SPORTS ROUND-UP

Athletics Assembly

We were recently treated to an assembly that explored the journey of athletics at St Albans School, reflecting on our past achievements, current status, and exciting future as the school prepares to become co-educational from Year 7 in September 2026.

Henry (OA) opened the session by sharing his experiences competing in English Schools Athletics, offering insights into how sport played an important role in his development during his time at the School. Phoebe (Upper Sixth Form) then spoke about her current involvement in girls’ athletics, highlighting the progress made so far and expressing optimism about the increased opportunities that co-education will bring. She emphasised the potential for a more inclusive and competitive environment for female athletes starting next year. Looking ahead, Obi, Charlie, and Tife, who are yet to compete in English Schools Athletics, shared their personal bests and goals. Their enthusiasm reflects a promising future for the school’s athletics programme.

The assembly concluded with a reflection on the question, “What is the future at St Albans School?” This was tied to the School’s Stretch & Challenge initiatives and current support for performance athletes. The School has set an ambitious target to become District Champions for girls by 2026. As we transition to a fully co-educational school, the athletics programme is evolving to offer more opportunities and greater competition for all students.

The U19 Netball Team competed in the District Tournament at Sandringham School. It was their first time playing together as a full team, and they demonstrated cohesive teamwork, resilience and competitive drive throughout the tournament, resulting in them coming away as well-deserved winners of the B pool!

They opened the tournament with a strong start, securing a 7-2 win against Roundwood Park, and continued to build on that momentum to win their second game 7-3 against St Columba's College. However, Sandringham proved to be more challenging, resulting in a 4 all draw, setting them up for an exciting final. St Albans School won the final 4-3, but not without immense defensive pressure and the sacrifice of one of our own players, who came off with an injury in the final 30 seconds of the match.

The team also travelled to Stanborough School to compete in the prestigious Anne Miles County Netball Tournament. Facing strong opponents including Haileybury, Leventhorpe, Bishop’s Stortford High School, and St Albans High School, the team rose admirably to the challenge despite difficult, windy conditions. They demonstrated impressive progression throughout the day, both individually and collectively. Captains Phoebe and Poppy controlled the mid-court with energy and precision, while Serena impressed in attack. Grace and Katie defended superbly, showing determination and teamwork. It was a rewarding and proud performance from all involved.

Phoebe captained the team successfully. It was extremely encouraging to see how quickly the team bonded, and we look forward to building on this success as the season progresses.

It was a fantastic day of rugby during the Rugby Festival at Woollams for our U13s, showcasing the impressive progress made this season. The team demonstrated excellent skills, running onto the ball with confidence, executing sharp off-loads, and showing much-improved tackling. A special congratulations to Benji, who was awarded the Warty for his relentless tackling, aggressive rucking, and powerful carries. Well done to all!