Girls Celebrate Sporting Season

26 April 2016

Girls sport at Shiplake has a fantastic variety and the pupils are always keen to get involved with the various sports on offer, from touch rugby to netball. On Thursday 21 April, a celebratory black-tie dinner was held in the Great Hall, to reflect on the successful sporting season so far. The girls, dressed up to the nines, enjoyed an evening of delicious food and a little wine to remind themselves of what has been a glorious season to date.

During the dinner, each sports captain gave an insightful and often humorous account of their season. Particular highlights were made by Phoebe Eggar, the Captain of Touch Rugby, passionately making a case for girls in rugby! Liv Bird, the Captain of Netball, described the well-played and victorious games of the year, including four wins (a big improvement on last year’s zero!) and the Captain or Girls’ Rowing, Lucy Walker, reflecting on the improvement to the standard of girls rowing over the past two years. Orla Brown, the Captain of Girls’ Sport, also gave a rousing speech, focusing on the upward trend in both performance and inclusion in girls’ sport.

Following the delicious three course meal, professional athlete and rower Kirsty Myles gave a speech. Kirsty, who now works as a physiotherapist, has raced at some of the world’s most prestigious rowing races; part of the winning crew at Henley Royal Regatta, to the Head of the River with the crew from Oxford Brookes University. Kirsty made it to the Great Britain trials in 2011, finishing sixth in the country. Following a back injury, Kirsty took a break from rowing, only to find herself competing in legs of triathlons. She spoke to the girls about her achievements in sport, and how they’ve helped her in her professional life.

The girls have worked incredibly hard at the variety of sports on offer, and awards were handed out that reflected their commitment and passion. Kirsty presented the awards, as well as introducing beads for colours. Girls received a pearl bead for full colours, and a green bead for half colours. The awards received are as follows:

Sportswoman of the Year: Daisy Gill