It has been an exceptional year for racquet sports at Bradfield with impressive results and achievements on the tennis, squash, real tennis and badminton courts.
Tennis pupils hit more historic milestones
Our girls regained the Independent Schools Girls’ Tennis League Cup following a competitive tournament on the All Weather Pitch tennis courts last weekend.
Teams competing in the tournament are represented by pupils from every year group which provides players with the opportunity to play alongside new teammates and build new relationships. The Bradfield team won their group, beating Marlborough College by a single set to qualify for the final where they came up against Epsom College in a repeat of the 2022 final. Our girls gained revenge, winning the tie 4-2 to return the Cup to Bradfield.
Having won the ISTA Youll Cup in 2022 our Senior boys, continuing their excellent form, the team have qualified for the Glanville Cup finals. The boys secured their place with a series of impressive wins in their group, beating The Royal Grammar School, The Oratory and d’Overbroeck’s all by the same 12-0 scoreline. It is the first time a Bradfield team will feature in the Boys’ National Schools’ Championship finals since the 1970s.
These two successes follow on from last month’s announcement that Bradfield College and Tennis Centre coach Selena Coburn have been shortlisted for National LTA Awards. The College has been nominated for the LTA School of the Year while Selena has been shortlisted for the LTA Official of the Year award. Having initially progressed from more than 250 winners at the county stage of the awards, Selena and the College became regional award winners and are now on shortlists of three for the July 4th national awards ceremony at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
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Double success for Bradfield College and Tennis at LTA Awards
As Bradfield tennis hits more historic milestones, six of our pupils reflected on their sporting journeys and outstanding achievements over the past few years. Watch the video to hear what they have enjoyed about Bradfield tennis.
https://vimeo.com/bradfield/tennisvideo2023
Junior Squash teams earn national championship medals
Three of our Junior teams, the U16 boys and the U14 and U16 girls teams, qualified for the National Schools Squash Championships Plate Finals which took place in Birmingham in March. Not only that but our Faulkner’s girls, competing against experienced teams, went on to take the Bronze medal while our U16 girls secured a superb second place in their Championships.
The U16 boys’ team couldn’t quite emulate the achievements of the girls but they finished a creditable sixth place on the day.
Théo wins Real Tennis Championship
An excellent result for Lower Sixth pupil Théo (D) as he became Real Tennis French Junior Champion this past weekend.
The tournament took place at the Société du Jeu de Paume in Paris, 16th arrondissement, featuring 18 young players from the various French Real Tennis clubs, and one based in the UK. Representing Holyport Real Tennis Club and Bradfield College, Théo only lost three games during the entire Championship and won 5/0 in the final against his opponent from Fontainebleau.
Théo was presented with the trophy by Rod McNaughtan, real tennis professional, and Charles Blanchot, Chairman of the ‘Société du Jeu de Paume’.
Newly formed girls’ badminton 1stVIII going from strength-to-strength in debut season
One of the fastest growing sports at Bradfield in recent years has been Badminton and this academic year saw the introduction of a girls’ 1stVIII team. They have enjoyed a memorable debut season which began with a draw (8-8) in their first ever fixture away against St Mary’s Calne. Building on their impressive display the girls’ confidence, ability and team spirit grew helping them to record their first victory (12-4) over the same opposition in the return home fixture quickly followed by a closely fought 7-6 win over Wellington College.
Such has been the growth of the sport that Bradfield organised and hosted its inaugural Girls’ Triangular Challenge Cup. Our pupils came up against teams from Downe House and St Mary’s Calne with expanded squads of ten enabling more players to enjoy competitive time on the court. We hope this will become a regular fixture in the annual sporting calendar going forward.
