Sport Round Up - January 2025

In Athletics, Lower Sixth Tom Webb delivered an exceptional run at the Telford 10k, recording the fastest time in the UK for his age group in over 20 years.  

Upper Sixth Eden Robinson has been selected as part of the British Athletics Futures programme. UKA Futures is a programme supported by Nike and delivered in partnership with the Home Country Athletics Federations. It is focused on supporting athletes and coaches who have demonstrated the potential to succeed at future Olympic Games. 

Upper Sixth Tiana Rizzo has been invited to compete at the UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham on 22 February following a fine 60m race at the New Year meet in Lee Valley, clocking 7.65s.

Year 11 Mimi Woodliffe competed at the Welsh Open meet in Cardiff, coming fifth overall and third in the England competitors with a time of 9.69 in the 60m hurdles.

Nineteen Millfield students represented the Mendip Schools area in the Somerset Schools Cross Country championships at RNAS Merryfield. Podium finishes were as follows: second in the Intermediate Girls for Year 10 Hope Lewis, second Senior Girls for Upper Sixth Annabelle Souter, second for Upper Sixth Nate Ground and third for Lower Sixth Lottie Quinn. Well done to all the following students on their performances: fourth in the Junior Boys was Year 9 Raphael Selby, fourth in the Intermediate Boys was Year 10 Sam Jackson, fourth in the Senior Girls was Upper Sixth Erin Shepherd, fourth in the Senior Girls was Lower Sixth Abigail Bushell, sixth in the Intermediate Boys was Year 11 Jasper Girven, seventh in the Senior Girls was Lower Sixth Eva Herbertson, ninth in the Intermediate Girls was Year 10 Ruby Bodman, 10th in the Intermediate Girls was Year 10 Vienna Townsend, 11th in the Junior Boys was Year 9 Hayden Radforth, 11th in the Intermediate Boys was Year 11 Jacob Wright, 17th in the Intermediate Boys was Year 10 Cello Jiminez-Rowe, 19th in the Junior Boys was Year 9 Oliver Graham, 19th in the Senior Boys was Lower Sixth Magnus Lawson, 24th in the Junior Boys was Year 9 Henry Mahon and 25th in the Junior Boys was Year 9 Josh Dines.  

Following the Somerset Schools Cross Country championships, twelve students have been selected to represent Somerset Schools at the South West Schools Cross Country Championships on Saturday 1 February in Newquay. Congratulations to Upper Sixth Annabelle Souter, Erin Shepherd, Nate Ground, Lower Sixth Lottie Quinn, Abigail Bushell, Eva Herbertson, Year 11 Jasper Girven, Year 10 Ruby Bodman, Hope Lewis, Vienna Townsend, Sam Jackson and Year 9 Raphael Selby. 

On Thursday 23 January the Millfield squad travelled to Bryanston School for the 65th edition of the Ken Baily Races. The Intermediate Boys team of Year 10 Mateo Elliot, Year 9 Rafael Selby, Hayden Radforth, Josh Dines and Oliver Graham won their team competition, a great effort competing against students across Years 9-11. The Senior Girls team of Upper Sixth Erin Shepherd, Lower Sixth Abigail Bushell, Eva Herbertson, Year 11 Kiren Grewal, Year 10 Hope Lewis and Vienna Townsend also won their team event, with Abigail (first), Erin (second) and Eva (third) taking a podium clean sweep.    

On Sunday 26 January, the annual Cardiff Met series of indoor meets provided a great experience for athletes. Millfield had twelve students compete in events on the track and in the field, with several personal bests being recorded. This competition provided a valuable learning experience for our students and an excellent opportunity to compete indoors. Well done to Upper Sixth Carys Leyshon, Tiana Rizzo, Nina Peterkova, Edward Williams, Lower Sixth Nathan Phillips, Zoe Allen, Andre Onyekwe, Harri Edwards, Year 11 Lily Jones, Jemima Davey, Year 10 Tasha Wheeler and Aara Kamara. 

In Cricket, Year 9 Samuel McHugh, Reuben Lewis-Jones, Joel Gardiner and Connor Pearce were all selected onto the Somerset Emerging Player Programme (EPP).  

Year 9 Rose Grant-Peterkin was named on the Somerset Girls EPP.

Lower Sixth Grace Wetherall played for Jersey as they won the European Cricket League B over in Spain, meaning they got promoted to the Premier Division. 

Upper Sixth Harry Fairchild was named Dorset Pathway Player of the Year. 

In Equestrian, at the BE Arena Eventing at Chard Equestrian, Year 10 Jack Guppy achieved his 0.90m qualification for the British Eventing, Arena Eventing Championships at Aston le Walls in February 2025.

Millfield riders competed at the National Schools Equestrian Association Show jumping Qualifier at Moreton Equestrian Centre.

In the 0.90m The Team of Lower Sixth Gracie Durbin, Year 10 Blaire Carling (sixth place) and Jimena De Arquer Fernandez placed third. The team of Year 11 Agatha Stamper, Alice De Riols De Fonclare and Year 9 Darcie Slater placed fifth.

In the 1m Team Qualifier, the team of Lower Sixth Amber Moxon, Manige Deleersynder, Year 11 Agatha Stamper and Year 10 Blaire Carling finished in first place. The team of Lower Sixth Gracie Durbin, Year 10 Elsa Weaver, Vaasvi Khaitan (Individual second) and Year 9 Darcie Slater finished second. These results see both teams qualify for the Hickstead Championships in May 2025.  Lower Sixth Amber Moxon also won the 1.10m Individual event and qualified for the Hickstead Elite in June.  

At the British Show Jumping at Prestige Equestrian, Year 11 Emili Kompus and Year 10 Jimena de Arquer Fernadez had their first experience of British Show Jumping. In the 105m Senior Open Class, Year 10 Blaire Carling placed seventh and Vaasvi Khaitan Placed 20^th.

In Fencing, Year 11 Victoria Baughan and Lower Sixth Reuben Cawley were both selected to represent the South West Region at the annual Cadet Winton Fencing Competition. Their respective teams came second and they contributed to an overall Victory for the South West team. The Cadet Winton was set up to honour the life of Sir Nicolas Winton, an avid fencer and helped the rescue of persecuted children fleeing Europe during the 1930s and 40s.

At the South West FOIL Regional Qualifiers, U18 Girls Lower Sixth Evie Colyer was third in the U17 Girls’ event, while Alice Keers was seventh. Upper Sixth Kieran Campbell was fifth in the U18 Boys’, while Lower Sixth Anton Sidorov was sixth. Year 10 Marabelle Lippold was second in the U16 Girls’ event. Year 10 Jason Shi was second in the U16 Boys’ event, while Frederick Horgan was seventh and Year 11 Jem Hedgcock was ninth. 11 Millfield students qualified for the Youth Nationals in May.

In Football, eight players attended National team camps with ISFA in December. Upper Sixth Lexie Barrington-Hibbert and Hollie Tappin were selected into the ISFA U18 Girls, Jaden Rose, Rhomey Ashby-Hammond and Lower Sixth Sam Tisdale were selected for the ISFA U18 Boys, Lower Sixth Jay Nakamichi and Rocco Pardon for the ISFA U17 Boys and Year 11 Ahaan Gupta was selected for the ISFA U16 Boys. 

The U18 Boys team continue into the later stages of ESFA competitions. They are quarter finalists in the ESFA Schools Cup and the last 16 in ESFA Super League. The U16 Girls progressed into the last 16 of the ESFA Schools Cup. The U15A Boys are quarter finalists in the ESFA Elite Cup, while the U14A Boys are quarter finalists in ESFA Elite Cup. 

Year 11 Charles Robinson has been selected to represent the Cayman Islands U17 in a series of World Cup qualifying matches against Jamacia, El Salvador and St Lucia.   

In Golf, Lower Sixth Abigail Moore took over as Somerset Girls U18 captain. 

The following students have been selected to attend county coaching: Year 9 Alexander Leonard, Zane Bignell, Jack Isaacs, Tate Sinfield-Day, Year 10 Oli Hopkins, Jack McMeekin and Year 11 Toby Morris were all part of the U16 squad. Lower Sixth Luke Burbridge, Wills House and Joss Monachello were selected into the U18 squad. Lower Sixth Abbie Moore, Year 11 Ffion Lockley, Year 10 Ashleigh Moore and Liberty Warman were part of the Somerset Girls squad training. 

Lower Sixth Leon Brooks played in the Pro Dream USA UAE Open at The Els club, Dubai.   

Year 11 Ffion Lockley played in the First Tee Miami Doral Jr Classic and finished equal 20th in the Girls U14/15 event. The internal knock out is going well as Division 1 is led by Year 10 Jack McMeekin, Division 2 is led by Bradley Lock and Division 3 is led by Lower Sixth Litha Zilimbola. The annual Curtis Cup played around the campus Pitch n Putt was won by Lower Sixth Leon Brooks. 

In Hockey, the Girls’ U18, U16 and U14 teams all won their fixtures in December’s Sedbergh Showcase.

OMs Becky Manton, Stuart Rushmere and Sam Hooper all played for Great Britain in the FIH pro-league.

Toby Reynolds-Cotterill played for the Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League.

The Girls’ First XI are through to the ISHC quarter finals in February, after beating Dean Close 4-2. They also won both their fixtures in the England Hockey T1 League against Taunton School and Dean Close, and continue to be unbeaten in their cup fixtures.

The Boys’ First XI have had a successful start in the ISHC competition, beating Clayesmore School. They have also claimed victories in the England Hockey Tier 1 league, defeating Warwick School, King Edward VI Southampton, and Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School.

The Boys’ U15 team won the first round of the ISHC cup, beating Blundell’s in penalties.

The Boys’ U14 team on the first round of the England Hockey Tier 1 cup against Taunton School.

In Modern Pentathlon, during the Christmas break, pentathletes competed in the first Pentathlon GB ranking event of the season, which took place in Bath on 14 December. Upper Sixth Seb Forrest secured a fantastic first place finish as the top British athlete while Lower Sixth Reuben Cawley finished seventh; both were competing in the Senior, Junior, and U19 categories. Lower Sixth Chloe Johnson delivered an impressive performance, finishing second in the Women’s Senior, Junior and U19 categories. In the U17 category, Year 10 Mateo Elliott claimed third place, and Ruby Bodman finished sixth, both achieving strong results.  

In Netball, December saw the annual Sedbergh Showcase where the Senior First and Second teams both played tightly contested matches against their respective opposition. Both teams came out on top with our seconds winning 47-27. 

The Senior First team played their quarter-final in the ‘Sisters n Sport’ cup competition against Brighton College. It was a highly competitive game which Millfield won by three goals. The team will now progress through to the semi-finals at the start of February where they face Wellington College.  

Lastly, on 22 January, Millfield travelled up to Wolverhampton for the second round of the ISL tournament (created by Director of Netball, Jenna Adamson). The first round took place in December at Worcester University where ten schools battled it out in competitive matches. Last week’s second round was the decider for first, second and third place. A fantastic day of netball ended with Millfield's Senior First team finishing third overall! A special mention to vice-captain Lower Sixth Olivia Pitt for being awarded Millfield’s ‘player of the day’. Another special mention to Lower Sixth Isabella Lofthouse for being awarded midcourt player of the tournament. 

In Rugby, the First XV Boys and First VII Girls competed in the World Schools Festival in Abu Dhabi. The Boys team finished in fourth place overall. 

Six OMs were selected for the respective nations for the 2025 Six Nations.

The U14, U16 and U18 Girls teams have started their Rugby season, with the U14 team playing their first ever fixture against Ivybridge Community College.

Upper Sixth boys have played in the Academy league. Northampton Saints: Ernie Jackson, Saracens: Seva Kava, Ben Morrow, Charles Heffron, Bristol Bears: Evan Morris, Bath: Codi Purnell, Matthew Bowler, Ellis James. 

Upper Sixth students played their leavers game against Welsh Academicals. 

In Ski Racing, Victoria Meneghetti has been selected to represent the GBR team in the Trofeu Borrufa FIS Races in Andorra as part of the GB Snowsport British Children's Ski Team at the end of January. 

Year 9 Nat Stringer placed second in the U16 Slalom at the Welsh Open Championships in Switzerland. 

In Squash, from 14-17 December, Upper Sixth Olivia Owens, Lower Sixth Gilad Wiegenfeld and Year 11 Shunsaku Kariyazono and participated in the U.S Junior Open. Over 30 nations entered their top juniors in the event. Olivia Owens placed 17th in a 128 Draw, which showcased the best juniors in the world. 

From 1-6 January, the same three students competed in the British Junior Open, which is the equivalent to Junior Wimbledon. All of the students played some fantastic matches. Shunsaku narrowly lost 3/2 in the last 16, which was an excellent effort. 

The Millfield U19 boys team played a four-way tie in the southern finals and placed second. The students involved were Upper Sixth Olivia Owens, Lower Sixth Gilad Wiegenfeld, Pierre Joubert, Year 11 Shunsaku Kariyazono, Year 11 Jonty Godfrey, Charles Wright and Year 10 Rayaan Vaziralli. 

In Swimming, Lower Sixth Filip Nowacki received a World Class programme selection.

Upper Sixth Lauchlan Parrott was selected for TASS (Talented Athlete Support Scheme).

Lower Sixth Tilly Collymore received a selection for CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Association) from Grenada.

At the CANA Zone 4 (Confederation Africaine de Natation) event in Namibia, Year 11 Mikayla Makwabarara represented Zimbabwe, finishing first in the 50m free and second in the 100 Free and 50m Butterfly.

Year 9 Rihanna Yankey took part in the CANA Zone 2 event.

Upper Sixth Ewan Pedersen competed in the Nordic Championships.

Lower Sixth Ethan Stubbs-Green represented Antigua in the World Short Course Championships.

OM Millfield swimmer Max McCukser represented Ireland in the World Short Course Championships.

Millfield swimmers produced excellent performances at the Swim England Winter National Championships in Sheffield, claiming six bronze, three silver and one gold medal.

Lower Sixth Filip Nowacki won the following junior medals: gold in the 200m Individual Medley, silver in 100m and 200m Breaststroke, bronze in the 100m Butterfly and 50m Breaststroke. He also claimed senior bronze medals in the 100m and 200m Breaststroke.

Year 11 Jose Rodriguez won silver in the Junior 400m Individual Medley. 

Lower Sixth Megs Higgs won bronze in the Junior 50m Freestyle. 

Lower Sixth Ethan Stubbs-Green won bronze in Junior 200m Butterfly.

The following students were finalists in their respective events: Upper Sixth students, Kirsty Neill, Emily Johnson, Natasha De Pree, Oli Greaves, Lauchlan Parrott, Lauren Kenna, Toby Godsell, Maximus Leigh and Sienna Franklyn-Miller. Lower Sixth students, Filip Nowacki, Megs Higgs, Ethan Stubbs-Green, Sophie Davies, Henry Guppy and Tilly Collymore. Year 11 students, Wilfred Leigh and Jose Rodriguez. Year 10 students, Colton Dorffeld and Xander Tovey.

Upper Sixth students Lauchlan Parrott, Toby Godsell and Lower Sixth Filip Nowacki were selected for the Swim England Youth Performance Squad at the Euro Meet in Luxembourg.

Lower Sixth Charlotte Hardy was selected into the Scottish Junior Performance Squad for the Geneva International event. Sophie Davies was selected in the Welsh Youth Performance Squad for the same event.

Lower Sixth Edward Bell received Scottish Youth Squad selection.

In Tennis, Year 9 Tommy Weston won the 16U Boys Singles in the Grade 3 at Taunton Tennis Centre. Tommy also won the 18U Boys Singles in the Grade 4 at Ellesmere College in Shropshire. 

Lower Sixth Rafe Samuel was a semi-finalist in the 18U ITF Junior J60 in Siroki Brijeg, Bosnia. Rafe has also achieved a current career high ITF Junior World Ranking of 519 (as of 20 January 2025). 

OM Giles Hussey was called up as a member of the GB Davis Cup team competing in Japan. 

In Trampolining, the Millfield trampolinists have made a successful start to the competition season. After taking twenty students to the South West championships back in November, ten students qualified through to the Southern Zonal Championships last weekend. All ten finished in medal position, with our two teams finishing in third place. In the individual competition; Upper Sixth Ellis James, Year 11 Brychan James, Year 10 Daisy Ashman and Ava Constaple all finished in the top five and qualified for the national finals in March.