Girls Hockey
By Eleana Stevenson
The U12 and U13 squads have some incredibly talented players and it was brilliant to watch them play in the House Hockey last week. The teams have shown that they are able to work as a unit throughout the season and the coaches have been incredibly impressed with the positive attitude and progress that the players have made. The main highlight of the season was when the U12’s came 2nd at the county tournament at Millfield, with excellent performances from Emily Neenan, Megan Clark and Maryam Alsaidi.
This result shows that the future of Queen’s hockey is looking very bright.
The U14’s were led by Megan Rowswell who has proven to be a great captain for the team, leading by example throughout the season. The U14’s started their journey at the County tournament at Millfield where they had a string of good performances. This level of effort continued throughout the season, with some particularly competent displays and close matches against Leweston and Sherborne. Maddie Taylor proved herself to be the most improved player with consistently high levels of effort and performance.
The U15’s worked hard and learned some valuable lessons this season from a competitive fixture list. They were certainly an exciting team to watch, and showed their intensity, with every match having at least four goals in it! There were some standout performances from several players, including Claire Handel, Catriona Wombwell, Melissa Ture. Izzy Mantyk House made countless saves in a U16 cup fixture vs Blundell’s and proved to be the MVP. This squad will be an asset next year when they step up to playing Senior hockey.
The 2nd team had a good season with some very competitive performances and excellent victories. Recently appointed captain, Ruby Russo, brought a brilliant energy to the team, even if she did spend half of the time falling over, and she inspired the squad to a 2-2 draw against Bristol Grammar School – a great result to finish the season on. A late addition to the squad turned out to be a standout performer, with Natasha Seaton making several vital saves throughout the matches she participated in. Well done to all of the girls who represented the team this season.
The 1st team started the season off with several wins, building both confidence and momentum in a new team. We managed to get to round four in the national plate, with brilliant victories against Bryanston and Exeter School along the way, to set up a tough fixture against Kingswood School. Despite working hard, this fixture showed us how vital it is to play as a team, communicate effectively, and ultimately be clinical. We took these lessons on board and followed up the plate defeat by showing our strengths in an exceptional victory, with our best performance against a strong Sherborne side. Millie Lusk once again had an outstanding performance in goal, making several 1 on 1 saves. This demonstrated our potential, as Sherborne had only recently beaten Kingswood school in the plate. Our final match was against Bristol Grammar School, and although the score line went against us, at times we played some outstanding hockey, showing real progress and it was a positive way to end our season.
Overall, despite a tough season all players managed to display courage, determination, high levels of proficiency in hockey throughout the season, and ultimately were a credit to themselves and Queen’s College. It will be great to see these players progress as teams and individuals and I have no doubt we will see some of these girls at a representative level in the future. Good luck to all year 13s in the future and big thanks to all coaches who helped throughout the season.
Boys Rugby
By James Vecchio
A small cohort of Year 7 boys have played regularly for the U12s and they have been thoroughly committed in their efforts. Some extremely good rugby has been played and the boys have grown in their understanding of the game. Absences through injury and illness have been tricky to manage but the boys have nevertheless remained resolute and competitive at all times. The school thanks Marcos Chico-Ercilla and Oliver Lockington for displaying the values of rugby through their hard work and dedication to the team.
We are very proud of our U13 team; it has not always been easy this term but they have shown admirable commitment and determination. This attitude has been rewarded with a huge improvement in performance and a real understanding of what they need to do to continue to improve. They have played for each other and enjoyed the shared fun that rugby and team sport can bring.
The U14s commitment and work ethic towards training has been a hallmark of their overall progress. Their drive to push each other, all the while having fun has allowed their skill level and understanding of the game to improve greatly this year. In some close-fought contests, the result has not always fallen in our favour. The continued progress and growth mindset of the group will serve them greatly in the future and I am excited to see their continued progress. Congratulations to Caspar Reeves, Flynn Williams and Woody Randolph who have been selected for the Bristol bears Aspire Program.
For many of the U15s this was their first year playing rugby. Throughout the term they have made massive strides in understanding and executing what was worked on in training in competitive situations. As a school, we are proud of every single player that played for the U15s. They are the team that have developed the most this year and their season was topped off with a fine win at Sidcot. A massive well done to Scorfield who performed fantastically each week and Oliver Smith who successfully made it onto the Bristol Bears Aspire Program.
The U16’s have had a rewarding and enjoyable season in which all the players have progressed. They have developed into a cohesive, supportive group and team spirit has dragged them ‘over the line’ when needed. They have trained hard, listened to advice and taken on board different ways of playing; as a result, they have been a pleasure to coach.
In a challenging season the first XV played some high quality opposition. The boys started as a group of individuals but came together as a team, understanding the importance of playing for each other, topped off with some great performances versus Blundell’s and Milton Abbey. The willingness of the boys to learn and to respond positively when times were tough is a credit to the group. We wish the year 13s moving on the best of luck in their rugby and a huge well done throughout the whole season for the fight and heart shown by all the boys.Looking forward to next term it will be a pleasure to see some individuals earn representative honours for Somerset and England Lambs.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff – Mr Wilde, Mr Green and Tumie for their efforts for the year 7 and 8 teams. Mr Bell for putting us through our paces each session and coaching the U14s. Mr Hamliton and Mr Shepherd for their expert coaching within the upper school. Without referees the games could not have gone ahead, a massive thank you to Mr Simons and Mrs Perry for their continued support.
As a school, we now look forward to a competitive and exciting series of sevens tournaments next term. Win or lose in these, it is a fantastic way of developing skills and an understanding of rugby in a shortened format of the game. Mr Vecchio would like to encourage all players to join the sevens group in the CC program next term.
Performing Arts
By Isabella Clements
After several near-misses in the Summer, this term we are delighted to have resumed performances with enthusiastic live audiences!
Just before half term, following intensive rehearsals, Queen’s Theatre Company performed a powerful new staging of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. The highly political Brechtian staging had a striking physical style, delivered with great confidence by the cast of 18 senior students.
It was a bold and electrifying declaration of our plan to pack this year with a diverse range of performances.
Just at the end of half term we also enjoyed a trip to the Bristol Hippodrome to see ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’, which hopefully inspired students for their own performances that followed, because in the second half of term, our mega-production of ‘Shrek’ arrived and played to packed houses.
There were outstanding performances all round, and a new system of scheduled understudy appearances meant that even more students could show their skills in exposed roles. The live orchestra featured student players, whilst the entire backstage crew and technical team was made up from Queen’s students! With its revolving stage, hundreds of lighting cues and vast range of colourful costumes, ‘Shrek’ was definitely produced on a professional scale!
In the second half of term, our students also excelled in their Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams, whilst GCSE and A Level Drama students also completed important practical assessments with Miss Ridley.
The Super Season of shows continues in 2022 with further productions of Treasure Island and The Tempest. We are also looking forward to our spectacular dance show, Zodiac, in the Spring!
Huge thanks must go to all the drama and dance staff, and the many other members of the school community who have given their spare time to support our shows.
Music
By Fallon Gillies
