Well done to the 9 runners who all qualified from the Area event last term to take part in the County Cross Country event at Temple Park, South Shields.

• Tommy Cunningham, 7R
• Jack Watson, 7M
• Nathan Hume, 7A
• Lily Heaton, 7A
• Nicole Teasdale, 7B
• Alex Carr, 7A
• Grace Rathgate, 7B
• Ross Charlton, 8S
• Luke Tait, 8N

They did extremely well just to get to this stage and all ran with great determination and attitude.

Particular well done to Ross (3rd), Tommy (8th), Lily (9th) who have all qualified for the Inter-Counties Event.

Results

Northumberland School Games Qualifying round (level 2):

• Y5 Football – Great efforts go to our 3 boys teams who took part in this festival. Our ‘A’ team were just pipped into 2nd place on goal difference. Special mention must go to our ‘C’ team who beat their Chantry counterparts 23-3!
• Y5/6 Girls Football – Well done to our girls’ team who were winners of this event and will now represent the Area in the Summer Games in June.
• Y5/6 mixed Tag Rugby at Morpeth Rugby Club – another chance to put 3 teams into this competition, so well done to those who took part and in particular those that represented the school with great attitude, behaviour and commitment.
• Y7/8 Level 3 indoor rowing at Cambois Rowing Club – Superb effort for our indoor rowers who took part in this fantastic new sport. Particular congratulations to Ryan Charlton (Y8 boys 1st), Luke Tait (Y8 boys 3rd) and Elena Saunders (Y7 girls 4th) who will now represent the county in the regional finals at Durham University on 15th April 2015.
• Y8 Volleyball at Ponteland – well done to our 4 teams who took part with great enthusiasm and determination. After only limited training the girls’ teams finished 2nd and 4th, and the boys finished 2nd and 3rd. Fantastic effort!

Other sporting results/events

A fantastic set of results at the Sportshall Athletics event at Kirkley Hall last month.

• Y5/6 Sportshall Athletics – 1st
• Y7 Boys Sportshall Athletics – 1st
• Y7 Girls Sportshall Athletics – 2nd
• Y8 Boys Sportshall Athletics – 1st
• Y8 Girls Sportshall Athletics – 2nd

The teams who finished 1st will now represent the Area at the County Finals at Morpeth Leisure Centre next year – U11s – 30th Jan; U12s/U13s – 6th Feb.

U12s Girls 5-a-side football tournament – 2nd

Area Cross country event at Woodhorn Colliery, Ashington – well done to our Y7/8 pupils who took part in this event, particularly to Tommy Cunningham (1st) and Lily Heaton (2nd) along with Jack Watson, Nathan Hume, Nicole Teasdale, Alex Carr, Grace Bathgate, Ross Charlton, Luke Tait and Izzy McCormack who will now represent the Area at the County Finals at Temple Park on 20th Jan 2015.

Judo taster sessions for Y5/6 on 8/9.12.14 – great enjoyment was had by our KS2 pupils in sessions led by Patrick Tucker from ‘Destination@BritishJudo’ club. Club contact : [email protected]. Classes on a Tuesday at St James Community Centre in Morpeth.

Y5 Skipping festival, 11.12.14 – All our Y5 pupils had a go at many fun skipping activities led by Chris Corcoran. About 30 pupils will take their skills to a tournament held at Chantry in March.

U11s football – well done to our U11s team who beat Dame Allans 2-1 in the County Cup. They will now play in the Quarter Finals held next year.

November rugby saw a return to the more traditional Saturday mornings meaning an early start for the U13 team, Mr Shaw and the parents who have very kindly supported, albeit whilst wrapped up warm.

The first game of the month was against a well-organised Dame Allan’s team and as we entered the game undefeated this season we knew that we would be tested from the start.

With some key forwards missing, the opening exchanges were difficult to get a strong grip of the game but the ball soon started to flow and saw the Cheviot take a 17-0 lead with only 20 minutes left to play.

Dame Allan’s were clearly shaken and not about to throw in the towel, and through their strong and well drilled forward pack started to move their team around the pitch scoring 2 tries to cut the deficit to 17-10 with 5 minutes to play.

The next 5 minutes was an incredible battle and the pressure was on the Cheviot but through some unbelievable defence in the face of adversity we held on for a well-deserved win 17-10.

The next Saturday morning game was against Longridge Towers in Berwick. Playing against another independent school we knew that we had to be ready from the start.

Playing on a football pitch that was knee deep in thick mud it was never going to be an open running game however the players soon realised this and the forwards got stuck in. The rucking and mauling was exceptional and the backs had beautiful shape all afternoon so when the ball did come wide the ball was passed easily and points were scored. The Cheviot ran out eventual winners 49-7 despite Longridge utilising two of the Cheviot substitutes meaning at one point it was 17 players v 15.

All in all it was another highly successful month and it was made all the more special as the players got to wear their brand new kit, kindly sponsored and donated by Mr Weatherburn, a parent of an U13 player at Newminster.

Mr Shaw would like to congratulate all the players for their hard work and dedication to Saturday morning school rugby but also he would like to thank the parents who are always on the side lines and give 100% to ensure their child is able to participate.

Finally a big thank you to Simon Clemmitt and James Richfield for travelling on the school bus and helping out on the trips – I know it brought back a lot of fond memories from when they used to play Saturday school rugby.

Over this last half term our pupils have taken part in a huge variety of sporting opportunities. Here are some of the highlights.

Football

Well done to the girls U11s team who will now represent the Area in the County Competition on Saturday 24th January. Could parents please inform club teams well in advance, so they know the girls will be involved in this. Many thanks.

We entered 2 teams into the U11s boys’ event this month and huge praise to both teams for their effort, commitment and attitude. Very well done to Team 1 (Dan Lloyd, James McConnell, Joe Buxton, Ben Morrison, David Jenkinson, Ollie Smith, Ben Loknes and James Herron) who were only beaten on penalties in the semi-final, to the eventual winners, Bothal.

The U12s boys team went a step further and got to the Final and after a great battling performance, demonstrating a fantastic positive attitude throughout, were also beaten off Bothal. Very well done to the team – Alex Blake, Angus Stout, Tommy Cunningham, Will Milburn, Josh Nelson, Matty Woodfine and Jake Bishop.

Rugby

For the third year running the boys are competing as a joint ‘Three Rivers’ team with Chantry, and this year we have fixtures against many ‘rugby playing’ private schools.

Marathon Challenge

Well done to the Y8s who took part in this year’s ‘Save the Children’ Marathon Challenge. Pupils from Newminster, Chantry and KEVI ran in relay to complete the marathon distance (26.2 miles).

They were competing against teams from 40 all over the world, in order to raise money for Save the Children. You can compare how the teams have done on this website.

The idea was to attempt to get close to the Marathon World Record times of 2:02:57 (Dennis Kimetto) and 2:15:25 (Paula Radcliffe). Our teams finished in times of 2:03:20 and 2:03:40, finishing 11th and 12th in the world, and once again achieving the fastest time in the North East! Most importantly they raised nearly £100 for the charity.

Well done to the following participants:

• Joe Briddon, 8C
• Reiss Brunton, 8C
• Anna Railton, 8C
• Patrick Darroch, 8N
• Luke Haxell, 8N
• Luke Tait, 8N
• Charlie Deacon, 8N
• Caitlin Love, 8N
• Izzy McCormack, 8N
• Eve Roberts, 8N
• Mark Booth, 8S
• Sam Bradley 8S
• Jame Brady, 8S
• Ross Charlton, 8S
• Cameron Lane-Fox, 8S
• Lewis Thompson, 8S
• Shannon Dodds, 8S
• Robert Eadington, 8B
• Joel Tilmouth, 8B
• Josh Mole, 8B
• Reuben Wilkinson, 8B
• Louisa Dale, 8B
• Carla Barker, 8B

Northumberland School Games

The Level 2 Northumberland School Games got underway this month with the first competitions, hockey and football.

Results:

Y5 Hockey – 3rd and 4th

Y6 Hockey – 3rd and 6th

Y7/8 girls’ football – 2nd

Y7 boys’ football – 2nd

A score line often doesn’t reflect exactly on how well a team has played but I’d like to congratulate all our players who have played with a fantastic effort and determination.

It’s a pleasure to work with pupils with this attitude and team spirit irrespective of a score line. There have been more events so far this year than ever before, roll on next half term!

Level 2 events next half term:

• 14.11 – Y5/6 mixed Tag Rugby at Morpeth Rugby Club
• 20.11 – Y6-8 Sports hall Athletics at Concordia
• 21.11 – Y5 boys and Y5/6 girls Football at Chantry
• 5.12 – Level 3 indoor rowing at Cambois Rowing Club
• 10.12 – Y7/8 Volleyball at Ponteland

Other forthcoming sporting events –

• 12.11 – all Y5s will be involved in the ‘Hoops for Health’ Roadshow, delivered by the Newcastle Eagles.
• 19.11 – Y5 ‘Hoops for Health’ basketball tournament at Ponteland.
• 19.11 – U12s Girls 5-a-side football at St Benet Biscops Sports Hall
• 10.12 – Area Cross country event at Woodhorn Colliery, Ashington.