Category: Sport
U15C
This is the first time we have entered an U15C team into the South Suffolk league – which is amazing. This team in particular should be congratulated on their efforts on the netball court as they played excellently, especially against some tough and boisterous opposition. Their heads never went down and they fought until the final whistle of each match. They had some difficult matches against other schools’ B teams, but always tried their absolute hardest. Frustratingly for them, most of their matches were narrow defeats, losing by only 2 or 3 goals. Well done girls, thank you for all you have done on the netball court! Team: Lizzie Boynton (Captain), Emma Trebilcock, Petronella Powell, Iona Murland, Beth Turner, Livia Gray, Kira Sharples, Zoe Newman, Amelia Kirkham, Aimen Alvi and Arina Zhukovskaya (who only started playing netball in January).
U14A
The season has been a touch frustrating because many of the squad had commitments to other sports and so could not play for some of the matches, however this has allowed other B team players to experience A team fixtures which has been good for their development.
In defence Ariane Bilgen, Issy Eaton, Molly Marshall and Myla Hart have been very strong. Their understanding of the game and anticipation has increased significantly. In mid court Lottie Edmunds has become a key player in building the teams attack and working hard at intercepting the ball in defence. Jess Elmer, April Hill and Eleanor Wright have also worked hard in the centre court positions. In attack Ella Walker (captain) and Emily Whyte have developed a quick thinking game that has often left the opposition struggling to keep up with them. Their movement and tactics have improved dramatically over the season to end up with polished performances in the circle.
U14B
The U14B team has had a successful season, playing 7 matches and winning 5. Although the squad contained 12 players, they all should be proud of how hard they worked and how well they gelled together as a team in whatever combination they were playing. They even won against A teams(a magnificent achievement), and rounded off their season with a fine victory over Felsted. A real team effort, girls, well done! Particular mention to Joey Zhou, who only started playing netball in January and was nominated POM by most of the opposing teams. Team: Cecily Royal-Dawson (Captain), Ella Reynard, Joey Zhou, Emily Outen, Bea Hutchison, Clara Simpson, Talia Fawcett, Olivia Field, Myla Hart, Ashleigh Wildbore, Maisy Webster and Erin Heffernan.
U14C
This was the first time we have entered an U14C team into the South Suffolk Netball league – which shows the sheer commitment and depth we have at Woodbridge. I cannot fault the girls’ motivated and determined approach in their competitive fixtures, especially playing against other schools’ A teams. Although we were unlucky to lose a few games, the standard of netball they played was terrific. Well done girls for all your hard work – bring on next season! Team: Lakisha Charema (Captain), Nina Varadarajan, Julia Long, Ruby Cole, Abby Cheung, Katie Bellhouse, Jo Dunmore, Gabby McKay, Jade Soames, Etiane Cheung and Basak Kayalik (who only started playing netball in January!).
Well done to the U12A team on their success this season. Not only did they win their South Suffolk Tournament (playing against the league teams), but they won their league as well! The team had some fantastic victories, and some extremely nail-biting games – particularly against Ipswich School where they came from behind in the last quarter to triumph. Their commitment, dedication and desire to do their best cannot be faulted…thank you! Well done to the team; Libbie Brightey (Captain), Steph Gifford, Maddie Buchanan, Esme Ball, Ruby Vinton, Beau Barrington-Hibbert, Ada Marson and Maggie Nicholson. Thank you also to Izzy Mitchell for stepping in during the tournament due to injury. A superb season girls, and one of which you should be very proud.
What a game!
After a quiet start with Milly Buckingham and Sarah Barker feeding the circle well, it was nonetheless Felsted who went ahead at the end of the first quarter. Determined to wrest back control, the girls set themselves the task of taking the lead by half time. We put in a sustained effort: Tess Lye and Joanne Garnett ruled our attacking circle and put some great shots in, Amy Graham and Sarah fed the circle brilliantly, and our defence of Katherine Bye and Tash Doole, along with Maud Peel made a huge defensive effort. 13-8 at half time! Back came Felsted, as we knew they would… and before long it was 14-15. Panic? Not a bit of it: the girls rallied strongly and finished the third and vital quarter 24-18 ahead.
So into the final quarter and Lucy Hudson made her presence felt with us playing some brilliant defensive netball, Sarah was the most determined I had ever seen her, and we kept our lead to win by 31-25. A great game and well worth the journey!
Well done, girls – and Mrs Johnson says what a pleasure you have been to teach all season.
King’s Ely have proven footballing credentials on the independent schools circuit; it was a wise choice all round for our firsts to play their seconds, and our seconds to play their thirds, and two cracking games ensued. The first team match began in febrile fashion which curtailed the quality of the football on display. Regular defender Nathan Lloyd and “stand-in” Olly Whiting had to be on sharp form to intercept a number of possible through balls as King’s made the early running. Nil-nil at half-time meant the game was on a knife-edge. Joe Farrall asserted greater influence and control in the second-half and there was better use of width; Will Clarke whipped in a cross that was missed by our first attacker but Seb Lamb was on hand to slot the ball home. A second Woodbridge goal came from a well-flighted set-piece delivery from Joe Farrall that was met with a towering header from Olly Whiting. There was a nervy end to the game with King’s pushing hard; Frank “Franky” Norman was on top form in goal and kept a well-earned clean sheet in his last appearance in a Woodbridge jersey. The game ended 2-0 to Woodbridge and the only sour note was an unfortunate knee injury to one of the visiting players; we wish him a full and speedy recovery. Over the season as a whole the 1st XI have made real progress; since Michaelmas Term we have played twelve competitive fixtures, winning six and losing six. A massive thank-you to all the boys involved for making it such an entertaining season.
This was an eagerly anticipated fixture; the same game last season produced a crushing 10 – 2 win in favour of St Felix and so we were keen to give a better account of ourselves this year. That said, a number of key players were rested to enable the coach to get a better view of the talent base in advance of next season.
It was therefore somewhat frustrating to arrive with a large development squad and yet only face a bare seven St Felix players. The solution was to switch to a small-sided pitch and play 7-a-side with plenty of rotation. St Felix set the early pace and took the lead with a well-taken goal; it would have been more of an advantage had Will Jennings not made a string of reaction saves at close range to keep us in the game. Steadily we fought our way back and after a string of good chances we eventually drew level and then went into the lead with two very accomplished finishes from budding young striker Harry Field.
In the second half we were determined to play a shorter brand of football than either side had managed in the first half; it paid handsome dividends. Goals from Henry Bange, Joe Farrall, Seb Lamb and two from the imposing Chisom Oguamanam secured a convincing second half performance and an overall 7–2 victory. The boys on show will make up the heart of the first team for next year and things are really looking up for Woodbridge football.
On Saturday 17 March, six of our top athletes competed for Suffolk at the England Schools’ Cross Country Championship in Leeds.
All 44 counties entered their top 8 athletes, so 352 elite cross country athletes competed in each race in the sleet and icy wind.
In the Junior Girls’ Race April Hill had the race of her season finishing in 12th place and just missing selection for the England Team (top 8) by 3 seconds after two miles in the mud. This was a quite fantastic effort at the highest level, an amazing return to form for April after a few years of injury disruption, and a very proud day for the Hill family.
Bea Thomas was immensely proud to earn her second England Schools’ badge (still aged only 13) and she once again competed very well against the best in England finishing in the 200’s.
In the Junior Boys’ Race Charlie Turner had his best ever result on the National stage finishing strongly in 23rd place. A top 25 at England Schools’ is an outstanding national level achievement. Charlie was only 45 seconds behind the winner.
Not to be outdone, Kit Evans Lombe had his best ever result at Nationals, finishing 101st. To give the result some context, after 4.1 km in the mud there were only 5 seconds between Kit and 82nd place.
In the Inter Boys’ Nathan Goddard was unlucky to pick up a midweek head cold but still travelled to compete for the Suffolk Team. Fighting hard all the way Nathan once again recorded a top 100 finish in 66th place. His Suffolk teammate, with whom he had run all year, finished 31st giving Nathan a pointer as to what might have been.
For Alex Evans Lombe, this was a debut England Schools’ performance and he competed exceptionally well to finish in the 200’s. Alex only started to take cross country seriously 18 months ago, and this winter he qualified for three County teams which is a testament to his work ethic and commitment.
Saving the best for last, the Junior Boys’ Suffolk Team unbelievably finished second overall in the team standings which is quite incredible when you consider the size of the County compared to the might of some of the other 43.
In fact, there were further Inter County Competitions on the day in which each county was classified according to population. Suffolk is a ‘C’ County and in that category Suffolk won the overall boys’ and were second in the girls’. A fantastic result!
Well done to all the Woodbridge School athletes for their contribution. A well-deserved rest lies ahead, before we switch to track and a long-awaited summer!
Please click here to find the running times for the equestrian One Day event taking place at Poplar Park on Sunday 18 March 2018
Last Saturday a number of our cross country athletes competed for Suffolk at the UK Inter County Cross Country in Loughborough.
Ruby Vinton was the outstanding performance for Suffolk on the day, finishing in 8th place in the U13 Girls’ race. To give this achievement some context: in March 2019 Ruby will be old enough to compete at England Schools’ Cross Country for the first time and 8th place in that event would earn an England Vest. This was an outstanding performance to round off an incredible first winter for Ruby at this level.
Overall Woodbridge School had eight athletes competing at the Inter Counties, which is an achievement in itself. For most, it was more an adventure than a race, with the muddiest conditions our young athletes had ever seen. Kit Evans Lombe was tripped face first into the mud early on in his race and by the time he stood up he was in last place. He made excellent progress which in an event where each of the 44 counties only enter their top eight athletes, is no mean feat.
Charlie Turner lost a spike (shoe) early on and the shoe was never seen again. Try running 4.5K in mud with one shoe. April Hill slid down a muddy bank and into a stream. It was so steep and slippery that it took forever to get out and a cold and wet April had little option other than to call it a day, living to tell the tale with a smile once warm. In terms of results, Charlie Turner (U15B) and Nathan Goddard (U17M) were on or around the top third, with Amy Goddard (U13G), Bea Thomas (U15G), Kit Evans Lombe (U15B) and Alex Evans Lombe (U17B) on or around the two third mark in their races.
This was a great experience at the highest level for these athletes, and one they will long remember!
At the weekend, Woodbridge riders were in the placings at the local British Eventing Competitions (Poplar Park Horse Trials).
Despite horrible conditions under foot the event was able to run.
Woodbridge riders proved their metal to take placings in several classes. Ada Marson (only 12 years old) was placed 4th in her first competition on her new ride in the BE80 section and Olivia Brown (13 years old Year 8) was placed 9th in the other BE80 section also on a new ride.
Gussie Terry was 10th in the Under 18 Novice section (competing at a height of 1.10m) and Tess Walker also completed with a double clear in the BE80 but she was competing HC as her pony.