By Carman Chew (17A01D), Photos from Raffles Photography
Back by popular demand, the Founder’s Day Carnival 2016 will be held on the 23rd of July, 8am to 12.30 pm packed with a variety of carnival rides, sports events and even indoor games for the hermits at heart. With an approaching deadline for sign-ups, Press is here to offer more insight into some of the exciting activities available for everyone.
FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE
If you’re looking to race against your friends on a gruelling obstacle course — or even Mr Tan Boon Poh — then the Centurion Challenge is just for you. Happening any time from 8 to 11am, this adaptation of a spartan race and Ninja Warrior requires participants to whizz around the Y5-6 main field to overcome a set of various obstacles. One can group up with 3 classmates or CCA mates to conquer the course. If you’re feeling fearless, don’t be afraid to step up and overcome this mammoth challenge alone
Should this draining exercise repel you, there are also other amusing activities in the Olympian booths, including games like nerf gun shooting and archery tag. Being hot favourites last year, bloop soccer and zorb ball racing are back. These would be held in the cages and 2nd field respectively. Bloop soccer is a game of soccer with a twist, where participants are wrapped up in an inflatable ring, making way for comical scenes when players bump each other over while charging for the ball. Similarly, players in the zorb ball races are encased in giant hamster balls as they skid down a slippery track.
Cheeky participants peeking out of the bloop soccer bubble
Happening concurrently would be the carnival games from Uncle Ringo, including classic rides like the rodeo bull which test your ability to cling on with all you’ve got. Put your sense of balance to the test too, with games like wave surfer and wipeout. Lastly, the team event, human foosball, tests coordination and group skill.
A student falling off the rodeo bull. This is a stunning parallel to how we ourselves fall from our own high horses after the CTs.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE DYING TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS
For music enthusiasts, the finals for Raffles Illuminate will be held at the MPH from 9 to 11. There, 6 acts will battle it out for the 4 places in the finals, where they’ll get the chance to perform a final piece to win over prestigious local artistes, Jack and Rai. On top of being the judges for the event, the duo will also be performing songs of their own. So come on down to support your friends or just swing to the groove of the music.
If singing is not for you, then why not support your house at Danze Mania? This inter-house challenge will be held at the ISH, where you can get the chance to learn a mass dance from our very own Street Dance alumni. The house with the most number of participants throughout the 2 hour marathon will win. The music will start at 10am and no sign ups are required.
FOR THOSE WHO JUST WANNA HAVE FUN
While there are fun games in the sun, such as 5v5 Ultimate, By the Shaw offers a refreshing mix of both. Head on down to the pools to cheer your friends on! Happening from 8 to 11am, there will be a fast-paced game of water volleyball, where players form teams to have a smashing and splashing good time. Team size and duration would vary on demand.
Rafflesians enjoying an intense game of water volleyball.
FOR THOSE JUST LOOKING FOR A RESPITE INDOORS
Perhaps you are allergic to the sun and to any form of perspiration, but don’t sweat because there are still several indoor games to appeal to you. From 10am to 12 noon, the blue room and innovation centre will be set apart for a mind-boggling Escape Room. Work with your friends in groups of 5 to solve baffling puzzles, find hidden clues and ultimately escape the glass prison.
Two students trying to break the code.
If that still isn’t passive enough for you, why not visit the Board Room, which offers a diverse range of card and board games. Thank the heavens, board game enthusiasts may say, that Monopoly isn’t one of the games. There are a total of 9 games offered in the Hodge Lodge, including the more well-known Saboteur and Pandemic. On top of that, there will other more obscure games to choose from such as Chinatown and One Night Ultimate Werewolf.
Deadlines for sign-ups have been extended to the 20th of July and they are on a first-come-first-serve basis. Of course, students are not limited to only one activity and walk-in sign-ups are more than welcome. Mr Iqbal, one of the organizers of the event, says that the carnival aims to “bring the school together to celebrate Founder’s Day as [one] big family”. So go forth, enjoy and have fun at the Founders’ Day Carnival.
