Sport Roundup - a successful start to Michaelmas Term

Director of Sport Andrew Pembleton reflects on what has been a jam-packed first half term with sport. 

It has been fantastic to see the humdrum of training each afternoon and matches being played in a plethora of sports, through which friendships are made, teams forged; and the ups and downs that build a person's character through triumph and loss. In short: it is great to get back to a sense of normality within school sport!  

The headline statistic for me is always around the opportunity that pupils are offered to represent the school, and we can be justifiably proud to have played over 120 fixtures across all sports in the first half of term. 

Opportunities to participate and exposure allows aspirational pupils to develop and fulfil their potential for their age.

Highlights thus far include: 

Girls’ Cricket 

• Our 1st XI Girls Cricket Team winning the National 100 ball event at the Ageas bowl back in September with a fantastic performance by Captain Harriet S (EDH, UVI).   

Hockey 

• Girls’ Hockey continues to go from strength to strength with 29 fixtures having been played at the time of writing thus far this season.  The Girls 1st XI Hockey won the County title beating Wrekin College enroute to meeting Ellesmere College in the final, the U14’s likewise won their county tournament, and go on to regional competition.  
• The U14, U15, U16 and U18s are all involved in National Competitions.  Harry P (Rt, III) and Sarah L (EDH, IV) have both been selected to train with the U15 West Midlands Performance Centre, as has Sofia C (MSH, IV) and Hugo P (Rt, LVI) at U17 level.   

Lacrosse 

• In Lacrosse the 1st X came 2nd at the Northern Schools Lacrosse tournament which took place in York, after competing well at the Welsh Rally a few weeks previously. 

Football 

• The Boys 1st XI Football team have enjoyed a strong start in the Hudl League beating perennial powerhouse Bradfield College and getting a draw against Millfield School, all in all 67 football fixtures have taken place thus far this term, including the biggest block fixture of our season against Bradfield College where 18 fixtures are played. 

RSSBC 

• The RSSBC has enjoyed the glorious conditions in the first half of the term with plenty of time out on the river. The Boat Club Dinner and VSW races were the two highlights of the term so far. Grove and School House won the house competition for the VSW races with George S (SH, UVI) and Issy T (MSH, UVI) winning overall in the boys and girls events. George followed this up with a win in the J18 event at the Chester Long Distance Sculls race.  
• Livvy E (EDH, UVI) has secured a scholarship to row at Temple University (PA) for 2022. 
• Natalie Dee left in 2021 is at La Salle University (PA). 
• Archie McKirdy (Leaver 2020) has just started at UCal San Diego (CA). 

Tennis 

• Whilst tennis is not usually seen to be a major sport in the Michaelmas term, it has been fantastic to see the continuation of the LTA Youth Schools Competition for Years 9/10 boys teams from the previous term. The team consisting of Tom D (PH, V), Hamish G (PH, V), Giles H (I, V) and Eugene A (Rt, IV) had an excellent first win against Ysgol Dinas Bran School 12-0 and came through a much tighter affair with Litchfield Cathedral School winning 8-4. This has meant that the team has made it through to the Midlands Division 1 Regional Finals. The Shrewsbury school team will compete against Abingdon School, King Edward VI and Repton school to see who will make it through to the National Finals. It has been an excellent start to the term and we look forward to seeing how the team will compete against some of the best tennis schools in the country. 

Fencing 

• Fencing has been stronger than ever this term, with all 3 sessions at capacity.  There are lots of beginners and some returnees to the sport as well as a core group of experienced fencers. 

Badminton 

• The badminton squad was away for the three fixtures and scored big wins: Ellesmere College, Bedstone College and Wrekin College. This competitive squad led by Cecilia L (G, LVI) is growing from strength to strength.   

Rugby

• The 1st XV have played 5 fixtures this season, which has seen them win 2 and lose 3, all matches have been exceptionally competitive with points for 104 and points against 109, opposition has included Wrekin College, King Edwards Aston and King Edwards Five Ways. 

The Hunt 

• The RSSH travelled up to Scotland for the Exeat meeting up with Sedbergh School and Arveck School where they ran up and summited Ben Vorlich at 984m, they then met up with St. Anselm’s School to run the Loch Monzievaird, as well as a night time run and on the final day completing a Park Run.  Well done to all, and special mention to the staff involved in organising and running this event. 

We look forward to seeing what the second half of term has to offer! 

Andrew Pembleton 

Director of Sport