The week in sport

Queen Margaret's Senior Invitational Netball tournament

On Wednesday, we hosted our annual Senior Invitational Netball tournament. 27 Northern teams descended on QM - with RGS Newcastle in the North, Sedbergh in the West, Hymers in the East, Worksop from the South, and many more in between. There was early doubt over the miserable British weather, but the decision to go ahead was certainly worth it as the light rain was not enough to spoil this well-attended and high-quality tournament.

This event is a feature of many schools' calendars as it is the final time the UVI girls represent their school, so emotions are always high. The standard on show was impressive, with the 1st VII including the National School Finalist Woodhouse Grove - it certainly was an afternoon of quality Netball.

Every pool in the 1st & 2nd VII tournaments came down to the final games of the pool stages. Our 1st VII played; Ampleforth College, Barnard Castle, Greenhead College, RGS Newcastle, Sedbergh and Woodhouse Grove. A tough group with the finalists both coming from this group.

Captain Jen, and V/C Lucy were unable to drive their team to success, but they did have a good win over RGS Newcastle which I'm sure Mrs Baillie is proud of. This was also the very last QM game for Jennifer, Lucy, Florence, Alexandra, and Harriette, and they must be thanked for their dedication to QM Netball over the years.

The semi-finals saw Woodhouse Grove v Hymers College & St Peter's v Sedbergh resulting in a Woodhouse Grove v Sedbergh final.

In the 2nd VII tournaments, Woodhouse Grove v Sedbergh and Greenhead College v Hymers College resulted in a Woodhouse Grove v Greenhead final.

Both finals were played on the hard court in front of a supportive crowd with the daffodils shining in the late sunshine! The finals are always a highly contested match and it went down to the wire on both finals - each resulting in a 10-9 win for Greenhead College and Sedbergh who overcame their pool loss to take the win.

A BIG thank you to Mr Allison, the ground staff, and Catering who, without their hard work and support, events such as these could not happen.

Mrs Jill Rastall

Running Club Celebration

On Wednesday the Running Club, organised by Upper Sixth Form student Pau, held a competition where club members could win a prize. The competition wasn't just about podium finishes; all those who had shown commitment to the club received a prize too! Well done Pau for your club's organisation and generosity with the prizes.

Lacrosse News Beyond QM

Good Luck to sisters Celia and Elsa, both representing Scotland Lacrosse this Easter break.

As a member of the U18 Scotland team, Cellia will play in the U18 Lacrosse festival which will run alongside the Home Internationals Lacrosse Tournament in Cardiff on the 5th, 6th and 7th of April. They will face the Dragon teams from Wales, Ireland, the North of England U18 A & B teams, the South East of England A & B teams, and the South West of England. They will play four matches during the first two days, followed by a final day of position matches to determine where each team will be placed.

Elsa will be playing in the Home Internationals Lacrosse Tournament on the same weekend, representing Scotland U20. Elsa and the U20 team will face England U20 at 09:00 on Friday 5th April, Wales U20 at 13:00 on Saturday 6th April, and Germany U20 on Sunday at 09:00. These games will be tough matches - I am sure there will be incredible lacrosse on display!

We look forward to hearing how both players get on, and we will update you all after Easter.

Good luck!

Jude Kilburn
Teacher of Sport, Head of Lacrosse

Sports Dinner Speech 2024

Below you can find a speech presented by Mrs Rastall at the Sports department dinner last night.

It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening to celebrate, not only the sporting scene this academic year, but your contribution to QM sport - especially the UVI; whether that was back in Red House when you first arrived 7 years ago, 3rd year, or anywhere between, or more recently in Sixth Form.

Some of you are QM history makers when, back in 2020, you reached the U14 T3 National Hockey finals and what a special moment this was for the school. Seeing that group of girls play together for the final time this year was something very special to me, and a memory that will last with me; the development and progression you have made on your Hockey journey really demonstrates the power of sport.

As a department, we thank you all for contributing to the success of sport here at QM in all its forms; international, national, regional and county representative honours, 1st VII representative honours, regular attendance at matches, the wonderful South Africa tour - or whether you have taken the opportunities given to you, to develop your interests for lifelong learning and participation for physical activity and Sport. Thank you.

As we gather here tonight to celebrate the successes of all of you who have contributed to QM Sport and physical activity, I thought it would be appropriate to link this to our theme: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part. Just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

Take a moment to reflect on the sporting year; you may not have won some of your games, matches or tournaments. You may not have achieved that personal best time. But did you fight until that final whistle? Did you give it your all and leave the shirt in a better place?

For some of you, you are coming to the end of your sporting efforts here at QM, this is only the start of your future endeavours in sport. Within the past month I have met and learnt about old girls who have found success in new sports.

Last year’s head girl Megan is now rowing for Nottingham; Nayama continues with her Lacrosse for Newcastle University and was only here yesterday after playing in York earlier in the day to see how her successors are continuing achievements wearing the QM badge; and girls are working in other countries while on placement, joining clubs to continue their sporting interests. How nice it was to have a blast from the past when, sat in my spinning class, an OM who toured Barbados with me back in 2012 visited and told me how sport is still an important part of her life and she was inspired by those who taught her. She also said that the things she learnt here at QM are one of the main reasons why she continues to play competitively, week in and week out on the hockey pitch.

Female sport is evolving, changes are occurring, but more importantly, the growth of women in sport is exciting. It has not been easy - there are challenges, there are struggles, but for the love of sport and physical activity, it does override all of these challenges. This year’s Paris Olympics will be groundbreaking - for the first time in history, the Olympic Games will achieve gender equality, with the same number of male and female athletes. On top of this, the IOC has placed gender equality directly in the spotlight at the Opening Ceremony, with each team to have one female and one male athlete jointly carrying their flag. This is only positive for us all in this room.

As we gather this evening to celebrate our sporting year, I would like to congratulate you all whether prize winners or not. As a small school, we are immensely proud of what you have achieved and we want you to achieve even more in the future. There is a hard-working and dedicated PE department that strives to provide every one of you with opportunities and for you to achieve your best.

A final thought for the evening:

“Natural talent does not determine the limits of your athletic potential. It is the dedication and discipline that makes you great”

Congratulations to all prize winners:

Sports Prefect 2023-24: Daisy L

BADMINTON

• Captain’s Award: Karis L
• Player of the Year: Sharon W
• Most Improved: Molly C

HOCKEY

• Captain’s Award: Alex C & Daisy L
• 1st Team Player of the Year: Harriet W
• Most Improved: Zoe U
• Player’s Player: Alex C
• 2nd Team Player of the Year: Lucy C
• 2nd Team Player’s Player: Maisie B

LACROSSE

• Captain: Kitty D
• Player of the Year: Olivia B & Elsa S
• Player’s Player: Elsa S
• Most Improved: Harriet W & Freya F

NETBALL

• Captain’s Award: Jennifer F
• Player of the Year 1st: Harriet W
• Most Improved: Maisie B
• Player's player: Harriet W
• Mavericks A Player of the Season: Jennifer F
• Mavericks B Player of the Season: Poppy R
• Commitment to Mavericks A: Elsa S
• Commitment to Mavericks B: Isabel R

RIDING

• Rider of the Year: Isabella S
• Alexandra C

SWIMMING

• Captain’s Award: Lucy R
• Swimmer of the Year: Amanda L

TENNIS

• Captain’s Award: Florence F

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

• Captain’s Award: Ruby L

Mark Reading Awards

• Junior Lacrosse Player of the Year: Heidi D & Louise B
• Middle School Hockey Player of the Year: Isabel B
• Middle School Netball Player of the Year: Poppy R
• Marshall Junior Swimming Trophy: Emilia R
• Most Improved Lacrosse Player (Year I-IV): Heidi S
• Most Improved Hockey Player (Year I-IV): Amelia B
• Most Improved Netball Player (Year I-IV): Phoebe S
• Most Improved Swimmer of the Year (I -IV): Amy A

Teams of the Term(s)

Badminton:

• Eunice L and Eunice P
• Sharon and Karis
• Michelle and Chloe
• Dora and Candy

Hockey:

1. Amelia B
2. Imogen W
3. Bronwyn G
4. Pippa C
5. Emily R
6. Lucinda O'G
7. Celia S
8. Frances W
9. Louise B
10. Florrie T
11. Faith L

Fixtures

Sunday 17th March 2024

Fixture: Lacrosse Super Counties Tournament at Moreton Hall

Results:

U15 A North 1st Place

U18A North 2nd place

U18B North 4th place

U15 B North 4th place.

The North scores all added together, and we came 2nd in the Super Counties Tournament.

Representing U18B North was Olivia B

Represent U15 B North were Isabel B, Isabel R, Celia S and Izzy A.

Izzy A was awarded Most Valuable Player for the U15B North team. Congratulations Izzy!

Monday 18th March 2024

Fixture: QM Mavericks A vs. Millers Thunder

Score: Lost 39-22

Player of the Match (POM): Not specified

Report:

The last fixture of the season witnessed QM Mavericks A facing off against Millers Thunder on the road. The A team initiated the game on a positive note, displaying promising performance. However, as the match unfolded, the team encountered difficulties maintaining possession, allowing Millers Thunder to capitalise on the situation and surge ahead, ultimately securing the victory.

It marked a challenging final encounter against a physically imposing opponent as we bid farewell to some of the UVI Mavericks players.

Click here to see the archive of past Sports Reviews.

Your Sporting Stories

If you have any summer sporting success stories we would love to hear them. There is so much talent at QM and we love to celebrate your achievements outside school with the QM Family. Be sure to share your news with the Sports Department or email marketing@queenmargarets.com.