Boys’ Football
A busy term of football saw 12 sides consisting of around 180 boys from year 9 to year 13 playing every weekend against strong opposition. Highlights include the 1st XI were runners-up at the Independent Schools’ Six Aside Competition and are unbeaten and well placed within the HUDL league to go on and try to win the competition in the New Year after excellent wins against Bede’s, Royal Russell and draws against Hampton and Charterhouse. They are also looking to progress in both the Sussex County Cup and the London Cup next term. Meanwhile our U13s are through to the Independent Schools’ Cup quarter finals and to the Sussex County Cup quarters finals. Well done to every footballer who has participated this term – we’ve seen some fantastic football at every level.
Jordan Rollings, Head of Football & Head of Cricket
Girls’ Football
The term has also been very successful for the girls’ football teams with the U18s reaching the quarter finals of the Independent Schools’ Football Association Cup beating Bede’s, Charterhouse and Alleyn’s to reach it. They also reached the quarter final of the Sussex County Cup to face a tough tie against Cardinal Newman. The U16s are also through to the quarter finals of the Sussex County Cup after a nerve-wracking game against Patcham High, going all the ways to penalties and needing heroics from Emily Chance to save three penalties to get through! They now play Peacehaven Community School in the next round. The U15s are also still in their national competition after beating St John’s, Leatherhead to set up a quarter final derby against Bede’s. Overall, it’s been a fantastic term for girls’ football, with some great building blocks now in place for the year to come.
Carl Pennifold, Head of Girls’ Football
Hockey
Girls’ hockey has had an excellent term with more and more students participating in regular fixtures. In terms of key successes, it has been excellent to see positive win rates for the 3rd, U15A and U14B teams, as well as the 1st XI who continued to gain national recognition. The 1st XI once again had an extremely strong year and, for the first time, will have a programme that runs into the Lent term thanks to their commitment and success over the past year. Their highlights include a run to the National Cup Quarter Final with a thrilling game against Eastbourne and 5-3 win watched by a massive crowd of pupils and staff cheering on the girls.
Individual success continued for Biba Mills (England U16) who, along with Connie Penlington, made debuts in the Women’s Premier League with National Champions Club team, East Grinstead Hockey Club. Joining Biba in the England U16 squad this year is Remove student Evie Whitehead, as well as Isla Johnson who continues to be assessed at this level in the hope of making the squad at the next stage of selection. On the boy’s side the 1st Team indoor squad lost out by one goal in the South of England Indoor final and Josiah Wood has been selected for England U16 boys.
Congratulations to all the pupils mentioned for their individual achievements and to all the teams for their collective successes.
Joe Naughalty, Head of Hockey
Swimming
Many congratulations to our swimmers on a very successful term. A key highlight was a fantastic weekend at the English Schools’ Swimming Association Championship (ESSA) where our Intermediate Boys (Years 9 and 10) made history by becoming the first relay team from Ardingly College ever to win a medal at the ESSAs! They won the silver medal in the National Relay Finals for the 4x50m Freestyle Relay and their Medley team finished 9th overall.
In addition, we’re delighted that six swimmers from Years 7 and 8 have qualified to represent London South at the ISA National Finals. Also, at the ESSA Sussex County qualifiers, Ardingly students won gold medals in both the Medley and Freestyle Relays for Intermediate Boys. Then, just this week, both Alex Andrews and Alex Davis have qualified for the National Winter Championships.
At the Sussex County Winter Championships, a total of 11 pupils (ranging from Year 6 to Year 13) won 27 individual medals between them. In all, we now have 20 full time Ardingly swimmers who compete at County level or above. The future of swimming at Ardingly certainly looks bright!
Karen Pickering MBE, Head of Swimming
Other Sporting Highlights
A shout out to our Fencing Team, who have enjoyed the most successful term in the sport’s history at Ardingly! Their recent win over Tonbridge was a fantastic performance all round. Special thanks go to the squad’s captain Alife Bowers and Kerem Tohma for winning Man of the Match and leading in all three weapons.
Finally, a huge well done to Ella Geiger who is currently in Brazil representing Great Britain, kite-boarding at the Youth Sailing World Championships. This is the third successive year that Ella has been selected to compete at the Youth Sailing World Championships. Kite-boarding in Brazil is certainly a very long way from watersports at the Ardingly reservoir.
