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| 8 May 2026 | |
| Written by Jade Francis | |
| School News |
Earlier this term, Luella W in Year 9 was part of the U14 team that won both the Hertfordshire County Rugby League and Cup finals, completing a remarkable double. This is a significant achievement and one that has not been matched across the county in any age group this season. Congratulations, Luella!
Channing’s U15s delivered a spirited performance against North London Collegiate School in both the doubles and singles competition of the LTA.
The tie began with doubles, where Riana A & Anaïs K and Josie E & Ayla A-R pushed their opponents with outstanding rallies across both courts. Riana and Anaïs battled impressively to a tie-break, going point for point before narrowly losing 7-3. On the other court, Josie and Ayla showed great determination and comeback spirit, fighting hard but ultimately falling 6-4. Despite the results, all four players demonstrated excellent teamwork and resilience.
In the singles matches, each player competed with strong intent and a clear hunger to win. Every rally was fiercely contested, with high-quality shot-making and determination on display throughout. The team showed real character and skill, representing Channing with pride and showcasing some brilliant tennis.
The team took to the pitch with high energy for a competitive fixture against North London Collegiate School (NLCS). After losing the toss, we were put into bat first. In a fantastic display of depth, every player on the roster had the opportunity to step up to the crease. Through careful running between the wickets, we managed to accumulate a solid team total.
With 78 runs to defend, the team transitioned into the fielding phase with sharp focus. Our bowlers maintained a steady line, and the fielding unit worked tirelessly to restrict NLCS’s scoring opportunities. Despite our best efforts and several narrow misses, the NLCS batters found their rhythm. They successfully chased down our total, ultimately clinching the victory in a well-fought contest. While the result wasn’t a win on the scorecard, the dedication and hard work was evident in every over. Most importantly, the teamwork remained from start to finish.
A huge congratulations to Valentina P-C, Connie G, Tarlan J, Sarah S, Sophia W, Juliet K, Rory M, Erin L, who took to the water, demonstrating great skill and a truly competitive edge in every heat. All individuals and both medley teams put in solid performances against a tough field, holding their ground in the middle of the pack. Year 7 & 8 finished an impressive 4th out of 8 schools overall and Year 9 & 10 also secured a strong 4th out of 7 schools overall.
The real highlight of the day was the camaraderie on display. The students worked seamlessly as a team, constantly cheering each other on and celebrating every finish.
Erin stated “I am so proud of our performance in the Haringey Swimming gala. Both teams did amazing swimming in individual and relay races, finishing overall in an impressive 4th place. The team did really well and put a lot of effort into this gala. Great job guys!”
Recently we took a group of our Year 10 GCSE students, along with Imogen from Year 12, to compete in the English Indoor Ski Open Championships in St Albans. The girls performed well, competing against over 20 other schools and demonstrating impressive skill, during the competition. A special mention goes to Imogen C, who achieved an outstanding 2nd place in the Girls’ U19 category!
We were delighted to host our second annual Junior and Senior School Cheer Dance and Gymnastics Showcase. It was truly inspiring to see the culmination of so much hard work from both our students and coaches, brought together in such an incredible showcase for our parents.
Our Junior School students delivered some beautiful gymnastics performances, and it was especially pleasing to see them collaborating so confidently with our Year 8 students as part of the Year 5–8 Advanced Gymnastics Squad. The Channing Junior Eagles Squad also impressed, demonstrating great flair and a range of exciting, well-executed stunts.
In dance, our contemporary performances highlighted the creativity and commitment of our students, showcasing thoughtful choreography and expressive movement. We were equally proud of our Eagles Senior Squad, who performed with confidence and precision, delivering some truly outstanding and ambitious stunts. A special mention also goes to our solo dancers, Mali, Sophie and Madison, for their confidence, stage presence and the maturity of their performances.
Overall, it was a fantastic and highly successful event, and we are already looking forward to building on this success in next year’s competition.
1. What sport do you take part in and how long have you been playing?
I play netball and I’ve been playing since I was in Year 5.
2. How often do you train and what are you currently working to improve?
I train 3 times a week, twice with my club and once with a London Mavericks PDP which I have just finished. I’m currently working on developing my skills as a Wing Attack whilst also training as a Goal Attack and building a partnership with my Goal Shooter, ready for when we compete at Nationals in May. I also want to become physically stronger as a player and build up my fitness, so I do sprint training on a Sunday with my team which helps us become faster and able to beat more physical defenders.
3. What motivates you to keep pushing yourself in your sport?
What motivates me the most is my passion and love for the sport and seeing myself improving as a player. Playing with girls a bit older than me also motivates me to become as good as them and learn new skills. I’m also motivated to keep working so I can eventually reach my long term goals.
4. How do you deal with setbacks?
I deal with setbacks by talking to my friends, family and coaches that can help me and give me advice.
5. What has been your proudest sporting moment so far?
Being selected for a London mavericks U17 PDP
Going to Nationals last year with my team and placing in the top six.
6. How do you balance schoolwork with training and competitions?
I balance my schoolwork and netball by making sure I do my homework during the week so that on weekends I can focus on any matches that I have.
7. Has sport helped you in lessons or everyday school life? How?
It’s helped me in everyday school life because I have learned to become more resilient and pick myself up again if I’m struggling with something. It’s also helped me become more organised because I have to get my schoolwork done whilst also training and competing every week.
8. What advice would you give to other students who want to improve in sport?
That you shouldn’t compare yourself with other people in a negative way. Instead you should focus on improving your skills and being the best player you want to be.
9. Who inspires you in sport?
Someone that inspires me in netball is Alicia Scholes who plays for London Pulse because she’s very speedy and her vision and feeding into the circle is incredible. I’m also inspired by Helen Housby who plays in Australia and also plays for England. Her shooting under pressure is amazing and a skill that I want to develop.
10. What are you looking forward to for the rest of your sporting season?
I’m looking forward to playing at Nationals with my teammates. The competitive environment is awesome and I also love spending the weekend with my friends.
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