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Performance

With few competitions concluding this term, the highlight on the national stage was perhaps the U15 Boys Tennis Team finishing runners-up to Reed's School in the National Schools Indoor Championships in Bolton. The Team of Scott Clayton, Tim McLarty, Gibra'el Teja and Yuvraj Kumar, supported by 5th man Jack Keyes, and coached by Mr Thomas and Mr Hamar tied the final 3 rubbers all, only losing out in a Champions Tie Break 10-8. They brought back much positive to work on as they progress towards seniors.

In Athletics, James Lelliot won the National U17 Octathlon, with a remarkable 5 other Millfieldians in the top 25! Our Riders placed 5th in the Team Competition at the National Schools Jumping with Style Championships at Keysoe, after Christie Foote, Olivia Aulton and Charlotte Bonnar had all placed in the regional round earlier in the term. And our Rugby Union Teams faired strongly, with the 1st XV dropping just one match in a fixture list featuring the best from schools and colleges, the 2nd XV holding top spot in the "schoolsrugby.co.uk" table and England Performance League, and the U16Bs ending the term unbeaten!

Our Clay Shooters visited Edinburgh for the Scottish Schools Championships and won both boys and girls trophies as well as high guns and top skeet prize - though unfortunately were unable to actually bring the prizes back across the border, having kindly been accepted as guests in the competition!

Our regional successes were highlighted none more so than by the dominance of our hockey girls qualifying for all available national finals by winning West Regional Titles at U16 and U18 Outdoors and U16 and U18 Indoors, and placing 2nd in U14 Outdoors while remaining unbeaten. Many congratulations to all involved, and particular mention to Coach Mr Keates for his unstinting commitment and guidance. Our hockey boys also won the U18 West Regional Indoor Championships, and will kick off preparations for their heavier term with a pre-term tournament at Uppingham.

Equally, our Swimmers won 23 Gold, 38 Silver and 17 Bronze medals at the South West Short Course Championships and topped both 1st and 2nd rounds of the Arena League. In qualifying for the English Schools relay Finals, they won 8 of 12 events, setting 6 meet records and 3 national records along the way.

Regional successes were also achieved by our Boys A Badminton Team, who topped Somerset Division 2 to earn promotion to Division 1 next term; our U15 girls Trampolining finishing 3rd in the South West Novice Category, and Seb Baxter-Allen with 2nd in the Individual U15 Boys Novice; our boys Cross Country Team, who won their County Championships, led by an individual 1st place for Sam Bedford; our 1st Team and U16 Netballers, who won County titles to progress to Regionals; and our Golf boys, who have reached the South West Regional Finals, unfortunately at the expense of our girls! Further teams have progressed to the last 8 or better of their respective national cups, including the Football 1st XI (awaiting their semi final in the Independent Schools and last 16 round in the English Schools Cups) and U15As (independent Schools FA); and our U15 and U19 Girls Squash.

Not surprisingly, the above successes have led to many individual honours and selections for our pupils: Marwan Elshorbagy won the Egyptian U17 Squash Championships to assume the age-group World Number 1 ranking, with Aditya Zaveri winning the Indian U19 title, Fiona Murphy the Swiss U15 title, Daniel Poleschuk the London U17 Open; Megan Owens represented Wales Senior Team at the Chess Olympiad having placed 50th at the World U14 Junior Championships in Turkey; Stef Williams trialled for Wales' Senior Indoor Hockey Team and played U18s outdoors, while Harry Gibson and Jess Orrett made respective England U18 Squads outdoors; Max Smith was selected for the England Golf's A Squad, with both Ben Taylor and Melissa McMahon being recognised at U18 level; James Lelliot represented England Schools Athletics in multi events; Tom Hurley has been selected for the English Schools U18 Football Squad and, along with Craig Laird, the Independent Schools U18 Team; Henry Thomas played Rugby for both U18 and U20 England Teams, and James Bloxham captained Somerset's U16s; Lottie Hagemann was selected to train with the English Schools Ski Racing Team; Tristan Slater represented British Schools Swimming at the World School Games in Doha, and Morgyn Peters and Joanna Cranford took medals at the Disability Swimming England Championships; Morgan Vondee and Stuart Dixon were selected to the GB U20 Sabre Squad; Arthur Lanigan-O'Keeffe, Greg Longden and Michelle Barratt received Youth Honours in Pentathlon from Ireland, Britain and Latvia respectively; Ffion Thompson was selected for England U14 Rounders; and Sophie Nelson, Katy Hancock, Charlie Cohen and Scott Clayton all represented their Senior Teams in County Cup Tennis.

Across the School, pupils earned 7 Bronze, 4 Silver and 3 Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards, the latter going to Bethany Cluer, Dan Cheers and George Powell. Moreover, 6 OMs also completed their Gold Award, receiving their medals from the Earl of Wessex at St James' Palace. And Jay Pepera, Veronika Ostreyko and Natasha Hotung received Millfield's first ever Dance Colours.

Participation

The term also saw a new format in House Matches, with each individual house being represented, creating greater participation in both participants and spectators! The House Cross Country was perhaps the epitome, with every pupil taking part, leading to Team wins for Southfield (Year 9 Girls), Kernick (Y10G), Abbey (Y11G), Martins (6G), Mill (Y9B), Orchards (Y10B and 6B) and Rookery (Y11B). Individual races in Years 9, 10, 11 and 6th Form were won by Kate Rushmer, Venetia Manuel Emily Fitz-Hugh, Lucy Titchin, George Lavallin, Sam Bedford, David Shepperd and Greg Longden, respectively.

Other successes were also spread broadly across Houses, with St Anne's claiming the Junior Boys Badminton, Butleigh the Senior Boys Badminton and Boys Chess, Southfield the Senior Girls Badminton, Abbey and Kernick the Junior and Senior Netball, Mill and Orchards the Junior and Senior Boys Hockey, and Shapwick and Millfield the Junior and Senior Boys Squash.

We will continue to examine the array of opportunities available to all pupils, aiming to provide the balance between elite achievement and engaging participation. Over 130 boys regularly turn out in Rugby Union Teams, 106 girls and boys are registered across 18 dance classes, 80 pupils are formally in Swimming Squads, and our 10 Netball Teams have played 60 fixtures! Numbers are growing in Ski Racing and Clay Shooting, and participation in Chess Enrichment and Self Defence can potentially lead to further uptake in their competitive disciplines. Since September, 77 new pupils have signed up for Duke of Edinburgh Awards, including 14 at Gold.

At the same time - despite their success - we have struggled at times to fill Hockey Teams, and Cross Country representation has struggled against other sports. These are areas that we need to consider to ensure we honour those who are committed.

Sports Development

Several of our staff have been busy developing themselves during the term, with Mrs Mitchell achieving her Level 4 Trampoline Coaches Award and undertaking the same in Netball, and being voted Netball South West Coach of the Year for 2009 - congratulations! Ms Collins has enrolled as a British Swimming Level 3 Candidate, Mr Shelver attained his RFU Level 2 Coaches Award, Mr Holmes his Level 1 Hockey Coaches Award, Mr Sinclair a Premier Training Diploma in Strength and Conditioning, Mr Simcox attended the British Tennis Coaches Conference, Mr Wilsher attended UK Sport's World Class Coaching Conference, and Mr Bond ran a variety of certified training to ensure the safety of our Outdoor Activities.

We have also benefitted from external expertise such as visiting international or professional coaches in Hockey, Football and Rugby Union, and have initiated regular meetings of the sports staff to share best practise and learn from outside. In December we were joined by Simon Timson and (OM) David Graveney from the ECB, and in January Alison Oliver (Director of Sport for the Youth Sport Trust and OM) will present her thoughts for School Sport and Olympic Legacy. In addition, Mr Finck gave a keynote presentation to the South West Regional Swim Coaches Conference, and Mr Maw the keynote at the BASES Annual Conference.

In the Community, perhaps the highlight of the Term has been the inception of the Greatwood Horse Power Program, bringing special needs children to the School to develop life skills and emotional literacy through interaction with horses. Thanks to all the staff at the Equestrian Centre for their engagement with this. We also hosted the Millfield Chess International, bringing 140 youngsters together from 11 Schools. Further of our facilities (e.g. Track, Astro, Tennis and Halls) continue to be used extensively by local clubs, and our Outdoors program has this Term provided used tents for local Scouts. We have hosted Prep School Tournaments in Hockey and Rugby Union, perhaps highlighted by the hospitality provided for the Prep School Barbarians Rugby who graced the Jubilee Pitch.

Finally - and to be encouraged and grown - we have seen demonstrations of Pupil Leadership, for example with the Equestrian Riders' Forum, who organised their own end-of-term Christmas Show, and the 6th Form Fencers helping to referee local junior competitions. Next Term will see the launch of a "Captains' Table", with Sports Captains coming together to learn from invited guests, discuss their roles, and share practises to take back to their peers.

GJM

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