GIRLS’ SPORTS REPORTS 08/05/17

ATHLETICS

HMC Athletics – Gateshead Stadium
On Wednesday 3rd May the Athletics team made their way across to the Gateshead International Stadium to compete in the North HMC Championships, with schools such as Barnard Castle, Bradford Grammar, Leeds Grammar School and Newcastle School for Boys in attendance to name four. Our Athletes acquitted themselves really well and the following successes were a highlight;

• Joshua Hodge winning the Senior Boys Javelin with 45 metres
• Tom Russell winning the Intermediate Boys Hammer with 28 metres 90.
• Alex Duckitt winning the intermediate girls 1500m in 5 mins 26
• George Rigal winning the Intermediate Boys 800m in 2 mins 08
• Rin Murata winning the Senior boys 110 metre hurdles in 17.6 seconds
• Scout Turner Richards winning the Junior girls 75metre hurdles in 13.6 seconds
• Jose Coulthard winning the senior girls 400m in 57 seconds
• Elle Heathcote winning the intermediate girls 300m in 44.3 seconds
• Charlie Graham winning the senior boys 200m in 23.5 seconds

But one person to mention was Boys Athletics Captain Fergus MacMillan who not only won the Senior boys 1500m (4.24 mins) but also the senior boys 800m in 2.05 mins.

A very positive day for the Athletics club and we now look forward to next Wednesdays ESAA Track and Field cup for years 9 and 10. PJEC

Combined Events Cumbria Championships – Copeland Stadium

A team of novice multi-eventers were taken to Whitehaven to test their mettle against the best in Cumbria. Our athletes rose to the occasion and over the two days they performed admirably in a range of track and field disciplines.

Natasha Cookson started off by leading our junior girls to 3rd place individually in the pentathlon and 2nd in the team standings; a fantastic effort from Natasha, Scout Turner-Richards and India Haydon-Wood in a series of unfamiliar events. 

The intermediate girls of Emily Dignan, Alex Duckitt and Elle Heathcote were up against some very stiff competition in the heptathlon but managed to decimate the team competition to take 1st place by over 1,000 points; in the individual competition the girls finished 4th, 5th and 8th place. 

Matt Cooney finished top of the junior boy’s podium with Max Lawson a very creditable 6th. 

Ben Burridge finished 2nd in the intermediate boys octathlon with very consistent performances across the board, and Josh Hodge won the senior boys Decathlon; a throw of near 50m in the javelin the highlight of his series. 

Selection for the North of England championships is to follow for our athletes. In a very busy week, all pupils performed heroically across the two days and represented the school and the team exceptionally well.   CW

TENNIS

Aberdare Senior National Cup v RGS Newcastle – 2nd Round – Won 12-0
A dominant performance with competitive matches where we won all singles and doubles matches. Congratulations to Hollings, Burns, Boddy and Boyd- Moss. They now progress to the 3rd round. Alice and Lotte played against higher ranked players so did particularly well.  12-0 win.  HJC

Bradford Grammar 1st VI Tournament – Lost in the Cup semi finals to Ampleforth
The girls were dominant in their group winning all matches bar one where our 3rds lost to Queen Margaret’s and we won our group. We played Ampleforth in the semi-final who just edged Pocklington. Unfortunately we lost 3-6, 3-6, 3-6 with all our pairs against a strong Ampleforth team. HJC

U15 VI & U14 VI Teams v Giggleswick – Won 13-2
A comprehensive win for our 7 top junior pairs, Sedbergh showing their strength in depth with some superb displays of hitting and closing out the games with accurate final shots.  Some serving areas to develop but a good dominant display against our local rivals.  LS

U15 VI & U14 VI Teams v Stonyhurst – Won 21-1
Another dominant display by 12 Sedbergh junior pairs, played in great spirit the outcome was never in doubt with Sedbergh showing superior hitting strength and accuracy. Playing without our No 1 pairing of Hollings and Burns the remaining Sedbergh girls rose to the challenge and Year 9 pairing Kanevskaya and Thompson ensured that the winning streak continued beating Stonyhurst’s 1st pair 6-4 in a tight contest.  Well done to all 24 players who were graceful in competition despite winning many sets to love.  LS

Aegon U15 National Cup v QEGS Penrith – U15A IV & U15B IV – Both won
A convincing display by our Aegon A and B teams to beat QEGS Penrith easily away from home.  Outstanding serving, rallying and volleying ensured that the two Sedbergh teams came home with a 12-0 and a 10-2 win.  Lots of local fixtures to complete in this competition before hopefully qualifying for the regional competition.  LS

ROUNDERS

Interhouse Rounders:
Seniors A – Winners Lupton
Seniors B – Winners Lupton
Seniors C – Winners Lupton
Junior A – Winners Carus
Junior B – Winners Lupton

An excellent day in the sunshine with both elite and recreational rounders on show with over 45 girls playing from each house.  Big hits from Lupton ensured that they secured the Senior A trophy and slick fielding and accurate hitting from Carus gave them their first junior interhouse sporting win ever, a strong history making team.

EQUESTRIAN

National County Show Jumping Championships, Buckinghamshire 22/23 April
Sedbergh’s Equestrian Team travelled six and a half hours again to Buckinghamshire for the National County Show Jumping Championships.  

The Team included Grace Gale and Scarlet Holden from our Prep School with Laura Holley, Jack Rigal and Elizabeth Gale from our Senior School.  They represented Cumbria against the best schools from each county from all over the UK, including many GB Show Jumpers.   Sedbergh was the only school to be represented at every height from 70cm, 80cm, 90cm, 1m and 1m 10 after qualifying in January in the North East which was fantastic.  

Each class had approximately fifty counties competing with teams of four, making approximately 200 competitors per class and over 1193 rounds of jumping over the two days.

Each class included a technical and up to height round of show jumps in the outside and indoor international arenas with plenty for the horses to look at.

The organisers increased the standard of the competition by bringing in two international course designers to design technical and testing courses for each class which meant there were few clears and it caused a lot of difficulties. Each of the two courses had twelve fences which is a long route to remember.  

70cm warm up – 5th Laura Holley
70cm Team – Laura Holley got the 2nd fastest time in whole class but sadly had a pole down. 
80cm Team – Grace Gale came 6th individually out of 200 riders.  Team 16th.  
90cm Team – Jack Rigal did two top rounds but the team incurred some faults.
1m – Elizabeth Gale finished 5th in country against many GB riders.  She got the fastest jump off time, an incredible achievement.
1m 10 – Elizabeth Gale completed the course of huge fences but was not in the time with a tired horse. 

The commitment shown by equine athletes and parents this weekend was astonishing.  Parents and riders stayed in the back of their cold lorries with basic amenities and were up at 5am after little sleep to see to their horses and get ready for back to back classes.  The Sedbergh Teams were immaculately turned out every day.  

A special mention to the Gale Family who were there at the Championships for two and half days with four horses to look after.  The team spirit and camaraderie is second to none. Elizabeth Gale was such a huge help to our youngest rider Scarlett Holden, who had a bad fall in the warm up arena but with Elizabeth’s help, completed the competition. Thank you to all our supportive parents and riders who showed true commitment to representing Sedbergh this weekend.