The new year has seen plenty of sporting success and the emergence of some highly promising young players in a range of sports across the school.
The U11 mixed water polo team, comprising boys and girls from Years 5 and 6, have achieved some tremendous results in inter-school fixtures, with a resounding success in a match which for some of the younger members of the team was their first water polo fixture.
Head of Aquatics Sarah Manzi said: “All the players have been putting in brilliant performances. The mixed U11s had a great first match with lots of positives and areas to work on, this team is one to watch!’”
Stanley, Y5, found the experience very inspiring: “I really enjoyed playing in a team with players in the year above and it was a good opportunity to learn from older players. The team gelled really well even though we haven’t played together that many times. We have also watched the U18s team play and they were so good.”
In both team fixtures and individually, there have been notable performances from Colfe’s girls. After emerging from the preliminary rounds undefeated, both the U13 and U15 girls cricket teams cricketers qualified for the Kent County Indoor Cricket Finals, while both the U12 girls’ football and netball teams have enjoyed a run of triumphs.
Enthusiastic athletes have braved the dark mornings to join the senior school’s new Triathlon Club. Training began with a cycling session led by Felix (Y12), Billy (Y11) and Libby (Y12), and the club members are looking forward to progressing to inter-school competition.
Felix explained the background of the new club: “The aim of the club is to expose as many young athletes to the sport of triathlon, which can be a fairly inaccessible sport due to the amount of equipment needed to train and compete in the three disciplines. We have seen lots of interest in the first two sessions alone, with roughly 20 students participating, most of whom are in year 7 and 8. Triathlon is so complex, and there are so many components that go into it. For people new to the sport it can become quite daunting and by helping out at these sessions, I hope to provide knowledge to anyone new to the sport who may be stuggling with anything. The thing I enjoy the most about the club is seeing those new to the sport have fun and develop a genuine interest in triathlon.”
Cyclist Keira (Y10), meanwhile, is sprinting through the county rankings, after securing second place in the latest East Kent Cyclo-Cross League U16 race, coming just behind the current National Champion.
Director of Sport Nicci Rayes said: “It has been another eventful few weeks in the sporting calendar, with particularly pleasing results across the board for girls’ sports and for our youngest water polo team. Team and individual performances have been excellent in our inter-school fixtures and at individual level, where we have many county-level players in a range of sports. The new Triathlon Club is proving extremely popular and we look forward to seeing how our athletes progress with this, both in representing the school and in individual challenges.”
