The week in sport

Read the latest sporting news from Queen Margaret's.

The QM Sports Ground has seen plenty of action over the summer break, with Pre-Season Hockey Training, our annual Summer Tennis Camps and All Out Sports Coaching also holding their Holiday Camps onsite. Elsewhere, the QM girls have made the most of the break to progress in their sports (read Freya's story below). We're pleased to announce this year's Sports Captains, and there's also a reminder about our South African Sports Tour.

2022/23 Sports Prefect and Captains

We are pleased to officially welcome our 2022/23 Sports Captains who will be led by the Sports Prefect, Kitty East, for this academic year. They are:

Clubs, Enrichment and Squad Practice

We are putting the final touches together on the schedule for sports clubs and practice sessions. Girls will be sent the overview for the week and a timetable will be displayed in house. We are hoping many girls will embrace the newly branded "wellbeing hour" at lunchtime to get the recommended daily physical activity levels which are so important to us all no matter experience or ability. Netball will be on Monday evenings, Hockey on Tuesdays and Lacrosse on Thursday evenings during the enrichment slot. These sessions are open to all.

OPRO Mouthguard Reminder

A reminder that it is mandatory for girls to wear a mouthguard when participating in Hockey or Lacrosse. We work with OPRO, who are the largest manufacturers of Custom-Fit mouthguards in the world. OPRO have launched their revolutionary Instant Custom-Fit mouthguard which is a dentist level mouthguard that can be fitted at home. The kits can be delivered to school for boarders and QM students are entitled to a 10% discount (the discount code was emailed to parents but please get in touch if you need a reminder).

Order an OPRO Mouthguard at: https://opro.info/QueenMargarets

South Africa Sports Tour - August 2023

Open to all current Year IV, V and LVI girls.

A reminder of a fabulous opportunity we are offering for next year's pre-season training. The tour to South Africa is open to any girl currently in Years IV, V, and LVI. Can we tempt you on a trip of a lifetime?! Be quick as the deadline to confirm is Leave Out weekend. Once this date arrives the finer details and tickets will be booked. This is a Netball and Hockey tour with matches against South African clubs and schools. Alongside the Hockey and Netball experience, this trip is also an opportunity for students to experience the culture of a different country through a variety of excursions and experiencing the South African climate and lifestyle - excursions include Table Mountain, Robben Island, Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Whale Watching and Escorted Game Drives.

If you would like further information, the tour letter is available on the Parent Portal (further information can also be obtained from Mrs Rastall) and you can view the tour itinerary here. Permission forms and deposits are required by Monday 26th September.

Pre-Season Hockey Training

Mrs Rastall writes "It was fabulous to welcome 43 girls from Years I - LVI to Pre-Season Hockey Training during the last week of the summer holidays. There was a welcoming atmosphere on the AstroTurf and each and every girl contributed to this. For the new girls it was daunting and some girls were extremely nervous when they arrived, but it didn't take long for the giggles and jokes to be flowing. From team building activities to skill development, each and every girl progressed throughout the training and this was evident in the matches at the end of day two. It was a pleasure to spend the two days with all the girls but especially to get to know the new starters, which has made the start of term so much easier for us.

Prestigious Invitation for Mrs Mitchell

After receiving her LTA Meritorious Award last year, QM's Head of Racquets, Karen Mitchell received a special invitation during the summer. She was invited to Wimbledon to the LTA President's Lunch and had a wonderful trip with her eldest daughter where she received lunch, afternoon tea and had tickets for Centre Court. During lunch she was presented with a frame of her award which is a photo of her and the LTA President, David Rawlinson.

Freya's Summer Eventing Success

"In June 2022, a couple of days before we broke up for school for the summer, I found out that I had been selected as part of the British Eventing U18s 90cm team to represent The North. Abbie and I had trained hard throughout the year and had to qualify at various events to even be considered. It is hotly contested to get into the team, so to be selected in my first full season eventing with Abbie was a huge honour. We had a final training camp at the start of summer holidays in July where the team stayed at an equestrian venue and were given advise and coaching on various different aspects of the Championships. The Championships this year were held at Bishop Burton and hosted 8 regions from throughout the country, with a total of 240 riders competing in three different levels.

When we arrived at the Championships on the Wednesday, our horses have to have a vet inspection and only when your horse passes inspection are you allowed to unload and settle your horse in for the week ahead. The regions are put together in regional camps for horses in pop up stables and owners in their wagons. The next hurdle was the trot up. For this we have to have our horses looking competition ready and plaited up. We wear full competition wear. When you are called, you have to trot your horse up in front of 3 judges and a vet and they either approve or decline if your horse is fit to event. All of this is announced and watched over by competitors and spectators. Once this is passed you can relax, but not for long, before the first stage, which is Dressage, begins.

The Dressage went really well and we finished Day 1 of dressage in 7th out of 40 so far. We had a relaxed and consistent test and scored 30.6. My team, The Northern team, finished the day lying in 1st place. The following day was spent looking after Abbie and watching the remaining 40 riders take their tests. By the end of the second day of Dressage, I was lying in 13th place and our team still in 1st.

After a day off there was much excitement in the air and around camp for the cross country day. The course was long and hilly and quite technical. I didn’t think it looked too big, but my mum thought it did!! We had an amazing ride and stormed the cross country. We were only a second under the optimum time with no time penalties. With only a few points to separate the top 20 it was all to play in the show jumping. At the end of Day 3, I was lying 14th out of the 80 riders.

The Sunday is the finale which brings lots of crowds of spectators along with much anticipation and some nerves from the riders. The course was full up 90cm but getting lots of clear rounds. For those lying in the top position it's a long wait as it goes in reverse order, one of our team members was lying in 1st place so she went last, I went 14th to last. It came to my turn and I went clear. As we didn’t think I would get into the top 3 which is a mounted ceremony, my coach told me to go and put my pony away, which I did. By the time I returned there had been lots of poles down and I was lying in 5th place. two more rounds and more poles were flying and I finished in 3rd place! I had to quickly go and tack up my pony again and come into the arena for a mounted parade. It was an incredible atmosphere with all of our teammates and family cheering and clapping. It really was the most memorable experience I've had and I was so proud of what Abbie and I had achieved. To top it all off, our team won, along with lots of my team mates getting highly placed.

It really was a momentous few days with so many highlights and incredible memories made. We have the most brilliant and talented BE U18 Northern team and I've made so many friends. I feel so lucky to have been part of it all. There was a short holiday for Abbie with plenty of treats but training and our campaign for next year has begun. My place isn’t guaranteed for next year's U18s team but i'll be working hard with Abbie to try to get in the team again next year."

Freya (Year IV)

Since her success at Bishop Burton Freya and Abbie have also qualified for the British Eventing 90 class at the Badminton National Championships. Freya can't wait to ride around a championship course - congratulations!

Upcoming Fixtures

Saturday 17th September

U13 Lacrosse Tournament (Away at Moreton Hall)

U12, U13, U14 & U15 Hockey v Scarborough College (Home and Away)

Tuesday 20th September

1st XI Hockey v Withington Girls' School (Home)

U13 Netball v Scarborough College (Away)

Wednesday 21st September

U16 Hockey v York & District Round of National Schools (Away)

Click here to see the archive of past Sports Reviews.

Your Sporting Stories

Finally, 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.