Summer Representative Sport

School sport is now well up and running but during the summer break many of our students continued their sporting participation attending camps and taking part in lots of recreational activities. For some, the summer was a little more serious, as quite a number of our pupils played competitively on representative teams. In many cases they were inspired by former pupils who continue to make their mark on their chosen activities.

BMX

New to the school, year 8 pupil Amelia Martin, headed off last week to represent Northern Ireland, at the BMX European Championships in Belgium.

Athletics

After a very successful Track and Field Season with the school, a number of our athletes went on to enjoy further success over the summer. Freya Boyce, Donatas Jermkovas and Alex Watson were selected onto the Ulster Schools team for the Interprovincial championships. On the back of his result there, Donatas was then selected to throw javelin for the Irish Schools squad that travelled to Wales for the annual Schools International meet where he earned 6th place. Athletes in school will also have noted former pupil Tom Crudgington’s history making feat, as he finished 2nd in the iconic Ben Nevis race – the highest placing by an Irish male in the race’s history.

Cricket

In Cricket, Alex Carville toured Scotland with Ulster Schools' in July, Tom Martin was part of the NCU U19 talent pathway, James Wright was part of the Cricket Ireland Invitational XI, Ireland and NCU U17 and U19 talent pathway; Dylan McCann, Caleb Armstrong and Fraser Mitchell represented NCU U15 development during the summer. On the girls side, Niamh Lowry, Emily Carville and Joscelyn Wright all represented NCU U15 and U17 this summer. Most impressively, Joscelyn was also selected to represent the NCU Senior Women's team and Ireland U17.

Rugby

All eyes were on the Olympics this summer with not one but two former pupils representing Ireland in the 7s rugby competition in the form of Zac Ward and Ashleigh Orchard (nee Baxter). On the back of his form in Paris Zac has recently been awarded a trial period with the senior Ulster Squad. His classmate and former Head Girl Brittany Hogan will be able to offer lots of advice having played a pivotal role in the Ulster Women’s Squad throughout their Interprovincial Series. Brittany also featured in the Irish Women’s victory over the Australian Wallaroos.  

Our own pupils populated a number of the underage provincial sides. Ryan Halpin played for Ulster U19s, Josh McCaughey and Lewis Connolly played with the Ulster U18s while Matthew Horner, Oran Denvir and Ruben Watson were on the U16 Training Squad.

Soccer

The school bid farewell to Scott Hamilton this year as he took up a contract with the Nottingham Forest Academy. Scott signed a two year scholarship deal with the club in August although had to travel home in late August to play for the Northern Ireland U17s. In the year group below, Scott MaCleod, was part of the Co. Down Premier Squad that finished 3rd in the Premier Section of the Supercup NI. Across the water, former pupil Ella Haughey signed with West Bromwich Albion It was also interesting to hear about former pupil, David Forsythe’s elevation through the coaching ranks, as he is now the Assistant Coach for the Loughborough Men’s Football Club.

Sailing

Year 14 pupil Abbie Stocking represented Northern Ireland at the RSFeva World Championships in Bruinisse, Netherlands finishing 79th in a 173 boat field and 18th out of the 43 British boats in the fleet.

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