Sport Round Up - June 2025

In Athletics, the Somerset Schools Track and Field Championships took place in Yeovil on 14 June, where 68 students represented the Mendip Schools' area team. Among the standout performances was a new championship record in the 200m by Upper Sixth Eden Robinson, surpassing the previous championship record by over half a second, with a time of 24.54 seconds. Year 9 Jacob Wraithmell jumped a National Standard 1.78m in the High Jump and Upper Tiana Rizzo took the senior girls 100m title also in a National Standard.

32 students represented Somerset Schools at the South West Schools’ Track and Field Championships, which were held in Exeter on 21 June. The event concluded with 10 regional medallists including three champions, Lower Sixth Andre Onyekwe in the High Jump, Year 9 Jacob Wraithmell in the High Jump and Olivia Greenova in the Long Jump.

17 students have been selected to represent Somerset Schools at the prestigious English Schools' (ESAA) Track and Field Championships, taking place on 11-12 July at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham. Five students have achieved the National Standard during the qualification period across a variety of disciplines. Upper Sixth Tiana Rizzo in the Senior Girls 100m (12.07s), Eden Robinson in the Senior Girls 100m Hurdles (14.2s), Lewie Jones in the Senior Boys Javelin (56.16m), Year 9 Jacob Wraithmell in the Junior Boys High Jump (1.78m) and Olivia Greenova in the Junior Girls Long Jump (5.45m).

In Cricket, Upper Sixth Caleb Falconer has been selected for the England Invitational XI to play against England Young Lions and the India U19 teams in a triangular tournament. Caleb scored 74 on debut against England Lions.

Year 11 Louie Lawrence scored his maiden Sussex CCC 2^nd XI 50 with a score of 63 against Lancashire CCC 2^nd XI, which included England Men’s Test spin bowler, Tom Hartley.

The Girls 1^st XI reached the National quarter finals before losing to an excellent Rugby School team, whose U15 Girls squad also knocked Millfield out in the U15 National Cup quarter final.

The Boys U14A beat Taunton School in the semi final of the County Cup and then defeated Kings Taunton in the Final. Year 9 Reuben Lewis-Jones was the top bowler on the day and Joel Gardiner the top batter.

The Atkinson's XI narrowly lost in the semi final to Hampton School. Captain Lower Sixth Beau Gurner and Coach Sam Braid marshalled their team fantastically to get so far in the competition with what is a development team.

The best batting performances in June are as follows: Upper Sixth Finn Kelsey 88 vs Hampshire U18’s and 78 vs Best Cricket Academy, Year 9 Jack Hawkins (U14A Boys) 106* vs Cricket Wales South.

The best bowling performances in June are as follows: Upper Sixth Charlie Lamprell 5/29 vs Winchester College 1^st XI, Felix Mann 4/35 vs Glamorgan U18s, Lilly Hawkins 3/1 vs Clifton College and 3/10 vs 3/10 vs Rugby School, Lexi Barrington-Hibbert 3/10 vs Rugby School.

The best fielding in June came from Lower Sixth Beau Gurner who had 16 dismissals (12 catches and four run outs).

In Equestrian, the Elite 1m NSEA Teams represented Millfield at Hickstead, Sussex, with only three riders in each team, and placed fourth and fifth in the National final. The riders were Lower Sixth Gracie Durbin, Manige Deleersnyder, Yr 11 Bella Steer-Love, Jimena De Arquer Fernandez, Zoe Przedborski and Blaire Carling.

Millfield riders competed in the British Showjumping event at Prestige Equestrian, Gloucestershire. In the 1.05m Open, Year 10 Vaasvi Khaitan on Alaska had a double clear, placing fourth. Zoe Przedborski on Imoa D’Argent had a double clear, placed fifth. Jimena De Arquer Fernandez on In Salah D’Estel Placed ninth. In the 1.10m/Newcomers event, Vaasvi Khaitan on Alaska had a double clear. Year 11 Bella Steer-Love had four faults on Jakarta Uno.

Riders competed in the British Showjumping event at Dorset Show Ground. In the 80cm Club Class, Lower Sixth Olympia Antignac on Sonrises retired, Year 9 Kiya Kornthatchapong on Millfield horse Cadoc, had a double clear and a win. Year 10 Alexia Favre on Fifty Fifty Marin placed third, Year 9 Freya Millington on Ziggy Zimbel placed fourth. In the British Showjumping 90cm Club Class, Year 9 Kiya Kornthatchapong on Cadoc had a double clear, placing second. She has qualified for the Melplash County Show Final.

Year 11 Isla Sully has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Dressage European Championships in Le Mans, France in July. She won both of her FEI (International) junior selection classes at Wellington CDI in Hampshire. A huge achievement.

At the Chard Unaffiliated Dressage Novice 2 event, Lower Sixth Diana Bulyndenko on Inka finished first, while Lower Sixth Mariella Frost on Magner finished in second place.

At the West Wilts British Eventing, Lower Sixth Amber Moxon came fourth in the U18 Open Novice section. Year 10 Elsa Weaver was eighth in the BE 100 U18 class.

Lower Sixth Gracie Durbin won the Young Riders 1.05m class at the Bicton, Devon in the three-day British Showjumping event.

Lower Sixth Amber Moxon has been shortlisted for East Midlands Regional team selection for Bishop Burton 2* event.

Preparations for Hurst College and Schools at Hickstead, Sussex are complete as Millfield Equestrian represent Millfield on Friday 27 June in the National Final, taking two full teams of four riders to compete in the prestigious main arena.

In Fencing, Millfield students competed at the Cardiff Senior Foil Open. In the Women's event, Lower Sixth Alice Keers was third, while Year 10 Marabelle Lippold was sixth. In the Men's event, Year 10 Jason Shi was sixth.

Year 9 Lucia Millington represented Great Britain at the U14 EFC Sabre event in Bulgaria.

In Golf, at the Swifts U18 National Foursomes finals at The Springs, Oxfordshire, Millfield finished runners-up to Reeds, losing the final 2 1/2 - 1/2. Millfield were represented by Upper Sixth William Welsh, Lower Sixth Wills House, Year 11 Charles Wright, Joss Monachello, Year 9 Zane Bignell and Tate Sinfield-Day.

Year 10 Jack McMeekin played in the England Schools finals at Woodhall Spa and finished a credible 30th.

Year 9 Jack Isaacs finished in 10th position in the West of England U14s, followed by Alexander Leonard in 12^th.

At the South West Schools Championship at Enmore, Year 10 Jack McMeekin finished 10th with 74 and 78, Lower Sixth Luke Burbridge finished 28^th with 78 and 88. Abigail Moore finished seventh with 74 and 82.

Year 10 Jack McMeekin won the internal Thomas Keith Nokes cup at Yeovil with 32 points. Bradley Lock and Ben Kofoed also reached the final.

At the Swifts U15 finals at Royal Ashdown Forest, the Millfield team of Year 10 Jack McMeekin, Seva Johal, Year 9 Jack Isaacs and Zane Ward played some great golf, finishing in third place after the scratch stableford with 51 pts, to go into the match play stages. In the quarter finals they played Whitgift and won through to the semi-finals where they faced Reeds, where they unfortunately lost by one hole.

In Karate, Upper Sixth Alexander Hutchcroft successfully passed his 1st dan black belt grading in front of an experienced grading panel during the Summer Gasshuku held at the Wincanton Dojo. During his assessment he showed real grit and determination when facing six attackers at once!

Millfield Karate Captain Lower Sixth Emma Martin gained 1st Kyu, with the next step is her own black belt grading scheduled for Spring 2026. Upper Sixth Valentina Hands, Falak Al Busaidi and Lower Sixth Alex Harrop all successfully passed their blue belt gradings. Year 11 Leon Hutchcroft and Year 10 Myriam Zarrad passed their yellow and purple belt respectively.

Millfield Karate finished the year teaching the Equestrian Team how to fall properly using their breakfall techniques.

In Modern Pentathlon, Lower Sixth Reuben Cawley and Chloe Johnson were selected to represent GB at the Junior European Championships in Dronków, Poland. Reuben faced a tough fencing round in qualifications but gained valuable experience and takeaways to build on for the next competition. Chloe had a standout competition, progressing all the way to the final 18 and finishing sixth in Europe.

Upper Sixth Sebastian Forrest, Lower Sixth Reuben Cawley and Chloe Johnson have been selected to compete at the UIPM 2025 Pentathlon Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, while Year 10 Mateo Elliott was selected for the U17 Junior European Championships in Barcelona.

In Netball, the following athletes were re-selected into Glastonbury ADC for Team Bath: Year 11 Ruby Wetherill, Year 10 Ferne Pike and Year 9 Ava O’Neill. The following students were successful following the open trials for the same pathway: Year 10 Nell Carter, Amber Jennings, Georgia Taylor, and Gracie Tubb.

In Rowing, Millfield rowers competed at the Henley Women’s Regatta on Saturday 21 June. The rowers were Lower Sixth Emily Brooke, Year 11 Zara Barnett, Poppy Clothier and Lottie Godsell.

In Rugby, OM's Steffan Emanuel and Ioan Emanuel have been selected for Wales in the U20 World Championship, while Huw Jones has been selected for the British and Irish Lions Tour to Australia.

This summer, Rugby coaches and players at Millfield will have a chance to learn from Joe El-Abd (England Defence Coach), Tony Roques (GB 7s coach) and OM Callum Sheedy (Cardiff Rugby player).

Millfield Rugby have announced Lower Sixth Alex Yeabsley as 1st XV captain for next season. The Rugby club captain will be Lower Sixth Freddie Beasley.

In Tennis, Upper Sixth Neirin Gilani and George Howard travelled to Loughborough University to represent the boys team at the NPL National Play-Offs.

Two boys teams and one girls team qualified through to the National Schools Finals taking place from 24 June. The Boys A team included Upper Sixth George Howard, Neirin Gilani, Lower Sixth Hugo Dunn and Joshua Craze. The Boys B team included Upper Sixth Conor Evans, Lower Sixth Osca Wood, Year 10 Thomas Keeler, Xavier Bailey, Year 9 Tommy Weston and Zach Kleiner. The Girls A team includes Lower Sixth Laila Moledina, Niamh McLoughlin, Leah Fosbury, Year 10 Valentina Bailey and Sofiia Vashchuk.

Individual successes at National Level tournaments were Year 9 Tommy Weston reaching the Round of 16 at the U14 National Grasscourt Grade 1, held at East Gloucester. He also reached the quarter finals of the doubles event. Tommy was also the runner up at the 18U boys Grade 3 doubles at the West Worthing Club.

Lower Sixth Joshua Craze won two qualifying matches against tough opponents to reach the main draw at the U18 Hard Court Nationals Grade 1.

Showing real resilience and hunting her first ITF points, Year 10 Valentina Bailey earned her first ITF junior point to secure a world junior ranking at the ITF Junior Newport J30, before adding to this in the ITF Junior Casablanca J30, where she reached the quarter finals.

At Regional Level, Year 9 Zach Kleiner earned a win against a top 50 U14 player and made it to the semi-finals in the U14 at Winscombe.

Year 10 Thomas Keeler won his G4 U18 Boys singles event in Sherborne, taking the 18U boys doubles title as well.

The U15 Boys A Team finished the summer term unbeaten in the team fixtures.