Sports news

Netball Overview

Over the Autumn term the Senior Netball teams have played many fixtures and several tournaments. St Catherine’s has played matches against The Hall, Emmanuel, Surbiton High, Harrodian, Putney Park, St Benedicts, Ursuline and Ibstock Place Schools. Well done to the Year 8 team, in particular, who beat The Hall by an impressive 13 – 7 in a home fixture and also for coming in Third place out of seven schools and receiving bronze medals in the U15 Small Schools’ Tournament. Due to the high popularity of the netball clubs this term there are more netball fixtures arranged to take place after the Christmas break.

Well done to both Years 5 and 6 after a splendid effort on the netball court against the Old Vicarage School last week. Year 5 drew 2 – 2. Year 6 lost 9 – 1.  Good effort, everyone.

Senior Inter-house Swimming Gala

The Senior Inter-house Swimming Gala took place on 10 and 11 November 2009. Just under a hundred girls in Years 7 to 11 competed in the gala which took place after school over two days. There was a great atmosphere in the pool as the swimmers gave their best efforts in their events and cheered in support of their houses. Pippa Wood in 10C gave an outstanding performance in the Year 10/11 Butterfly. The final results will be announced once the Prep Inter-house Swimming Gala has taken place and the scores can be combined.

Miss E Taylor, Miss A Breach and Mrs S Ward
P.E. and Swimming Teachers

P.E. Lessons

P.E. lessons for Years 10 and 11 have been taken outside of the classroom and into Bushy Park for a three week Horse Riding initiative. Pupils have had the opportunity to learn the basics of horse riding or develop their existing talents. All those new to the sport were able to trot independently or reined, and some of the more experienced girls enjoyed the freedom of cantering or even galloping in the open spaces of Bushy Park. Due to the success of integrating Horse Riding into the P.E. lessons, we are aiming to repeat this opportunity giving other pupils across the year groups access when the clocks change in 2010. If you cannot wait that long Park Lane Stables are a small but extremely welcoming stables based in Teddington. They are a registered Pony Club Centre offering young people the chance to learn stable management as well as develop riding skills in an excellent environment. The stables also offer adults the chance to enjoy the sport, with Ride Outs and Hacks in the beautiful backdrop of Bushy Park. For more information check out their website www.parklanestables.co.uk or phone 07796 842 328.

Wakeboarding

Each month the PE department will be running a ‘have a go’ session focusing on a new sport or activity. The sessions will be after school and may incur extra cost, but will give pupils the opportunity to try new sports which they may not have previously had the chance to do. wakeboard What is it? Wakeboarding is a water sport where a rider stands on a buoyant board and is pulled across the water by a motorboat or cable. The rider’s feet are kept firmly on the board with rubber binds, and because of these, it is steered much in the same way as a snowboard. Wakeboarding is the fastest growing water sport in the world and now has over three million participants worldwide. 63% of these participants are under the age of 24. The wakeboarding session will be offered to all senior pupils. Places will be of a limited number so a quick response is important to guarantee a place. Any girls interested to try it out; information will be provided in assembly and given to your Form Sports Captain next week.

ISA London West Athletics Championships

On Wednesday 3rd June 38 Senior School pupils and 20 Prep pupils travelled to The Thames Valley Athletics Centre in Eton to compete in the ISA London West Athletics Championships. It was a great day with 18 schools, including over 900 athletes, competing in the event. The St Catherine’s pupils represented the school extremely well, showing their athletic ability as well as their positive attitude and impeccable sportsmanship.

Commendable Results:

Every Year 7 and Year 10 pupil who competed was placed in the top 8 in their event. (Full results are displayed on the Senior Sports Notice Board) All the Prep pupils who competed were placed in the top 6 in their event.

Medal Winners:

Gold Lydia Pourmand Yr 10/11 JAVELIN Michel le Menkiti Yr 6 150m Maisie Jameson Yr 6 HIGH JUMP Silver Lydia Pourmand Yr 10/11 DISCUS Jessica Warrior Yr 8/9 1500m Aisling O’Brien Yr 7 HIGH JUMP Bronze Michelle Menkiti Yr 6 LONG JUMP Prediya Kottyal Yr 6 SHOT PUTT Nationals selection: Four St Catherine’s pupils have been selected to represent London West at the ISA National Championships in Birmingham on Wednesday 24th June. Congratulations to Lydia Pourmand, Jessica Warrior, Michelle Menkiti and Maisie Jameson. We wish them every success at the Championships and look forward to hearing about the experience.

Scuba Diving

St Catherine’s PE Department is delighted to have made a link with a PADI certified instructor who is able to offer scuba diving in our school swimming pool. So far there have been some successful and very enjoyable taster sessions, offered to both pupils and adults. The taster sessions ran for an hour and participants were able to try the sport in a safe and relaxed environment, trying out some techniques and playing underwater frizbee! More taster opportunities will be offered in the future, and the Open Water PADI course will be running soon- details to be confirmed.

Elements of fitness

Years 10 and 11 are being given the opportunity in their PE lessons to try a variety of sports and activities to develop their understanding of opportunities available to them. The aim is to promote life long participation in physical activity. Over the next couple of months the pupils will try the following activities:

  • Boxercise
  • Aerobics
  • Pilates
  • Workout dvd
  • Rock climbing ~ using indoor climbing facilities
  • Canoeing – pupils will be introduced to the sport and coached by a national BCU coach.
  • Top Golf – Target Golf driving range

100_0547100_0552100_0544 Click for larger images

Congratulations to Year 10 pupil, Charlotte Pearce, for winning the U14 Doubles and being a Quarter Finalist in the U14 Singles.

Cross Country at Radnor Gardens

cross-country During the first two weeks back after the Christmas break all Senior girls went off-site in their PE lessons to complete a tough cross country course at Radnor Gardens. Despite the weather all the girls made a superb effort to finish the course. The routes around the park have been tailored to each year group and get progressively harder through Years 7 to 11. Well done to the following girls who were the fastest runners in their year groups having set high standards for future pupils to aim for: Tamara Sidwell (Year 7), Jessica Warrior (Year 8), Alice Harper (Year 9), Neviea Thevananth (Year 10) and Claire Leslie (Year 11). Miss Breach PE Teacher