Girls' Sport Round Up

The most recent netball results have been great, with the minors beating Blackwater IC 25:0 and the juniors 16:12. In the junior section of the NI Integrated Colleges' Netball competition,Ulidia IC defeated Shimna 17:15. In Cross Country, the minor girls team were victorious in the NI Integrated Schools' Cross Country Championships, making a clean sweep of the top places: Clarissa Murphy won convincingly, Shannon McKibben was second and Fiadhnait Brady third and Lauren Sloan came in sixth. Other members of the winning team were Georgia Reid, Emman Addis, Claire Murphy, Hannah Croman, Niamh Rea and Chloe Parke. In the Intermediate section, Joanne Mills defended her title successfully for the fifth year's. Hannah and Rebecca Stevens were seventh and eighth in the race and the team won the Intermediate trophy. The junior team were fifth overall with Rebecca Horrox placed ninth a year young for this age group,and Julia Martin was placed twelfth. Other team members were Erin White, Iana Rodgers, Autumn Jennings, Darlee Booth and Sarah Dorman. It's great to see Shimna so well represented across the age groups.

Boys' Soccer RoundUp

In the Under 15 South Down League, Shimna has recorded two wins out of two, beating dromore 3-1 and league favourites Banbridge High 2-0. In the Under 13 league we have not fared so well, losing our first two games, despite putting up a courageous show. The Under 12 team in the very capable hands of former Athletico Madrid player Don Miguel has won one game and lost one in their first two games in the North Down League.

Year 8s Launch their Rugby Career

Year 8s will be practising on Thursdays from now on, taking advantage of the opportunity to benefit from Charlie Knox as coach, a great opportunity.

Joanne Goes to Liverpool

Joanne Mills has been selected to represent Northern Ireland at the UK Cross challenge event in Liverpool, a well deserved honour.

Soria - the full story

As part of the college's continuing links with the Antonio Machado School in Soria, Spain and the IAAF Pursuit Cross Country race, our Head of PE, Rory Friel, made the journey over to Soria at the end of November. Whilst there he met up with the students, staff and principal of the college, further strengthening our links. He also taught two classes of Physical Education to the senior students, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

At the cross country race, Rory was presented with a specially inscribed plaque in recognition of Shimna's links to and participation in the cross country race in Soria. He was then interviewed live on Spanish TV on the main channel which was broadcasting the senior men's race across Spain. So, millions of Spanish people got to know about Shimna Integrated College and its international link with Spain.

Netball Round Up

Shimna girls' senior netball team travelled to Lough Moss LC in Carryduff to play Lagan Integrated College in the first round of the Integrated Schools' Cup. It was a very close match with a draw at full time, 9 goals each. We went to extra time and the teams were still level but Lagan squeezed in a goal just before the final whistle, leaving the final score 15:14 to Lagan.

The minor team then travelled to play Newtonbreda in the first round of the East Down Netball League, where they had a very successful win, 22:6.

Learning Experience

Our ladies soccer squad had a bit of a learning experience at their match this week, and would rather not quote the score! that's how you learn. (Well it was 5-2 against us, not the end of the world)

More and More Rugby Success

Our sixth form squad took part in a rugby blitz in Ballymena, walloping Belfast Met and putting up and excellent show against Ballymena schools, including some disappointing refereeing decisions. This squad organises all their own training, matches and travel arrangements. Our year 9 team won 60-10 against Saintfield, which will inspire them to follow in the footsteps. Jonathan Bradford scored an amazing seven tries. Well done both teams.

Our Rory in Soria

Rory Friel kept up our relationship with our partner school in Soria at the weekend. As well as the running, he coached a couple of basketball classes and made an appearance on Spanish TV - all in perfect Spanish of course.

Triumph Against Banbridge Academy

Our rugby squad scored a memorable triumph against the much larger, and rugby specialist, Banbridge Academy, winning with a decisive 19-5. We are so proud of this team.

Valiant Netballing against Lagan

Our year 9 netball team held Lagan Integrated College to a draw, only to lose out 15-13 in extra time. Disappointing, but full of useful lessons for our squad.

Struggles at Dromore

Our year 9 soccer team came up against stiff opposition away to Dromore High School, and, unfortunately, came off worse with a score of 4-1. Regroup, and upwards and onwards!

Joanne Does the Double

Joanne Mills has taken her second gold medal of the year at the Northern Ireland and Ulster Cross |Country Championships at the Finn Valley Centre in Ballybofey. Fantastic result!

GCSE Orienteering

Spare a thought today for our intrepid GCSE girls out completing their training and assessment in orienteering.

A Real Day in the Life ...

This is turning into a real 'Day in the Life of ...' , because as soon as the pitch cleared after the rugby match, it filled back up again with boys and girls soccer squads, both getting ready for the next encounter.

Triple Event

While all this was going on, the cheerleading squad got underway in the gym. I don't understand cheerleading any more than rugby or soccer, but it's great to see people sharing what they are good at. Cheerleading is perhaps my greatest personal integration challenge, but I'll get there!

A Fabulous Draw

Our rugby team had a great match against Grosvenor Grammar School, with two tries and two conversions each. I couldn't watch of course, but they got great support from the touchline. Well done all!

Valiant Effort

Our year 9 team went down 3-1 to Banbridge High School. All played well in glorious, freezing sunshine, but victory was not to be.

Did you Think We'd Ever Have CheerLeading?

Did you think we'd ever have cheer leading at Shimna? Maura Bradley, visiting student for the year from Missouri, is settiing up a cheerleading group open to years 11-14. Maura will train the team, and has some great fundraising ideas for the kit which Maura and friends have already designed. They might help cheer on our rugby team, but I'm glad to know that cheer leading is a competitive and highly athletic sport in it's own right.

Inspirational year 8 Result

The year 8 soccer squad set their season off to a great start in their new league with a 6-0 win over Blackwater Integrated College. The team looked particularly swish in their new Sky Blue, courtesy of coach Miguel Navarrete. Best of good luck for your next fixtures.

Great Play, Disappointing Result

Our rugby squad put up a great show at this year's Pollock Cup, but were just run out of qualification. Disappointing result, but terrific play. Well done all.

New Season Success

Our year 11 boys' soccer team kicked off to a fantastic start to their season with a 3-0 win over Dromore High School. Well done all.

Non Competitive Sports Correspondent

It was Germany that won! I never remember to ask the final score of anything.

European Soccer

After last year's salsa, we celebrated European Day of Languages with a huge European Soccer Tournament. Everyone in Key Stage 3 was entitled to sign up and be allocated a place on a national team representing a European country. Soccer players certainly had to test their knowledge of European flags to get themselves kitted out. A fantastic afternoon of soccer culminated in the prize giving in the hall. ??won.

Babies as Sport

Congratulations to Ronan, sports studies tutor, on the birth of his wee son last week. Tell us the name! Bring him in to see us!

Crazy Nephew

I am Aidan the sport nephew of Ellen. She has cycled to Lake Nokomis and played soccer! She is good at cycling but not at soccer and great at badminton. Today we are going swimming. This year she is also swimming lengths of pools and widths. She is playing board games too. Next American football!

End the Term with a Splash

Fifteen students and three intrepid staff members spent a few days of the last week of term out on the banana boat, sailing and canoeing at Killyleagh. This has become a traditional end of term treat for the exam weary, wanting to get it all out of their systems! A certain staff member managed to fall off the banana boat three times. Practice needed we fear!

Swept the Pentathlon Boards

In a fantastic conclusion to the athletics season, our year 9 girls and year 9 boys both brought home the trophy in their respective Pentathlon events at Hazelwood Integrated College. This is a fantastic result, showing outstanding talent in all the track and field events. Very well done to both teams.

Forgot to Say

Typically for me and sport, I forgot to give the winner - Lagan Integrated College!

Shimna Cup

At least we got a good day for hosting the Shimna Cup. The Shimna Cup was the very first tournament in any sport for all of the Integrated Colleges, and other Integrated Colleges have organised similar tournaments in other sports, creating a real competition network. Our squad put up a very creditable performance this year and we are very proud of them. They worked really hard, and clearly have a great future ahead of them. The final came down to a Belfast derby between Lagan and Malone Integrated Colleges. Well done to all!

Never a Wash Out

We weren't so lucky with the weather for sports day this year. BUT, a the events went ahead, with the highjump moved indoors. I'll collect up the results later, but congratulations to everyone who kept up their spirits through the drips, and ran, jumped and played hard. The competitive bun selling went down well too! Year 8 students set up a stall and raised money for the Royal Victoria Hospital with their delicious Victoria sponge and other wee buns.

Expedition Starters

Our Duke of Edinburgh's Award Bronze groups got their expedition training off to a hard working start last week with four days navigation and campcraft with Paul Swail. The plan is to hold their practice expedition next week and the real thing before the end of term. Our Silver and Gold groups will head out for their final practice in June as well, leaving them ready for the final expedition early next term.

Down Soccer Tournament

Our Ladies' soccer squad was out in action at the Billy Neill Soccer Centre at the annual Down Soccer Tournament. Well played!

Year 9 Athletics Winners

In the year 9 Athletics competition at Down High School, Dean Patterson came 1st in the high jump; Emily Drummond came 1st in the shot; the year 9 girls qualifed for the district semi-finals. Yet more congratulations and good luck.

Qualifiers for Ulster Schools

We have a great crop of qualifiers for the Ulster Schools Athletics Championships: 1500 and 3000, Joanne Mills; shot, Orla O'Connor; 100m and 4 X 100 relay; high jump and 4 X 400 relay, Thomas Drummond; 4 X 100 relay, Daniel O'Sullivan; 4 X 100 relay, Eamonn McAnulty; high jump, Calum Halsey; 1500m, Michael Buchanan; 400m, Chris Hanna. Congratulations and good luck to all.

Another Boring Day on the Golf Course

Three of our top golfers headed off to Armagh golf club on Monday, Callum Morgan, Gavin Moore and Ciaran Rooney. All had and excellent day and Callum's team won the overall event.

Athletics Meeting

Great results to report: Tim Knight came first in the hight jump on a personal best; Joanne Mills came second in the 1500m; chris Hanna came third in the 400m on a personal best; Nathan Allen came 6th in the 1500m of a personal best. A great result too in the Ballynahinch 5k road race with Philip Treacy coming in first.

Ulster Rugby Cup Success

Seven Shimna students were on the Ballynahinch Rugby Club team which WON the Under 14s Ulster Cup at Ravenhill at the weekend in a very exciting game: Luc Bonnargent (cpt); Johnny Bradford; Thomas Drummond; Eamon McAnulty; Scott McCleary; Daniel O'Sullivan; Sam McCurry (selected, but unable to play through injury). This is a fantastic Shimna turnout, and we are delighted with their success.

Champion Archer

It's great to have news of a star Shimna student finding success in a completely different sport.

Kyran O'Neill of year 9 shoots with the Northern Ireland Field Team and so far this season has attended the following competitions: Irish Field Championships in Wicklow, 15th & 16th March, 1st Place.
NIAS Field Championships at Castlewellan, 19th & 20th April, 1st Place
Irish Open Championships in Co. Meath, 26th & 27th April, 1st Place

As you can see he has done very well, shooting in the U15 category.

This weekend he is attending a FITA Tournament in Kendal, Cumbria and then the British Championships are being held at the Ballywalter Estate on the 24th and 25th May.

This is a terrific record of achievement and we wish him all the best in future competitions. Keep us posted!

Final Rugby Fixture

Our sixth form rugby squad played their last fixture this week at Newry Rugby Club. I'm afraid I forgot to ask the result, because Stephen was injured and all my phonecalls were to make sure he was OK. I'm afraid I am a better fusspot than fan. Whatever the result of this one match, the squad has an amazing record and every one of them deserves huge credit, and James and Stephen in particular.

GCSE Success

Shimna GCSE PE students were joined today by GCSE PE students from Kilkeel High School for the visit of the moderator. All groups were rigorously assessed across all the sports involved, and groups from both schools rose to the occasion and verified their grades. Well done all.

The Relief Chips Worked

Well the relief chips must have worked, because our mountaineers got a terrific report, and apparently completed their final day's expedition with flying colours.

Relief Chips

I happen to know that our heroes up in the Mournes for the week got a bit of chip relief tonight! The alternative was to live off their own cooking, which might not have been pleasant. Good weather, if chilly, so far, and we hope the chips will fortify them for the more changeable weather to come. Home to your own wee beds tomorrow!

A Good Netball Placing

Our year 8 netballers missed our visit from the President, but they put up a good show and the Integrated Colleges tournament. They came in fourth, and only narrowly missed third place. Well done, girls.

Ya Boo, We Won

Year 11 Commedagh students organised a great fundraiser as part of their citizenship drive, and it all went the staff's way. Staff beat students at netball, 20:17 and staff beat students at soccer,7:4. Proceeds from the fundraising will be presented to Shimna Valley Cancer Care on Friday of this week. I have to say that when I say 'we' won, I mean of course the collective staff body. Winning and losing and kicking are not what I'm good at.

Gorgeous Day for Golf

Gorgeous day for golf, but a pity we were wallopped. We beat St Louis last year, so naturally this year they were out for revenge.

Netball Victory

Our year 9 netball team came away from the netball finals with Silver medals, placed second out of fifteen teams, a fantastic result.

It's the Taking Part...

Shimna Ladies soccer squad went down to the old rivals, Kilkeel High School. Both teams can notch up a victory against the dreadful weather however. Well played. hello, Orla!

Through to Rugby Finals

Our year 8 rugby team is through to the Ulster Schools Finals at Ballymena Rugby Club. On the way they defeated Aquinas Grammar School 20:5; Laurel Hill 10:0; St Colmcille's 20:5. It's great to see the next generation coming up. Best of luck in the final.

Great Rugby Event

Two draws and a defeat, but a great day's rugby for the 6th year squad at Ballyclare Rugby Club. Well done to the organisers, and catch up with every bit of work!

GAA Legend Heads off to Spain

Our very own GAA Legend, head of technology, Eamonn Burns is heading off to Spain to take part in a major fundraising event with other outstanding gaelic players. Everybody seems to be getting in on our International Dimension! Where can I go?

Elite Athlete Status

Fantastic news that all three of our A level students have been successful in their application to join the University of Ulster Elite Athlete Programme. Gaelic football star Natasha Ferris, athletics stars Daniel Quinn and Calum Halsey. It was great to see Natasha and Daniel out teaching our GCSE PE students their gaelic ball skills.

Through to the Colleges Gaelic SemiFinal

Natasha Ferris and team won through to the semi-final of the Colleges Gaelic footbal final. The weather was horrendous and it was a miracle they didn't drown or blow away. Natasha's contribution, as always, was fantastic. Well done.

Unbeaten Record for Year 9 Netball

Our year 9 netball team kept up their unbeaten record with a victory over Saintfield High School. Well done!

Quarter Finals of the Ulster Championships

Natasha Ferris and team head for the quarter finals next Monday of the Ulster colleges ladies gaelic football championships - the very best of luck, Natasha.

A frantic day for sport

Skiers are skiing, cross country runners are running away at the Down Schools CC Championships and two teams of girls are playing soccer at their blitz. I'm exhausted!

U14s reach the Ulster rugby finals

Our under 14 squad put up a fantastic performance at the finals blitz today, losing only in the final match to a strong Dromore side. Very well done. Tournament report when Rory comes back from skiing.

Get swotting, Skiers

Before you set off skiing, have a look at the front page of our website and pick up the German for skiers link for your mp3, or print out the page. You'll find other links to more German if you're ready for it. Mach's gut!

U14 rugby boys sail through qualifying blitz

Our U14 squad carried all before them in the qualifying blitz in the Ulster Schools rugby competition. They defeated: Monaghan Collegiate; Kilkeel High School; Dungannon Integrated College; Ballynahinch High School. A terrific set of results, and very well done.

Gaelic Good Luck, Natasha

Nobody every tells me anything! I've just discovered that Natasha Ferris has been representing out Sports Studies A level class as star performer in the SERC ladies football team. Good luck today, and I'll catch up with the details of your fixtures.

More Rugby Success

A fantastic performance today against Regent House Grammar School in Newtownards! we won 37:22. Just brilliant!

Netball Success

Nail-biting finish for our netball squad, winning 13.12 against st Colmcille's. well done all!

Dublin Runners

Fifty of our runners headed off for Dublin on Wednesday to take part in a huge cross country meeting with schools from all over Ireland. A great turn out.

We Must Have Brought Them Luck

A batch of our French speaking rugby fans set off for Ravenhill to watch Ulster play Bourgoin. this was a very courageous trip, given the 16-match losing streak Ulster has been suffering in the European Cup. Yet Andrew Trimble's last minute try rewarded the faith of the fans. The fact that Shimna won the competition to host French rugby visitors at the college was the icing on the cake.