PUBLISHED 24 May 2022
During the course of this seven week half term, our Prep and Senior students have played over 90 competitive fixtures, across six sports, including cricket, tennis, athletics, rounders, football and basketball.
Cricket
One of the major highlights of this half term has been the development of our girls’ cricket season. Fielding three age groups: U12/U13, U14/U15, and Senior Girls. All teams have had the opportunity to test themselves against other schools and this will continue after the half term break.
Our U13 girls progressed to, and took part in the North West Indoor Cricket Finals, having qualified as County Champions, you can watch the highlights here. Our senior girls played their first two cricket fixtures vs Lancaster Royal Grammar school, winning both games and playing some fantastic cricket in the process.
The boys’ cricket season began on the first day of the summer term and has been full throttle since. The 1st XI had a very busy start to their short season, taking on KGS and the MCC in their first week of the term. The season has seen two Year 10 students make their 1st XI bow, with Felix T. in particular, impressing with both bat and ball and Toby C. having an excellent season with his bowling stats. A special mention to Daniel S. (Year 12) who has had a superb season and with another year of senior cricket to come from him, it is exciting to see what more is to come.
Across the age groups, teams have played block fixtures every Saturday, supplemented by regular mid-week friendlies and cup matches. Fixtures have included KGS, Stonyhurst, Westholme, Lancaster Royal Grammar School and Merchant Taylors, each fixture producing significant results and victories for our sides.
We wish our U12, U13 and U14 boys’ teams all the best in the third rounds of their respective Lancashire Cup tournaments and congratulate them on their performance so far.
Athletics
The athletics season has been a busy one with friendly fixtures against, Ripley St Thomas, Westholme, LSA and KGS boys.
AKS also had 73 students represent the school at the Lancashire Schools Track and Field Team Cup at Stanley Park, from which our junior girls qualified for the ESAA Regional A finals which is a fantastic achievement and our inter-boys' and inter-girls' teams qualified for the B finals. The junior girls team score ranked them third best out of all the schools competing in this competition throughout the North of England. Both these finals will be held in the second half of the summer term.
A particular highlight of the season to date was our Year 7 girls’ athletics fixture against Ripley St Thomas. The event saw the girls challenged by having to compete in three events for the first time and they certainly rose to the challenge superbly with some top performances.
Tennis
AKS tennis has also been busy building itself a successful track record, so far this season. Our U12/U13A boys remain unbeaten in the LTA Div 2 league competition with victories over KGS, Stonyhurst, Westholme and Baines School. Our U15 A boys have enjoyed similar success, again remaining unbeaten across their league fixtures so far.
The U12/13 and the U14/15 girls' teams, continue that vein of success as all four tennis teams look to be in a strong position to win their leagues and progress to the next stages.
Basketball
Our U12 and U14 basketball squads had successful afternoons at the Wyre and Fylde Cup competition, with the U14s winning their respective tournament and our U12 A side going unbeaten throughout theirs. You can see the highlights here.
Rounders and football
Our girls’ rounders teams have enjoyed some excellent fixtures against schools such as Rossall, Ripley St Thomas and Bury Grammar School, creating opportunities for all our girls to take part in competitive rounders and enjoy the excitement this sport brings.
The final Thursday of the half term sees our U13 girls take part in the ISFA North West football tournament over at Stockport Grammar School. The squad have been training hard throughout the year and look forward to this culmination of that work. Good luck girls!
Individual successes
We have also celebrated individual triumphs across a number of domains, including the County Championships:
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Charlotte L. (Year 8): 200m – bronze (U15 race)
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Olivia W. (Year 6): 200m – finalist
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Amelia H. (Year 8): hurdles – 4th (U15 race)
Three of our Year 9 boys were part of the ISFA national football trials in London, whilst on the same weekend, a further three Year 9 boys were part of the Sale Sharks DPP weekend. A tremendous achievement by a very talented year group.
Current Year 12, Daniel S. was selected to play for Lancashire U17s against Yorkshire this half term.
And finally
Sport has not just been confined to mere competition as Year 9 student, Jake G. took part in the Manchester 10k recently, running to raise money for the Dog's Trust and in memory of his dog, Ginger. He has raised nearly £300. Jake now has plans to enter the to enter the Great North Run and continue his money-raising exploits. Well done, Jake!
What’s next?
We wish everyone a restful half term and all the best in their exams. We will then be eager to go, as we have more fixtures, our Sports Presentation Evening, Sports Days, our rugby tour to South Africa and Summer Hockey Camps to look forward to next half term and beyond!