School sports have emerged from the pandemic with a vengeance with students recording their best results for years.
Young athletes from Barnard Castle School have reached the highest levels in a range of sports including rugby, hockey, cricket, equestrian and netball.
In rugby, the first XV reached the semi-final of the National Cup, the semi-finals of the North of England 7s and won the Mount St Mary’s 7s and the Durham 10s. They also reached the semi-final of Rosslyn Park 7s and finished 3rd in Sedbergh 10s. The senior second team was unbeaten at the end of the season.
Jacob Oliver and Jake Metcalf were selected for U17s England training and Joe Davis was selected as scrum half for the Falcons U18 side at just 16. Fourteen pupils were selected for U17/18 Newcastle Falcons, four were picked for their U16 squad, three pupils were selected for U18 County, three were selected for U16 Durham Performance Pathway, eight were chosen for the U15 and two for U14 DPP. Eleven more pupils qualified as youth rugby referees.
The U12s finished 2nd in the County 7s tournament and the U13s won the County 7s. The U15s won the Pocklington 7s and the U14s won the group to qualify for the second day of the Rosslyn Park 7s for the first time in many years.
Director of rugby Lee Dickson said: “I could not be prouder of them all. They have come out of the pandemic flying.”
Boys’ hockey took off with 15 pupils representing County. Thirty one girls were also selected for County with Hetty Barwick and Alice Burton picked for the U12 County team a year young.
Eve Pepper was selected for the Regional Performance Centre and Annie Barker was chosen for U15 North Yorkshire Hockey. The U13 girls competed in the NE Regional Finals finishing 3rd overall. From U10-U14 age groups Barney are county champions. Four pupils gained their level one Hockey umpiring award.
Head of hockey Jack Tranter, who plays in goal for Wales, will be competing in the Commonwealth Games and World Cup later this year and trains at the weekend in Cardiff, said: “It is our first full season since the pandemic and it has been fantastic.
“Special mention must go to Eve Pepper, Abi Crowther, Alfie Webber, Bruno Kinlen, Chris Iredale, Felix Havry, who have been training with Durham University’s elite players.”
The school has seen a huge increase in cricket, particularly from the girls as it replaces rounders in popularity.
Newly appointed head of cricket Lee Clough said: “We are at an exciting stage for cricket with over 600 playing across all ages and genders with many playing in their own time.”
Barney’s U13 and U15 teams qualified for the regional finals of the Lady Taverners’s Cup. The U13s went on to finish 4th at the finals and the U15s were 3rd.
Charlie Coulthard signed his first contract with Durham as part of the Emerging Players Programme. Bea Dolby, 15, has been selected for Durham County as a right arm seam bowler, alongside Amelie Butterick and Hattie Robson. Batsman and right arm leg spin bowler William Shaefer has been picked to play county cricket for North Yorkshire.
The first team Squash qualified for the National Schools Squash Championships progressing to the semi-finals and reaching 3rd place overall.
In netball, the girls competed in 79 games and successfully achieved 3rd place in the annual Queen Margaret’s tournament. Izzy Burgess was selected for the U19 England Roses Academy Positional training as well as the Senior Regional Squad. Three pupils were selected for U15 County and two picked for U13 County while the U18 girls finish 2nd.
In swimming, Laura Burgess gained 1st ranking in the region and is a favourite for the national competition.
The equestrian team has almost doubled in size across both Prep and Senior School and they have competed successfully in a record number of competitions in show jumping, dressage and eventing.
Gymnastics saw Anna Metcalf win the Cooper Classic Challenge Cup, coming 1st on beam, bars and floor and 4th in the vault. In football, Jess Whittaker made her debut for Middlesbrough FC’s ladies.
Director of sport Rachael Masterman said: “We are incredibly proud of all of our athletes who show daily the right attitude, resilience and determination.”