13 December 2024
Mrs Caroline Treacy, Director of Sport
As the term draws to a close, it’s been another busy and exciting period for sport at Woldingham, with over 100 fixtures played across hockey, netball, swimming, cross country, football, indoor cricket, and tennis. Across all year groups, students have demonstrated incredible commitment, teamwork, and talent.
Netball
An action-packed half-term for Woldingham’s netball teams saw 60 matches played across friendlies, leagues, tournaments, and cup fixtures.
Our U14A team (main photo) finished in an excellent 6th place in the English Netball National Schools County Round. The team also reached the quarter-finals of the Sisters in Sport competition where, despite showing great determination, they were beaten by Lady Eleanor Holles School.
Our U13A team has also advanced to the Sisters in Sport quarter-finals, and will face Ibstock in the new year.
Netballers in Years 7-9 competed in our new Marden Development League, with team ‘Storm’ crowned champions.
Hockey
This half-term has been full of competitive and exciting matches.
The U13s showed determination in the Surrey Cup, narrowly missing Finals Day. Our 1st XI gave a strong showing in the England Hockey T2 Plate but were edged out by Eastbourne College. The U14A and B teams delivered strong performances, including standout wins against Freemen’s, while several Year 9 players impressed in their senior team debuts. Year 10 teams secured a victory against Colfe’s and narrowly lost to Freemen’s, while the U12s made great progress ahead of next term’s tournaments.
Congratulations to 1st XI player and sport scholar Lily O, Lower Sixth, who has been invited to join Epsom Ladies’ 1st team for the rest of the season.
Swimming
This has been a strong term for our swimmers, with our Year 9 team remaining unbeaten and many swimmers achieving personal bests and greater confidence in competition.
Zoe T in Year 9 (pictured below) swam outstandingly at Sri Lanka’s Junior National Short Course Swimming Championship, winning 4 golds, 1 silver, and breaking multiple junior national records, while adapting to challenging tropical conditions. Well done, Zoe.
Cross Country
At the district competition, our Year 8 and Year 9 teams achieved impressive 2nd place finishes, and excellent individual performances saw a number of our runners selected for the South Surrey Cross Country Squad - congratulations to Bella C in Year 8, Daisy L and Kayleigh O in Year 9 and Lower Sixth Formers Evie J and Amelia R on this achievement.
Football
More than 40 students from Years 7 to Upper Sixth have been training regularly this term, with senior players providing excellent role models. Our U14 team has shown great promise, including some brilliant goalkeeping from Chloe N and a superb goal against Merstham Park from Scarlett S.
Indoor Cricket
Winter nets have been well-attended across year groups, with our U13s and U15s impressing in their indoor district tournaments. The U13s narrowly missed county finals by one run, while the U15s have progressed to the next round. The U16s and 1st team performed brilliantly in a competition at Lord's, with the 1st team finishing as runners-up.
Special achievement
Congratulations to Noush D in Year 10 on her selection for the U16 England Rugby Developing Player Programme, where she will begin training soon.
It has been an immense pleasure to lead sport at Woldingham over the past 10 years. The talent, dedication, and potential shown by our students is remarkable, and I am excited to see what the future holds for them. I wish the girls and staff every success as they continue their sporting journeys.
