News
Cross Country, Mr Nicholls
This half term we have seen pupils competing in the Middlesex Cross Country and Radley Relay. Our pupils performed excellently and we look forward to growing our Cross Country programme as we progress through the term. The Middlesex Cross Country competition was a great individual event hosted by Harrow School. Mill Hill and Belmont pupils competed well in a very competitive event.
Fives, Mr Wiseman
Mill Hill has had a successful first half of the Lent term, entering many fixtures and tournaments whilst coming out of them with some wins. We are currently building up to tournament season with the following half term giving many of our pairs an opportunity to play in national qualifier events as well as nationals itself being held in Shrewsbury School this year.
Football, Mr Bedford
Our football teams have made good progress in the first half of term, with our new U14 players particularly impressing. In fact, our four U14 teams have only lost one game collectively by the time of writing. It’s been brilliant to see their enthusiastic and committed endeavours, both at training and in matches. In addition, our 1st and 2nd XIs have London and South-East cup fixtures to look forward to and hordes of players have been turning up to train for their teams. For the first time, we are now putting out a D team at U15 level to improve the opportunities available to a greater number of players.
Hockey, Mr Browne
History was made this week when the Girls’ 1st XI Hockey Team took home gold at the Tier 4 U18 National Hockey Tournament in Nottingham. After narrowly missing out on U16 and U18 Tier 1 National Indoor Finals qualification, the girls were determined to learn from earlier disappointments.
After travelling up on Sunday evening, the team were ready to begin their campaign bright and early on Monday morning. During the team meeting, the girls committed to ensuring that Finals Day would be enjoyable. This could only be achieved if they supported each other throughout the day and outworked the opposition. A sizeable Mill Hill crowd, including parents, staff and OM’s, were delighted with the speed, skill and defensive intensity on display, with the team finishing top of their pool and going into the final with a draw and two wins under their belt, with goalkeeper Sasha K keeping a clean sheet.
The final saw an inspiring display of team hockey provided to the many spectators who had travelled from all across the country to support. With a final score of 3-1, the celebrations began. Chloe D, also came away with the Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament Award, adding to the jubilant celebrations.
This accomplishment reflects the group’s dedication, hard work, and passion for their sport and their school. Not only have the players worked tirelessly, but so have the staff coaching and management teams. We couldn’t be prouder, and we can’t wait to see where this sport takes us in the future.
Netball, Ms Gibson
This term in Netball, 1st VII, U15C and U14B teams have had a phenomenal start to the season, finishing the half term undefeated. The 1st VII progressed to the quarter finals of the Sisters N Sport National Plate Competition after securing a home victory against South Hampstead School, winning the fixture 28-19.; details for the quarter finals will be announced next term. In the final weekend of the half term, the Netball teams played a block fixture against Queenswood School, with Mill Hill School winning five of the six fixtures. The U15B team took their second win of the season winning 22-17. We have also celebrated individual pupil success in Netball this term; well done to Rosie P who was selected into the Saracens Mavericks U17 Development Programme and Sophia B-O who was selected into the London Pulse U15 programme. I would like to thank all the pupils for their contribution to the success of the Netball at Mill Hill School this term; they should be proud of their achievements.
Tennis, Ms Ward
With the icy, wintry conditions we have had to endure this half of term, on court work has been somewhat limited, however several of our Tennis pupils have been quietly working behind the scenes in The Studio attending specific Tennis S&C sessions. This has focused very much on footwork, balance and cardio exercises along with some wall/ball work. Wobble boards, skipping ropes and weights have all been introduced to prepare pupils for getting back on the Tennis courts. Activity sessions will commence from the beginning of March for those wanting to play team tennis and there will be an opportunity to sign up on SOCS.
Outside of School, two of our performance players have achieved great accolades; Kim S has been selected to represent Middlesex in the County Cup Team which is being played at Bath University at the beginning of March and Guy L has been selected for Team Tennis GB for the JCC Maccabi Games which is being played in Fort Lauderdale, USA in August this year. Max R will also be competing over half term in LTA events to improve his ranking so we look forward to hearing how he progresses.
As we head towards March, both our Senior Boys Team and Senior Girls Team will be playing in the Aberdare and Glanville Cups respectively – this will be the first time a senior girls’ team will have entered this National event in the last ten years.
Individual Sport Successes, Mr Liffchak, Director of Sport
Congratulations to Noah E who has been called up to the Men’s Chilean Rugby World Cup Training Squad. Being Selected for an international adult training squad is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to his dedication and development as a rugby player. Noah said, “I’m very grateful to have been invited to the Chilean Rugby Training Squad, and I’m looking forward to working with top professional players and coaches. Being a part of the Mill Hill Sports Scholarship Programme has allowed me to continue my physical and mental development while away from the national training environment. The Scholarship Programme has allowed me to express myself and is assisting me on my journey to reaching my potential as a rugby player.”
Congratulations to Renee R who has qualified for the England Athletics Indoor Championships at the England Institute of Sport in Sheffield after running 7.51 seconds in the 60m U20/Senior London Indoor Games. Whilst returning to full fitness, she has applied herself to the Sports Scholarship Programme brilliantly, from strength and conditioning sessions to Sport Psychology, and we wish her the best of luck for the National Championships.
Congratulations to James C who won the GJW Direct Bloody Mary Pursuit Race, one of the biggest sailing races on the British Dinghy Calendar. James competed against 146 competitors which included previous Olympic medallists as well as many past and present World Champions.
This half term Danelle T became the first female Singaporean to play in a European football league when she came on as a half-time substitute for London Bees in their 2-1 defeat by Plymouth Argyle. This comes less than three months after Danelle became the first Singaporean to be accepted into a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 football programme in the USA where she will be joining College of William and Mary on a scholarship in 2024.
Danelle said, “I have always known that the path I am taking has not been tread before. Every step that I take breaks new boundaries and a good confirmation that I am heading in the right direction”.
Aaron Liffchak, Director of Sport said, “We are incredibly proud to be part of Danelle’s journey. She has made an enormous impact on all the staff and pupils in our Sports Scholarship Programme, and we are looking forward to seeing Danelle reach her goals.
