Sports Results
Skiiers achieve national success
Abbey Gate College skiers celebrate their first National Competition success!
Run by the English Schools’ Ski Association, the English National Schools’ Dry Slope Skiing Championships took place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October in Stoke. Qualifying races took place in September throughout the country and three teams from Abbey Gate College succeeded in reaching the finals this year. Most of the pupils are racing in age categories above their age and this makes their achievement all the more commendable.
The Under 14 boys’ B team beat the Abbey Gate College A team to qualify and finished in 7th place in the finals. This was a very good achievement by 4 novice racers: Joshua Buchanan, Ewan Haigh, Luke Nixon and Charlie Dearling.
The Under 16 boys finished in 8th position, just behind Reed’s School in Surrey and just ahead of the boys from Millfield School. Another sound performance from Digby Brereton, Ben Goodwin, Ben White and Harry Balmer.
Completing a very straightforward slalom course, the Under 19 girls finished in 6th place, just ahead of the Millfield girls and Surbiton High School B team. This was a sound performance by Sophie Caldwell and Christie Bell in Year 11, Zoe Karavasili in Year 10 and Ellie Parker in Year 9.
The Open Age Group Competition took place on Sunday 9th October.
The slalom course was much more technically demanding and 16 boys failed to complete the 2 required runs to register a finish. Digby Brereton (Year 9), Ben Goodwin (Year 10) and Rory Goodridge (Year 8) completed the first run successfully. All three completed the 2nd run, with an improved time from Ben White helping them to finish in 14th place. Although this was a creditable result from such a young team, unfortunately their 14th place was just one place outside qualification for the British Finals; less than 0.25 of a second stood between them and the finals.
Skiing the same course, the girls more than rose to the challenge. In the Girls’ Competition, Sophie Caldwell (Year 11) was 9th fastest skier over the 2 runs and Zoe Karavasili (Year 10) was 19th. Pressure was on our last skier, Ellie Parker (Year 9), to keep her nerves under control and complete both runs successfully in a competitive time. She produced two technically competent runs which enabled the team to slide into Bronze Medal position, less than half a second ahead of Millfield School.
“This was a fantastic finish to a successful weekend and a first medal in the Open Competition for Abbey Gate College and a real cause for celebration”. Mrs Sarah Campbell-Woodward (Race Club Manager).