Honours
Millfield is justifiably proud of its reputation as the best sporting school in Britain.
This reputation has been gained through the collection of many national championships titles over the years in a variety of sports, and also by the achievements of many famous former pupils.
Millfield’s philosophy, however, has always been sport for all. We believe the provision of a healthy level of exercise and activity is essential to the wellbeing of our pupils. The top teams and elite sportsmen and women are great role models, but the many other teams and competitors who turn out for the school with great determination and enthusiasm are at the heart of Millfield’s sporting success.
All these qualities are recognised at the annual Millfield Sports Awards and Colours Dinner, where achievement and commitment is rewarded and the sporting year celebrated. Read about the 2013 awards here.
National and international success
In recent years Millfield teams have won national championships in girls’ athletics, cricket, football, golf, hockey, modern pentathlon, tetrathlon, rugby and rugby 7s, boys’ and girls’ squash and girls’ tennis. Millfield pupils have also enjoyed success on the world stage, either representing their countries in team or individual sports or winning medals in international competition.
Many internationally renowned sportsmen and women received their early coaching at Millfield. Rugby players include Wales legend JPR Williams and his compatriot and Lions star Gareth Edwards, England captain Chris Robshaw and 2013 Lions player Mako Vunipola. Old Millfieldian Pam Cookey recently capatined the England netball team to a historic series win over world champions Australia. In cricket Ashes winner Simon Jones, World T20 champion Craig Kieswetter and his former batting partner, West Indies opener Kieran Powell, are among a host of current First Class level players that attended the school. Then there are the Olympians.
Olympic legacy
Millfield has been represented at every Olympic games since 1956. In total 63 athletes have competed at the Olympic and Paralympics, representing nine different countries and winning 17 medals. Eight of these Millfield Olympians competed while still at the school.
Swimmer Duncan Goodhew won gold and bronze in Moscow 1980; hockey player Stephen Batchelor won gold in LA 1984 and bronze in Séoul 1988; and Mary Bignal Rand made history by winning gold, silver and bronze at the 1964 Tokyo games - in long jump, pentathlon and 4x100m relay respectively. Nine Millfieldians, including Paralympian and current pupil Morgyn Peters, competed at London 2012, with rower Helen Glover and shooter Peter Wilson claiming two of the first four gold medals for Team GB.
The school looks forward to some of its finest sportsmen and women taking part in the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Captain Robbie Tait lifts the St Joseph's College 2012 National Schools Rugby Festival trophy
Upper Sixth pupil Harriet Dixon won silver in the Women's Sabre at the 2012 British Fencing Championships
Team GB's Old Millfieldian gold medal winners from London 2012, Helen Glover and Peter Wilson