Netball 2013

Irinah girls were on fire during the netball competition that was held on the 20^th February 2013. The competition was postponed many times due to the harsh weather. Fortunately, the competition ended well.  Before the competition we had intense training every day and had only short breaks but all the hard work can never beat us! Sprained ankles and sprained thumbs were common during the practices but recovered instantly and we got back to the game straight away.

Under the blazing sun, we never complained and continue training with all our might. This enthusiasm will never exist without the team’s undying support. Sometimes, caused by the unexpected weather, we had to train in the multi-purpose hall. We had to use basketball nets to play netball because we had no choice. It felt different and this also may affect our netball techniques so the only exercise we can do were drills.

Despite the tiring drills, we will never forget all the hard work from our team coaches. We wouldn’t have won without their professional netball techniques which improved us all. They also gave goodie bags to the netballers to give us more hope to win. We would also like to express our greatest gratitude to our housemistress and house tutors that accompanied us all during practices.

During the day of the competition, everyone was having fun supporting their own houses. We, Irinians brought orange pom-poms and a dragon hat which represented us. All the non-netballers put all their efforts supporting the team and giving out waters for those who were playing.

 

The junior team won the tournament convincingly while the senior team won the 1^st runner up position. Congratulations for the Irinah netballers! All our hard training has been paid off. We hope we will win the championship for both, senior and junior teams in 2014! Once an Irinian, always an Irinian.

Munira

Cross Country 2013

The 6^th of March 2013 was the day that Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar came together as one with the same goal at heart: to finish the race. On that day, KTJ held its annual Cross Country event within the precincts of the school. This event was divided into 4 different categories and the top 15 runners from each category were given a medal according to their respective ages: junior girls, junior boys, senior girls and senior boys.

 

On that Wednesday afternoon, the surprisingly good weather allowed Cross Country to take place without further ado, albeit the scorching afternoon sun. Hence, tears of joy and satisfaction were showered upon students as their strong determination drove them to the finish line – as not only were they running for themselves, they were doing it for their houses thus just that very thought made them much stronger physically, mentally and spiritually.

Throughout the race, what really tugged at the heartstrings were the great enthusiasm and house spirits manifested by each house as they cheered for their friends, giving them hope and motivation to stagger on. Cross Country allowed students to have a taste of endurance and determination when it comes to pursuing something that may seem impossible but is actually not when one has a positive mindset in achieving their goal.

 

However, just like any other competition, there is always only one championship:

 

Junior girls: Irinah House

Junior boys: Naquiyuddin House

 

Senior girls: Jawahir House

Senior boys: Naquiyuddin House

 

As Thomas Edison had so put it, “Many of life’s failure are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up”. So do not give up, for that may be when the tide will turn.

Inter-house Athletics

 

              

The blazing Saturday sun was a reflect of the radiant hearts of every Irinah girl as they gave their all, in any way, in the Inter-house Athletics Competition. The 23^rd of March 2013 was a day on which weeks of dripping sweat and constant trainings were finally exchanged for the shiny medals that hung on the necks of the strong and determined Irinah girls.

 

          Competitions were fierce for both the track and the field events. The track events consisted of: 100m Hurdles, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 4x100m and 4x400m; The field events, on the other hand, comprised: javelin, discus, shot putt, long jump, triple jump and high jump. It was truly a jaw-dropping and heart-racing sight to behold as some jumped sky-high from the ground whilst others raced to the finish line with their heads held high. The competition stretched on for the duration of five hours and during that period of time, never once did the house spirit of Irinah diminish as each and every member of the house shouted their lungs out for their friends. Merely a word of encouragement or a smile of assurance – a spark of hope that was needed to drive them till the end. “A champion needs a motivation above and beyond winning” – Pat Riley

  

          On the battlefield, the Irinah girls did their house proud, not only by winning, but also by breaking the school records. It is as follows:

 

   High jump        : - Melanie (1.39m)

                                 - Rachel    (1.35m)

         

          Long jump       : - Ji Min (3.91m)

 

          4 x 400m           : - Zhi Yee

                                         - Kahlen

                                         - Vincy

                                         - Raihanah (a second faster)

 

          The girls brought glory and dignity to the house by winning championships in both the senior as well as the junior category. It was not about how good they were, but how good they were together – as a house, as Irinah.

 

Hockey 2012

After countless postpones due to the hectic weather conditions, the girl’s hockey match finally took place on a long anticipated sunny Wednesday afternoon. All houses had as much training time as the weather permitted, and their hockey skills prevailed on that very afternoon.

 

The long intensive trainings on the field and indoors paid off as the girls gave their best in the match.

We had over a month to prepare and trained very hard specifically on strategies and ways on improving our passing skills. As we used the halls indoors to practice, it was very different when we actually played on the field as the ball was faster inside the hall. However so, Irinians managed to adjust to the circumstances and managed to score in most of the games. We also stressed on teamwork as it an important element to win a game.

 Being Irinians, sports events like this brought us closer and we discovered many hidden talents in some of which we didn’t know.

 

Many girls showed passionate Irinah spirit in participating during the tryouts, and trainings. However due to the short duration of the game, many could only play for a short period of time.

 

 Irinians had a fun time taking pictures and played their heart out on the field. Loud cheers can be heard to support our team players, and it helped encourage the hockey players to keep on going.

 

On the 7^th of November afternoon, the girls got geared up and the seniors played two games against Jawahir and Alia.  The senior players managed to defend Alia well, and came up with a score of 0-0, however the game between Jawahir was quite challenging and intense. Putting up a tough fight, the seniors were able to obtain a score of 2-1.  On the other hand, the juniors played a pretty impressive game by knocking out all of their opponents: Alia, Jawahir and Naquiah. Our juniors were proud to be announced 1^st place and managed to bring home the gold for Irinah. Unfortunately, seniors lost their overall game to Alia, due to a small difference in total score. However so, we still tried our very best.

 

Irinians have once again proven themselves to be resilient team players and Later on in the week after the mid-term break, the whole of Irinah house was awarded with scrumptious, delicious cupcakes baked by the brilliant captains that took charge of hockey. Despite the results, the hockey game brought Irinians together and showed true enthusiastic spirit for the house.

Swimming Gala 2012

All the other swimmers were drinking waves from the Irinians as the red hot dragons sped through the water like torpedoes at the annual Swimming Gala held on June 4th and 5^th, 2012. The Juniors were on fire and emerged as Champions while the Seniors came in at a close second - both tremendous improvements from last year’s results.

It was clear that all the effort put in by everyone - all the intensive swimming sessions for the house representatives (where the experienced swimmers provided invaluable training and helped to correct technique) as well as the cheers and support from the rest of the house - had paid off.

Special mention would undoubtedly have to go to the Sixth Formers and Form 5 Internationals, who participated even in the midst of their external exams. And of course, not to forget, much thanks deservedly goes to our dear Housemistress and House Tutors who took the time to supervise every single swimming session.

Yet again, this success proves that we dragons can really do it all!

IRINAH DYNAMITES! DON’T MESS WITH DYNAMITES!

Serena Chew

Football 2012

After a huge success in the House Singing Competition two weeks ago, Irinah’s football team drew up another weekend in perfect style by winning KTJ’s Girls Football Competition this year in both senior and junior categories. As champions in both categories, this competition had indeed strengthened our relationship and revived the spirit of togetherness among Irinians.

On Wednesday, 19^th Sept 2012,  the junior team started off by winning the match against Jawahir while the senior team defeated Alia. However, on Saturday, the junior team was defeated by Alia. Nevertheless, with the strong support and encouragement from all the Irinah girls, our junior team devised a new strategy in the final match. Inevitably, our junior team emerged as the champion when they won the final match against Naquiah.

In the senior category, our girls’ hard work paid off when they won the final match against Jawahir on Saturday. Having scored two goals in this match, our girls have indeed displayed the true spirit of teamwork and perseverance in Irinah.

To conclude, the Girls Football Competition had brought the girls together regardless of their roles as players or supporters. Everyone had contributed to the success in this competition and Irinah girls proved that teamwork, dedication and perseverance are the ingredients for success.

IRINAH DYNAMITE, DON’T MESS WITH DYNAMITE!!

Basketball 2012

The hall, jam packed with a sea of faceless spectators, their upturned faces etched with eager anticipation, mingled with anxiety and droplets of salty perspiration. Darting eyes anxiously assessing every insignificant shift of the torso, every sleight of the hand. Occasionally, suppressed cries of outrage resound, interweaving with the brazen shouts of frantic advice and also the muted murmurs of uttered approve from the opposition. Tension congeals in the air - hearts’ a pounding - every individual rooting for their own house. Alas, in the end, some turn away, disappointed and disheartened, for it is a game after-all, with only one winner.

Verdict:

Champions for the juniors were thus Irinah, much to our delight. Proof that hard work for two hours, a few days in a row does indeed pay off.

The well deserved kudos go to the first five players: Zhi Yee, Vincy, Pelly, Ji Min and Jennifer, as well as Raihanah, Li-Ann, Hanna, Jane and the rest of the group for this success is evidently a group effort.

Unfortunately, our seniors - Pek Min, Dory, Tassya, Uzo, Syaza, to name a few - who had exhausted themselves arduously in the valiant attempt to be a little bit more than a mere measuring up, were only able to achieve second place. The honour of the aforementioned title, goes to Alia instead. However, this does not in anyway dampen our spirits nor reverse our firm opinions towards anti housism - a term familiar perhaps to only those in Kolej Tuanku Jaafar.

In a nutshell, it was a brilliant three day rush of adrenaline. Everyone contributed in their own way, be it seemingly paltry or negligible, feverishly cheering was not at all simple, mind you.

Already we are eagerly anticipating next year’s match! IRINAH DYNAMITE!!