It has been an incredible term for sport at Durlston Prep and Senior with our sports teams achieving national representation in various fields.
The Under 11 Girls’ Netball Team ended their incredible season on a high – winning the Regional Cup during the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) tournament, they earned a place in the National Finals. The tournament as a whole saw over 200 schools taking place across the country. The team, who won the regional rounds, with 7 wins earned a place in the National final held at Bryanston School where they played the best IAPS schools in the country. The U11 squad, made up of a different team members to that of the National finalists, also celebrated success as they gained a silver medal in the area High Five Tournament. They went on to win the County tournament held in Southampton with teams from Basingstoke, Southampton, Gosport and Portsmouth, East Hants, Eastleigh, Winchester and the Isle of Wight. The team were unbeaten throughout after playing 8 games.
Not to be outdone by the girls, the boys U11 have also completed an impressive hockey season placing 2nd in the In2Hockey South Central Finals competing against schools from Oxford, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire. They won 4 and drew 2, scoring a total of 11 goals and only conceding 4. They had earned their place after winning the Hampshire Cup with 4 wins and a draw.
It is not only on the netball and hockey pitch that Durlston are achieving wins- the Year 6 (age 10 and 11 year olds) girls took gold at the Gang Warily Cross Country event, competing in a field of 120 runners from 25 schools. Two of the runners went on to represent New Forest at the County finals. Three Individual Durlston swimmers have also earned a place in the National Finals of the IAPS swimming championships after their regional success left them in the top 8 nationally.
Mrs Sparshott-Thompson, Director of Sport at Durlston Prep and Senior School commented, “I am so proud of all of our children, they all participate in sport and demonstrate such positivity and commitment to their teams. Despite some challenging weather conditions this season they have all shown great resilience and sportsmanship and we are looking forward to an exciting summer of sport as we head to swimming, tennis, sailing, athletics and cricket."
