At the time, the Year 9 students were required to sit the Cambridge Secondary Checkpoint; an examination for Year 9 students worldwide. Nobel had abolished the practice of Cambridge Checkpoint in 2017 following a directive by Ms Chia Bee Yong, the principal of Nobel International School.
The Cambridge Checkpoint was a highly anticipated examination for Year 9 students. Only four graduating classes had sat the Checkpoint exam. Checkpoint was consistently used as an indicator for Year 10 subjects and the subsequent IGCSE performance in Year 11. In Nobel International School's history, only five graduating classes; the classes of 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, had ever sat the Checkpoint examination when it was offered to them in Year 9. The Checkpoint exam tests students on three subjects: English, Mathematics and Science.
To ensure that there is a motivation to prepare for Checkpoint, Wei Yiang and Branson Choon regularly competed academically with each other in the Science subject. Ms Ng Mei Yen, their class teacher, was also the Science teacher. The competition spilled over to the Sports Day as well. To increase competition and motivation, Wei Yiang named the blueprint project with Caleb Chuang as Operation Speedrunner in February 2015, after Branson Choon's video game, Speedrunner. The 2014 Nobel Cup project would also be included as part of the operation.
Following the success of the 2014 Nobel Cup, the discussions resumed for Bullseye to win the 2015 Sports Day. The plans for Nobel Cup were to be refined for the Sports Day, and Wei Ming was planned to be retained as the House Captain for Sports Day. The Management team eventually decreed that the House Captain of Bullseye for 2014's Nobel Cup shall also be responsible to oversee the 2015 Sports Day.
As Nobel Cup 2014 involved identifying the sport and inputting strategies, this was also to be done for track and field events for the Sports Day. Wei Yiang suggested that the plans be beefened up in case Touchdown, Homerun and Slamdunk were to copy the plans, resulting in the demise of Bullseye.
Identification of key individuals
Wei Yiang knew that in order to win the Sports Day, Sean Mark Wai Hon, Nobel International School's number 1 100m sprinter, will need to be involved in the plans. This is just like how key individuals were identified for the Nobel Cup, such as Ivyna Ong, Yan Ying and Eu Lynn for netball, Alex Chia and Benjamin Tenji for basketball, and Ong Ting Yi for badminton. Sean Mark is a sprinter and an MSSD athlete. He needed him for the project.
When Sean Mark was told by Wei Yiang that he was needed to win the Sports Day, Sean cheekily joked to him that Wei Yiang himself wasn't a good runner. Wei Yiang said that Sean Mark was the best runner and hence, I was speaking to him. Jason Leing also identified himself as a good runner, even though he was only in Nobel for six months since August 2014. Sean immediately accepted the project after being coaxed on by the Bullseye members.
Wei Yiang and Caleb Chuang identified more runners, such as Ivyna Ong, Yeo Eu Lynn, Loo Zane, Prudence Wong, Koh Geok Minh, Ryan Chan, Aaron Yong, Andrew Loke, Tristan Lai, and a few other capable runners for the project. These people were briefed about the success of the 2014 Nobel Cup strategy and the plan to introduce the same strategy for the 2015 Sports Day. The goal of the strategy was to win the 2015 Sports Day and make it a double win for Bullseye. All of them agreed with the project. The only problem was to discuss how to win the Sports Day together. The Sports Day consist of track and field events.
Deducing of plans for Sports Day
Each of the three opponent houses had very strong captains. The Touchdown team was led by Lee Hua Fong, the Slamdunk team led by __________, and the Homerun team by Alexander Cornelius. These captains pose a very difficult challenge to Bullseye. Wei Yiang, concerned that the captains of other houses will spy on the plans, reiterated for discussions to continue in secret.
The plan was first brought upon to all the Bullseye members. However, many were skeptical of discussing the plans in secret. Proponents agree that this would protect Bullseye and ensure a 2015 Sports Day victory. Naysayers criticized the project, arguing it might sideline the other houses which goes against the spirit of Sports Day. This initially divided the Bullseye members. Wei Yiang argued that it was essential that the strategy not be stolen. The confidentiality of the plans were crucial to Bullseye's victory.
To do this, the plans were to be divided into four phases, Plans A, B, C and D, in order to help operationalize the details of the operations. The operations would have to be carefully carried out and concealed in order to prevent the process from being foiled by the other opponent houses. Working with Wei Ming, the house captain, Wei Yiang was able to convince Wei Ming to get serious on certain matters. It was evident with each discussion, that Wei Ming had full control and confidence and was capable of bringing Bullseye to victory.
Plan A involved the observation of other houses' intentions to thwart impacts to Bullseye. Plan B was the strategy planning for the competitions in response to plan A; plan C was to find ways to promote and upscaled Bullseye, and plan D the dissemination of information of our plans to the Bullseye members, and getting their ideas included if needed.
Sports For All
For the first time in Nobel International School's Sports Day event, a Sports For All event was created. The Sports For All allowed mass participation of all students in the sports events. The Sports For All saw Bullseye coming in 4th in the tournament. It is the first event out of the 2015 Sports Day events. The Sports Day preparations begun late due to the late start of the 2015 Academic Year due to the 2014 year-end floods, which postponed the start of the 2015 Academic Year from 5th January to 12th January, as well as the school's Chinese New Year celebrations in February.
At the same time, plans were being crafted to allow Bullseye to win the athletics competitions. Wei Yiang decided to liaise with Sin Hou Nan, the athletics captain of Bullseye. Hou Nan assured Wei Yiang that the best athletes will be chosen. When Wei Yiang presented the names he had scouted with Caleb Chuang for the athletics events, Hou Nan said that those names were shortlisted for the tryouts and will be chosen. Prior to the tryouts, Wei Yiang did a survey with Caleb Chuang to ascertain the names, which were listed earlier. Satisfied, Wei Yiang returned to Caleb Chuang and Wei Ming, confirming the successes.
Wei Yiang and Caleb suggested the Bullseye athletes eat ginger onions and healthy food, the latter being known for releasing toxins through passing gas. The Bullseye members were skeptical of that, but however, the recommendation of healthy food was welcomed by the athletes. Bullseye was subsequently confirmed as the leading house in mid March 2015 after the High Jump, Long Jump and Shot Putt events were finished. This put a clear path for Bullseye to win the Sports Day later on, with 2 victory years for Sports Day in sight.
Jarod Ee & Dance Competition
The Dance Captain of Bullseye was Jarod Ee. Jarod served as the president of the Dance CCA, which was subsequently named as the CCA of the Year during the 2015 CCA Awards Day. Jarod had a very phenomenal track record, winning a lot of CCA awards.
Wei Yiang and Caleb Chuang suggested that Ivyna's dance moves from the 2013 Show Choir and the 10th Anniversary Concert be brought to the 2015 dance for Bullseye. Wei Yiang did the liaising with Jarod Ee and interviewed as many dancers as possible from Bullseye. All of them accepted the suggestions which was to use a series of fast, pop dance moves. Jarod Ee accepted most of the suggestions, but had planned many ideas beforehand. This further cemented Bullseye's victory in the competition.
Banner competition
For the banner competition, Wei Yiang suggested that light colors and bright colors be used for the banner in order to captivate the team. This suggestion was brought to Wei Ming and his committee, who accepted the plans. Bullseye came in third place for banner in the Sports Day.
Cheer Competition
The cheer competition was held on Friday, 13th March 2015, and was judged by Elementary School teachers. Ms Ingel, Mr Sures, Puan Halimah and Mr Chuang took part in the judging. The competition was held during school hours, during the morning assembly.
By this time, Bullseye's plans proposed by Lau Wei Yiang and Caleb Chuang had garnered widespread impact. The Bullseye members had cheered the duo when they arrived to the gathering of all Bullseye members during the competition. The duo had proposed and discussed with all members during break, lunch, before assembly and after school.
Jason Leing and Sean Mark, both of which were pretty skeptical of the plans, were very excited and threw their full support upon hearing that the plans benefited the enthusiasm and spirit of Bullseye, as well as the score standings of Bullseye. Bullseye did not win the Cheer Competition, but the spirit lived on. The next stage of Operation Speedrunner would need to involve ensuring that Bullseye reaches the champion house podium safely.
Telematch and Tug of War
A telematch event was held at Nobel International School on 25th March 2015. It was the second time a telematch event was accompanied with the Sports Day, after 2014.
Prior to the telematch and on the day of the telematch events, Megan Lee and Heng Le Anne, both from Touchdown, tried to sabotage the Bullseye plans drafted by Wei Yiang and Caleb. Even after the Telematch was over, Megan and Le Anne still tried to sabotage the plans for the other events on Sports Day.
The Tug of War took place on 30th March 2015.
Actual Sports Day 2015
The 2015 Sports Day took place at Panasonic Stadium, and all individuals had to reach the stadium at 2:00pm.
Caleb Chuang and Wei Yiang discussed a plan to install a giant megaphone on the Sports Day. Because the megaphone is made out of yellow paper, it was criticized by Samantha Goh for copycating the color of Slamdunk, as Samantha Goh was from Slamdunk. Wei Yiang tried to reassure concerns by drawing red stripes on the megaphone, but this did not amuse Samantha Goh as the paper was still yellow.
During the rehearsal for the Sports Day, a strong gust of wind caught the Nobel International School banner being held by Chua Bing Tong and Samantha Goh, and almost knocked them off balance, resulting in Ms Lim rushing to steady the banner.
The results for Sports Day were revealed number by number, from the last to the first. Bullseye won the Sports Day with 5554 points, and Wei Yiang and Caleb hailed the victory over Branson Choon from Homerun. Wei Yiang and Wei Ming eventually had a photo taken together.
The Sports Day ended at 7:30pm with a victorious lap around the track by the Bullseye members.
Aftermath
The success of Operation Speedrunner in the 2014 Nobel Cup and 2015 Sports Day paved the way for Bullseye members' hunger for victory in the 2015 Nobel Cup and 2016 Sports Day. It consequentially built a culture of winning and firmed up that culture starting with the 2015 Nobel Cup. This also paved the way for more grand projects for Bullseye.
The victory of Bullseye in 2015 also internally paved a goal by Wei Yiang, not being revealed publicly, to win the 2015 Nobel Cup and all events up till 2017, the year of his graduation from Nobel.
Goals for Sports Day
The aim was for Bullseye to win the 2015 Sports Day, making a double victory of Sports Day in 2014 and 2015, which was achieved using the same technique as done for the Nobel Cup in 2014.
SPORTS DAY
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NOBEL CUP
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