Abbey Gate College Founded by Deeside House Educational Trust Ltd Company Reg. No 01269507 Charity Reg. No 273586 |
Extra Curricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh 2007 / 2008 Duke of Edinburgh 2006 / 2007 Under 16 ISA League Champions are Crowned Chester and District Table Tennis Champions CHESTER GIRLS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT MONDAY 12TH NOVEMBER In the wind and rain at Upton High School, the College’s first girls football team took part in their first ever tournament. Considering that most of the girls had never had any football training prior to September, they acquitted themselves very well and were not outplayed by any of the teams, despite the fact that some of the opposition had clearly been playing together for years rather than weeks. In the first game the girls were very unlucky to lose by an own goal in the last minute, and then they played Bishops High School, who were the best team in the tournament. They struggled against a stronger opposition and a strong wind and did well to only lose by three goals. With the wind at their backs, and despite 2 defeats, confidence was now high. The girls gave a very good performance against Kings School and Maisie Elliott nearly scored College’s first goal of the evening with a shot from the half way line, but in the end the girls were content to have earned their first point in a nil nil draw. In the final game, a powerful Christleton side took a 2-goal lead, but, to their credit, the girls continued to play attacking football and were rewarded with a goal scored by Jasmine Fennell. College ended the game much the better team but could not get the equaliser. Sadly they do not make it through to the next round of the competition, though you would never know it from the excited chatter on the bus on the way home. Special mention must go to Aliya in goal who made some excellent saves and Sophie who played at the heart of the defence all tournament. There are girls in the tournament who will now think twice about going into a fifty fifty challenge with Sophie again! For a first ever tournament the girls should be proud of themselves and I look forward to many more evenings like this. Well done. Mr.Allmand SQUAD: Emily Parkinson (coach), Aliya Biggs, Sophie Jenkins, Olivia Ward, Ellie Hook, Maisie Elliott, Helen Lightfoot, Rebecca Millington, Jasmine Fennell, Isobel Shelock, Alex Cutbill, Cara Grimes (reserve). IF THERE ARE ANY GIRLS WHO HAVE STILL NOT BEEN TO PRACTICE ON A WEDNESDAY LUNCHTIME THEN PLEASE COME ALONG – (AND BRING A FRIEND!). ALL AGES AND ALL ABILITIES WELCOME. Ski Race TeamLATEST : 2007 British Schoolgirls’ ChampionshipsThe girls’ team took part in the 2007 British Schoolgirls’ Championships held at Flaine in France last week. The pupils taking part were Stephanie Campbell-Woodward in Year 11 and Georgina Gardner-Stockley in Year 9. Owing to the poor snow conditions the Giant Slalom was cancelled and replaced by a second slalom. This might seem easier but there were at least 40 gates to be negotiated in each race.
In the first slalom Stephanie finished 6th in her age group and 19th overall, Georgina finished 9th in her age group and 47th overall. This meant that the team was 10th fastest British based team. The second race was tighter and more technical and both girls found it a little more challenging. However they skied with determination and produced a sound result. Stephanie was 12th in her age group and 27th to finish, Georgina was 13th in her age group and 52nd to finish. Once again the team were 10th.
Both results were then combined and Stephanie was 6th fastest British based girl in her age category and 19th in the overall competition, Georgina was 9th fastest in her age category and 40th overall. This placed Abbey Gate College in a final 12th position out of a total of 50 teams and gave us our best result to date as 9th fastest British based school team. To add to this considerable success, Georgina achieved 3 medals as a British-based non-registered skier in her age category. Silver in the first Slalom, Bronze in the second race and Silver for her combined result.
Owing to the success of the Monday after school ski club, we were able to send 2 teams of boys for the first time to the Schoolboys’ Championships in Les Menuires, also in France. Taking part were Cameron Ryalls in Yr 7, Harry Silcock in Yr 8, Robert Cross, Mattew Clauson, Thomas Dickinson, Robbie Dudley and Alex Shaw in Yr 9 and Oliver Moore in Yr 10. The boys were fortunate and the conditions in the Three Valleys ski area were ideal for racing. The pistes were hard-packed and the skies were blue every day. The two teams took part in a head-to-head slalom on Sunday, and although they were both knocked out on the first leg, it was a useful experience, given that most were racing on snow for the first time and this was an FIS accredited piste, constructed for the 1992 Olympics. There were 108 starters in the Children’s category of the Slalom. Having completed 2 runs which were both quite technical, Robert Cross finished 30th in his age category and 39th overall, Matthew Clauson was 66th, Harry Silcock 77th, Cameron Ryalls 80th, Thomas Dickinson 82nd, Robbie Dudley 86th, and Alex Shaw 88th. Oliver Moore skied well but had a little trouble in negotiating the finish line on the first run! The first run of the Giant slalom was fast but some of the gates were very offset and all the boys did well to finish and produce steady times. The 2nd course was faster and by now the boys had the technique and confidence to produce smooth turns and let the skis run. The course was 3 seconds faster than the first run but our boys improved their times by between 5 and 8 seconds. Robert finished 51st, Matthew 62nd, Robbie 73rd, Harry 74th, Thomas 82nd, Cameron 83rd, Alex 88th and Oliver came 55th in the Junior Category.
Man of the Piste has to be Alex Shaw for courage, attitude and determination not to let his team down. He finished every run, despite the odd entertaining 360 degree turn in the middle of the race piste! Whilst our results were not individually stunning, the boys proved that teamwork is of vital importance and the A team came away with a Silver medal as 2nd fastest British-based team in the Children’s category. SCW 23/2/07
Junior Department:Sophie Caldwell, Zoe Karavasili, Rebecca Morris, Anna Holden, James Faulkener, Ben Goodwin, Leo Karavasili, Seniors:Sarah Narici, Hayley Oakes, George Bryant, Robert Marks, Robert Faulkener, Xavian Campbell, Matthew Waterworth,
Pupils who are members of the ski team are usually members of Snowsports Ski Club. The club is run by Chris Hill and his team of trainers who coach at Runcorn Dry Ski Slope on Wednesday evenings, at 7-9pm. The club organises race and training camps for children and adults on snow throughout the year. New members who can ski parallel (or almost!) are welcome. In addition the club runs a training session for Abbey Gate College on Mondays after school. Mrs Campbell-Woodward takes them in the minibus at 4pm and they return at about 6.20pm. Cost: Snowsports Club Membership annual fee and £5.00 per Monday session. Club website:www.snowsportsengland.com Results English Schools’ Ski Association Dry Slope Championship 2001: U16 Boys qualified and came 6th in the final. 2002: U14 Girls qualified and came 5th in the final. 2003: U16 Girls qualified and came 6th in the final. 2004: U16 Girls qualified and came 4th in the final. 2005: U16 Girls came 2nd in the qualifying round. S. Campbell-Woodward, S. Narici, G. Gardner-Stockley, L. Goodwin U14 Boys came 7th in the final. S. Williams, J. Ivill, R. Cross, T. Dickinson 2006: U19 Girls came 3rd in the qualifying round. S. Campbell-Woodward, Georgina Gardner-Stockley, Alexa Clauson, Lara Goodwin. East Midlands Ski Association, Swadlincote, Derbyshire 2002: U14 Girls were 5th fastest team. 2004: U16 Girls were 8th fastest team (3rd Girls’ team). North-West Ski Federation, Pendle, Lancashire 2002: U14 Girls were 1st 2003: U16 Mixed Team were 1st 2005: U16 Girls were 1st, U14 Boys were 2nd 2006: U16 Girls were 13th overall & 1st in their age category. Out of the British based teams:
Diary Dates British Alpine Racing Snow Clubs – Children & Junior championships in Les Menuires, France. January 1st-5th 2007. Pre-season Training Sessions at Rossendale British Schoolgirls’ Championships Rossendale Summer League 2007: Salomon Xscape Indoor Race Series The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
The Scheme is available to Fourth Year pupils at the start of the Spring Term. They are then able to opt for either the Silver or Bronze Awards. During the Summer Term and the Autumn Term of their Fifth Year they receive training for the Expedition Section. Usually the Expedition Assessment will take place at the end of the Spring Term of the Fifth Year. All of the training and the Assessment itself takes place in North Wales - in Snowdonia, the Clwydian Range and the Berwyns. The College has sufficient equipment to cater for up to 17 students at a time. Regarding the Service Section, most candidates opt for the excellent 'Life Saver Plus' First Aid Course provided by the St John Ambulance. The trainers visit the College over a period of several weeks and the students are assessed by health professionals. In the past students have also chosen other means of fulfilling the Service requirement by working in old peoples homes, in charity shops and by joining the Chester Leos with the intention of raising money for various charities. The Skills and Physical Recreation Sections are well catered for by the College. This is a wide range of musical, dramatic and sporting opportunities outside school hours available for students to take advantage of. The College is able to offer the Gold Award to Sixth Form students. The centrepiece of this is a 4-day 50 mile backpack - quite an undertaking for a 16 year old. The College is also fortunate in having close connections with the Tall Ships Association and is able to subsidise students who are interested in taking part in a multi-day cruise as part of the crew. This would fulfil the requirements of the Residential Section. The number of students opting for the Award Scheme is growing steadily from year to year. As well as looking impressive on their CV's or UCAS application forms, the candidates generally have a great deal of fun whilst pursuing all four Sections of the Award, and generally, become better citizens because of it.
Latest Dukeof Edinburgh Pictures 2007
Horse
Riding Alice Stones achieved the greatest height of 3’3’’ in the Chase Me Charlie. Charlie Davies, Rebecca Stones, Jeremy Waterworth and Rachel Preston won the 2’3’’ Inter Schools Challenge. Infact, they were the only team to jump four double-clear rounds. Jeremy Waterworth came third in the Individual 2’6’’ competition. Caroline Duffin, Elizabeth Brodie, Jeremy Waterworth and Charlie Davies came fourth in the 2’9’’ Inter Schools Challenge. Abbey Gate proved to be the most successful school in the competition; their excellent debut performance should be credited to Mrs. Davies who organised and managed the team. Congratulations to all the riders competing for the school and to the individual ‘open’ competitors also from Abbey Gate – Ellie Gibson, Katy Preece and Abigail Stubbs. Anyone wishing to be considered for any future competitions should see Mrs. Davies.
Independent Schools One Day Event – Stonar School – Wiltshire Team members Camilla Churton, Caroline Duffin and Rebecca Logan represented the College in the 15 years and over competition on the Sunday, and Charlotte Davies competed in the under 15’s on the Saturday as an individual competitor. All four girls regularly compete at eventing both through their Pony Club and via British Eventing, and were well prepared for what the competition entailed.
Left to Right Charlie Davies – Rebecca Logan – Caroline Duffin-Camilla Churton On the Saturday, a solid dressage performance for Charlie and her pony Harvey put them in 3rd place.However, they managed to lower the very last fence in the show jumping section and this pushed them down to 9th place. A clear run with the cross country phase meant they maintained their 9th place. Ribbons were awarded to 10th place out of 44 competitors in each section, and Charlie was proud to receive a ribbon on the College’s behalf. There were 10 sections with 44 in each section in this competition. Charlie was 49th overall.
Charlie Davies & Kings Court Harlequin On the Sunday the senior team started off brilliantly with some excellent dressage tests produced by all three, with Camilla Churton scoring a personal best. Rebecca Logan went on to lower 2 fences in the show jumping, but with an excellent dressage test was left in the running for a possible individual place. Sadly Camilla had a very nasty fall in the show jumping, but bravely re-mounted to attempt to finish the final two fences. Caroline also had a fall (spooky fences) and she also re-mounted her horse April and completed the course with one fence down.
Camilla Churton and Allercombe Maria The Cross Country stage proved more challenging for Team Abbey Gate, and they finished the day unplaced, but undeterred and ready to have another go next year. As one weary parent was overheard to say as her daughter cleared a cross country fence without her pony, “That’s horses for you”. The weekend brought lots of challenges both mentally and physically for all involved – including 4 sets of dedicated parents who happily drove for 7 hours to Wiltshire, experienced a fantastic electrical storm at 3 am, and still managed to get to the stables on Sunday morning at 6 am, and were still smiling as they left for another 7 hour journey home! Thanks also to Miss. Flatman who was on hand to support and encourage all the girls in their efforts and for keeping me awake on the journey home.
Looking forward to next year already!! Leesa Darlington Davies Southview Equestrian Event The youngest member Edward Stubbs from J4 had two very exciting rounds, and collected a third place ribbon on his very clever pony Blue. I think the girls should watch out for Edward, he was a very determined little competitor and deserved his third place ribbon. Alice Stones and Abigail Stubbs gained entry into the jump off for both their classes, and both girls narrowly missed out on ribbons. Alice and Abigail displayed some skilful horsemanship to gain double clears in both their competitions. Well done to them both. Francesca Shaw and her new pony Treacle were the most successful team members this time gaining two fifth place ribbons in both of their classes. A speedy combination whom whizzed around the course in both classes. Well done to all involved and many thanks to the parents for spending their Saturday at Southview.
Edward Stubbs and Blue – Gaining third place.
Abbey Gate College Junior Equestrian Team. Left to right Abigail Stubbs, Alice Stones and Francesca Shaw. Front Edward Stubbs. Return to Home Page |
