Sport Round Up - March 2025

In Athletics, the Millfield Endurance Squad achieved historic success at the English Schools Cross Country Cup Final in Leeds. Three teams qualified for the national final (Senior Boys, Senior Girls and Inter Girls), along with two teams from MPS. Both senior teams secured a podium finish with the Senior Boys placing second, and the Senior Girls third. This achievement marks the first time in the school’s history that two senior teams have placed on the podium at the final. The Senior Boys team consisted of Upper Sixth Nate Ground, Lower Sixth Tom Webb, Anubis Molina-Zekri, Reuben Cawley and Magnus Lawson. The Senior Girls team included Upper Sixth Erin Shepherd, Lower Sixth Abigail Bushell, Eva Herbertson, Chloe Johnson, Lottie Quinn and Gemma Tolputt. The Inter Girls team included Year 10 Ruby Bodman, Vienna Townsend, Hope Lewis and Year 9 Ana Price-Martic.  

Millfield students had an excellent weekend at the ESAA Cross Country National Championships 2025, competing against the best young runners in the country. Upper Sixth Nate Ground produced an outstanding performance, finishing fifth, placing him among the highest finishers ever from Millfield at this competition. Upper Sixth Annabelle Souter also delivered a strong race, securing 56th place.  

Millfield had five runners finishing in the top third of their respective fields, which is a fantastic achievement considering the large race sizes of 300-340 athletes. Lower Sixth Eva Herbertson was 87th, Abigail Bushell was 89th, and Upper Sixth Erin Shepherd all performed impressively to join Nate and Annabelle in the top tier of competitors.  

Congratulations to all students for reaching this stage of a National Championship series, including Lower Sixth Lottie Quinn, Year 10 Ruby Bodman, Hope Lewis, Sam Jackson and Year 9 Rafael Selby.  

Three students represented Millfield at the Sherborne Trophy, held at Sherborne Castle on Saturday 22 March. In the Inter Girls category, Year 11 Kiren Grewal had a dominant run, securing first place. In the Inter Boys category, Year 9 Hayden Radforth put in another strong run to claim third place, with Josh Dines finishing fifth. 

In Clay Shooting, Millfield competed in the Harrow Fido Cup Inter Schools competition. 36 teams took part, including six from Millfield, whose team even included a Millfield Prep pupil. Millfield A were winners on the day, with the team comprising of Upper Sixth Rob Neylan, Luke Watkins, Lower Sixth Oliver Austin and Will Hutchison. The A team also won the Flush competition. The Millfield B team were runners up. The team included Upper Sixth Nuccio Stanton-Rotondi, Josh Mazzotti, Monty Bartlett and Lower Sixth Matilda Wilkes. Lower Sixth Will Hutchison won the High Gun prize, while Matilda Wilkes won the Ladies High Gun. 

The Millfield team took part in the Cheltenham Interschools competition against Cheltenham College, Marlborough College and Harrow School. The Millfield A team of Upper Sixth Monty Bartlett, Rob Neylan, Lower Sixth Oliver Austin and Will Hutchison took first place. Oliver Austin took the High Gun. 

At the National Schools Clay Competition, the Millfield A team of Upper Sixth Rob Neylan, Monty Bartlett, Lower Sixth Will Hutchison and Oliver Austin were first. The same team came second in the Flush competition. Lower Sixth Oliver Austin took overall High Gun. The Millfield Colts team of Year 11 Jack Eatch, Jovie Crozier, Archie Monk and Monty Price-Bailey first. Millfield Ladies were second. 

In Equestrian, Millfield riders competed in the Chard Equestrian British Show Jumping competition.

In the Senior 1M Open Class, Year 10 Zoe Przedborski on Imoa D’Argent with placed fifth, with four faults.

In the 105 Senior Open, Year 10 Jimena De Arquer Fernadez finished in third place. Darcie Slater on Firago stormed a win, while Year 11 Emili Kompus on Heliodoro was one second difference in the jump off to place second.

In the 1.10 Senior Newcomers, Emili Kompus on Heliodoro claimed a second win at this height in two weeks, while Darcie Slater on Firago achieved a comprehensive third Place.

At the Moreton BE British Eventing U18100, Amber Moxon on Ballyheerin Bay Dancer claimed a convincing win, finishing on a Dressage score of 28.8 and Clear SJ and XC.

Elsa Weaver on Tally Placed 19th with a dressage score of 28.5 and 12fs SJ and Clear XC.

At the Moreton BE British Eventing BE90, Jack Guppy placed 10th with a Dressage score of 35.0 and Clear SJ and XC.

Agatha Stamper placed 21st with a dressage score of 31.8 and Clear SJ and 20 penalties (Finish Total 53.4).

Millfield riders competed at the NSEA Pontispool Show Jumping Qualifier. Great performances provided qualifications and wins in all four heights and secured qualification for the NSEA Championships in May at Hickstead and NSEA Championships in October at Addington.

The 70cm-75cm Team qualified for the NSEA Championships with a second place. The team was Freya Millington (individual fourth), Amelie Gueten (individual 17th), Lucie Tschoeppe and Kiya Kornthatchapong (80cm, individual 22nd).

The 90cm-95cm Team finished first to qualify for the NSEA Championships. The team included Kiya Kornthatchapong (individual sixth), Tilly Barber (individual 11th) and Elizabeth C (individual 12th).

The 1M-1.05M Team finished in second place. The team included Vaasvi Khaitan (individual first), Mimi Woodliffe (individual eighth) and Bella Steer-Love (individual 11th).

The 1M Team finished first and qualified for the NSEA Championships. The team included Year 11 Emili Kompus (individual third), Year 10 Jimena Fernandez (individual seventh) and Lower Sixth Manige Deleersnyder (individual 10th).

Individual representations in the 1.10M event are as follows: Year 11 Emili Kompus (individual first), Year 10 Mimi Woodliffe (individual second), Vaasvi Khaitan (individual third), Year 10 Jimena Fernandez (individual sixth), Year 11 Bella Steer-Love (individual eighth) and Lower Sixth Manige Deleersnyder (individual ninth).

In Fencing, the Millfield squad had another strong showing at the 2025 Public Schools Fencing Championships, winning the overall combined trophy for a record 12th consecutive year.

Millfield Fencing saw a fantastic mix of strong performances, learning experiences, and team camaraderie throughout the championships. Special recognition goes to top finishers, including Year 11 Victoria Baughan’s bronze in Junior Sabre, Year 11 Dora Ji winning the Junior Champion at Arms, Year 9Joe Trainor’s sixth in Mount-Haes Sabre, and Lower Sixth Maisie Searle’s third place finish in Senior Sabre. With several top 16 finishes and strong performances across all events, the squad demonstrated their dedication and competitive spirit. 

Millfield fencers traveled to the Leon Paul Fencing Centre from 8-9 March to compete in the British School Team Championships. 

The event follows a relay format, with teams of three fencers working together to reach 45 points. Millfield showcased its depth of talent by fielding at least one team in every age and weapon category. The competition saw outstanding performances, with Millfield securing three national team titles. 

The teams who were crowned National Champions are as follows: U18 Girls Foil (Lower Sixth Evie Colyer, Alice Keers, Year 11 Dora Ji and Year 10 Marabelle Lippold). U18 Girls Sabre (Lower Sixth Evie Colyer, Maisie Searle, Tamara Gomez Velasco and Year 11 Victoria Baughan). U18 Girls Sabre (Lower Sixth Evie Colyer, Maisie Searle, Tamara Gomez Velasco and Year 11 Victoria Baughan. U15 Girls Sabre (Year 9 Lucia Millington, Eva Dowden, Lulu Heffron and Doris Fields).   

Teams who finished in silver medal positions are as follows: U18 Girls Epee (Lower Sixth Evie Colyer, Maisie Searle, Year 11 Victoria Baughan and Dora Ji). U15 Girls Epee (Yashika Gupta, Steph Davison, Lucia Millington and Lulu Heffron).

Teams who finished in the bronze medal positions are as follows: U18 Boys Epee (Lower Sixth Anton Sidorov, Sam Miell and Year 11 Monty Price-Bailey). U15 Boys Sabre (Year 10 Harry Wilder, Jason Shi, Year 9 Joe Trainor and Kevin Ju). 

There were some fantastic finishes in other events for the U18 Boys Foil and U15 Girls Foil, who came fourth, the U15 Boys Foil, who came fifth, and the U18 Boys Sabre and the U15 Boys Epee, who came sixth. 

In Golf, the Millfield and Desert Springs European Schools Team took place during February half term. 18 Millfield students headed off to warmer climates to play in the three-day event on the Indiana Course at Desert Springs Resort, Spain. This year, Lower Sixth Abigail Moore won the Girls’ Individual event with a gross 75 (+3), Year 11 Charles Wright was third in the Boys’ Individual with a gross 76 (+5) and Year 9 Tapi Katsvara was third in the Handicap Stableford with 38. In the Team Event, Millfield Team 1 were fourth with a team score of 217 (team of Lower Sixth Abigail Moore, Year 11 Karoline Tochtermann, Charles Wright and Year 10 Oli Hopkins). Millfield Team 2 were close behind in fifth with 216 (Year 10 Jack McMeekin, Year 9 Zane Bignell, Tate Sinfield-Day and Sophia Nesbitt). Other notable scores from individuals were Tate with 34, Year 9 Jack Isaacs with 33 and Sophia, Zane and Oliver Regniez all with 32 points and in the top 28.   

The annual Somerset Schools Championship were held at Weston on Wednesday 19 March. Millfield had a record entry of 38 students playing and in total there were 120 players in the event, the biggest number for over 20 years. Millfield golfers performed well, with Lower Sixth Freddie Price winning the Boys’ Championship with a level par 70, followed by Year 10 Jack McMeekin with 71 and Lower Sixth Luke Burbridge with 72. In the Girls’ Championship, Lower Sixth Abigail Moore was runner-up with gross 80. Millfield Team B won the gross event, with the team comprising of Lower Sixth Freddie Price, Year 10 Jack McMeekin and Year 9 Zane Bignell.  

The National Swifts Foursomes U15 team of Year 10 Oli Hopkins, Year 9 Zane Bignell, Tate Sinfield-Day and Jack Isaacs won 2-0 away to Sherborne.  

Upper Sixth golfer William Welsh has signed for Iowa Western and starts August 2025.   

OM Mimi Rhodes won the Ford Women's NSW Open, on the Ladies European Tour. She won the event with a score of 17 under par and this included a course record 62 in the second round. This is only the fourth tournament for Mimi and sees her third in the Order of Merit 2025. Mimi turned professional after the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale (top eight amateurs in GB and Ireland vs America) last September and headed to the Tour qualifying from October and won through to the final qualification in December, finishing joint 19th on -10. Mimi attended Wake Forest University after leaving Millfield. 

OM Freddie Turnell recorded the biggest individual win in Little Rock Men’s Golf history, tying for first and winning The Goodwin. He shot an eagle and four birdies on the final day, as he carded rounds of 69, 70 and 66 to record 205 (-5). 

In Hockey, the U14A boys hockey team beat Whitgift School in the England Hockey National Tier 1 semi final on shuffles. They are now through to the finals where they’ll play Repton School on Thursday 24 April.

In Karate, Year 10 Frederick Horgan successfully graded to First Dan Black Belt at the Wincanton Dojo during the Spring Course, he was assessed by four senior black belts with over 100 years of experience between them. 

Lower Sixth Karate Captain Emma Martin is to be promoted to second Kyu, just one more assessment before attempting Black Belt. It has been a busy term for the rest of the squad with Upper Sixth Valentina Hands, Falak Al Busaidi and Lower Sixth Alex Harrop all attaining purple belt, marking the half-way point to black belt. Lower Sixth Henry Gogh and Year 11 Leon Hutchcroft both successfully gained their first belt, orange. 

In Football, after an exciting 3-2 semi-final win against Hampton School, our First XI has secured their spot in the finals of the ESFA School’s National Cup. This marks the first time they've reached the finals since 2017. The final is set to take place at Stoke City FC this May against Samuel Whitbread Academy. 

In Netball, the Senior First team took part in two National finals in the space of one week. They competed in the U19 England Netball National Schools Finals in Sheffield, securing an impressive bronze medal and making them third in the country. They then travelled to Loughborough to attend the U19 Sisters n Sport Cup Finals where they finished in first place to take home the trophy. A special mention to Lower Sixth Vice Captain Olivia Pitt for being awarded Player of the Match in the final vs Cheadle Hulme School.  

The Under 16A team got through to the semi final of the Sisters n Sport cup competition where they played against Putney High School. Lastly, the Senior Second team and U15A team attended the Somerset County Cup tournament. The Senior Second team finished a respectable third after coming up against first teams from other schools, while the U15A team finished first to win their age group.

In Modern Pentathlon, the Pentathlon GB Ranking Series comprised of three events across this school year. The first of these events was held in December at the University of Bath, which marked a significant milestone as it was the first full pentathlon for our Millfield athletes. 

The second event was hosted at Millfield in February, which featured a full Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) section. The results from that event are as follows: Lower Sixth was first in the Open Women’s event, Upper Sixth Sebastian Forrest was fourth in the Open Men’s event, Year 10 Mateo Elliott was second in the U17 Boys event and Ruby Bodman was seventh in the U17 Girls event. 

The third and final event took place at the University of Bath in March. The results are as follows: Year 10 Mateo Elliott was first in the U17 Boys, Lower Sixth Chloe Johnson was second in the Open Women’s event, Upper Sixth Sebastian Forrest was third in the Open Men’s event, Reuben Cawley was fourth in the Open Men's event, while Year 10 Ruby Bodman was eighth in the U17 Girls event. 

Upper Sixth Sebastian Forrest, Reuben Cawley, and Lower Sixth Chloe Johnson were selected to compete in the Hungarian Indoor International Championships. Their exceptional performances in the Pentathlon GB Ranking Series earned them the opportunity to make their debut on the Senior Circuit. Chloe delivered an outstanding performance in her first senior international competition, not only reaching the final but also securing an impressive sixth place finish. Sebastian and Reuben faced a challenging qualifying round, but they embraced the experience as a valuable learning opportunity. This debut on the senior stage will undoubtedly prepare them all for upcoming age-group international competitions this summer. 

Millfield pentathletes competed in the National Schools Biathlon Finals, one of the UK’s prestigious school sporting events, bringing together the top young biathletes from across the country. The competition was held at Bath University from 22-23 March, the competition featured athletes who had qualified through regional rounds. In the Boys competition, Year 9 Reilly Barber was seventh, Year 10 Mateo Elliott and Sam Jackson were joint 11th, and Year 9 Henry Mahon was 26th. In the Girls’ competition, Year 9 Ana Price-Martic was 14th, while Eva Dowden was 25th. Year 10 Ruby Bodman was ninth, Hope Lewis was 13th, Hattie Griffiths was 17th and Addison Clary was 25th, together they were national team champions. Year 11 Ella Shepherd was 11th. Mrs Dale was third in the teacher race.

In Outdoor Adventure, two Ten Tors training weekends on Dartmoor took place with students from Years 9, 10 and 12, who are getting ready to participate in the Ten Tors event on Dartmoor in May, walking self-supported routes of 35, 45 and 55 miles over two days. 

By the end of March, 35 students will have completed their Gold DofE training ready for their assessment in June. Another 30 students will be ready for their silver award qualifying expedition, which will take place in the Brecon Beacons. 

In Rugby, the U15s have competed in competitive 15-a-side fixtures vs Redruth RFC and Chippenham RFC. They also had an internal game with the U16s. 

U14s have won the Sherborne and KES Bath 7s tournaments and were semi finalists at Rosslyn Park.  

The U16 Girls team came third in the West of England 7s and round of 16 at Rosslyn Park.  

U16 Boys won Wycliffe 7s and Rosslyn Park Finalists.  

U18 Girls came fifth in the West of England 7s and qualifies for day two of the cup at Rosslyn Park. 

The Second VII won the West of England 7s and qualified for day two of the vase at Rosslyn Park.  

The First VII won Hampton and Surrey 7s and were Rosslyn Park finalists. 

In Rowing, Millfield rowers competed in the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships. Year 9 Louis Wilson won individual silver. The Year 11 Girls team of Zara Barnett, Xanthe Sharman, Ella Shepard and Victoria Meneghetti won relay silver. The Senior Girls team of Upper Sixth Sienna Williams, Year 11 Zara Barnett, Lottie Godsell and Xanthe Sharman won silver. The Senior Mixed team of Upper Sixth Felix Merritt, Lower Sixth Emily Brooke, George Monk and Year 11 Zara Barnett won silver.

In Ski Racing, Yea 10 Alex Kim was selected to represent Korea at the 2025 La Scara International Championships in Val-d’Isère, widely regarded as the Youth World Cup in alpine skiing. This is his third consecutive year representing Korea at La Scara. 

The Millfield Ski team put in an incredible performance at the 33rd British Interschool Ski Championships 2025 in Verbier. Year 9 Nat Stringer won gold in both the Slalom and Giant Slalom, while the team secured fourth place overall. 

In Tennis, Lower Sixth Joshua Craze won the Men's Singles at the Tennis Solutions Masters Grade 3 at David Lloyd Club Bristol Long Ashton.  

Year 10 Valentina Bailey was a semi finalist of the Women's Singles at the Tennis Solutions Masters Grade 3, David Lloyd Club Bristol Long Ashton. Valentina was also a finalist of the Women's Singles at the FAST4 Open Regional Tour at Sherborne Tennis Club.  

Year 9 Tommy Weston reached the round of 16 of the Boys Singles at the U14 Lexus Clay Court National Championships Grade 1 in Sutton.  

Year 11 Sofiia Vashchuk won the Women's Singles at the South and South West Tour Grade 4 in Taunton.  

The Year 9 and 10 Girls Team of Year 10 Martina Taravella, Year 9 Rosie Grant Peterkin and Ceyla Aydin won 10-2 against Taunton School in the National Schools Team tennis event and now qualify for the National Schools Team Regional Finals to be held in September at the University of Bath.  

A number of Millfield players competed for their respective counties in the LTA U18 County Cup from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 March.   

Year 11 Sofiia Vashchuk (6/6 - Undefeated in all of her singles and doubles matches across the weekend) and Lower Sixth Niamh McLoughlin represented the Somerset Girls Team.  

Lower Sixth Laila Moledina (6/6 - Undefeated in all of her singles and doubles matches across the weekend) represented the Oxfordshire Girls Team.  

Lower Sixth Joshua Craze (6/6 - Undefeated in all of his singles and doubles matches across the weekend), Year 11 Joshua Katzin, Ned Lawton and Year 10 Thomas Keeler and represented the Somerset Boys Team.  

Lower Sixth Osca Wood represented the Oxfordshire Boys Team. 

In Trampolining, Millfield students competed in the National Schools Finals in Derby on Saturday 15 March.  

Year 11 Brychan James finished fifth in the Advanced Boys section.  

Year 10 Ava Constable finished 13th in the Intermediate Girls section.