Pollock Cup Success

Shimna rugby squad stormed through the qualifying heats of the Pollock Cup, beating Glastry 46:0 and Banbridge High 10:7. Shimna goes through to the finals on 16th October at Ballymena Rugby Club. I saw the state of the team afterwards. They were exhausted and had clearly played their hearts out. Well done all.

Hordes of Climbers

Chris Keag has got our new climbing club off to a great start, with about forty students interested in taking part. A rota of climbers will be heading off soon to the HotRock to get started.

GCSE Residential

Great reports of the year 12 GCSE PE students who returned from their residential on Friday. They have achieved well and their tutors were delighted with them.

Fast Teachers

Look up the Belfast Telegraph website, search for the RunHer slideshow, and go to photo 8 to see our Janet Moffett and our Stephanie Donnelly, looking fit and gorgeous and fast. Clare Murphy was running too, but she escaped the camera. A great run for a good cause.

Overdue Netball Report

Abject apologies to the netball squad for the late posting of this report.  The year 8 girls' netball team got to the final of the East Down Plate Competition at St Mary's HS, Downpatrick.  They were narrowly beaten by St Mary's in a thrilling final which went to extra time, and then further extra time, when a golden goal won.  Congratulations to Captain Clare Malone, who was awarded Most Valued Player Award.  Other team members were Primrose Dillon, Chloe Vaughan, Lauren Taylor, Katie Graham, Leanbh Butler Lyons, Nadia Rodgers and Tara Carville.  Brilliant show!

Kits On, Ladies

The long awaited Shimna Ladies Soccer strip arrived today, and was modeled by Orla to try it out.  We hope it brings inspiration to the squad, and look forward to a great season next year.  Thanks to our mystery benefactor!

The Great Big Long Gold

Our wonderful Joanne Mills is now the Irish Schools 3000m Champion, having taken first place on Saturday.  This is a fantastic achievement, and comes right in the middle of her GCSEs.  We are very, very proud of you!

Sports Day Plus

Our sports day took place in brilliant sunshine and a howling gale, and was a great success.  There were excellent track and field performances, and the Students' Council and Amnesty International fundraisers made sure there were plenty of alternative activities on the go.  There was a real buzz about the day, and my room stinks of drying out sack race sacks!  

Mary Peters Achievement

In the Under 17 high jump, Thomas Drummond, competing well above his age range, took first place.  In the Under 13 high jump, Ryan McTeer also took first place.  In under 15 1500m, Nathan Allen came fourth with a personal best time, in the under 17 1500m, Anthony McMullan also produced a personal best coming in seventh.  Great performances, boys.

A Great Day's Soccer

Our year 8/9 Ladies Soccer squad had a great day out at their tournament in Craigavon, achieving second place, but packing in lots of matches.  Well done.

Ulster Girls

Following on from her Down Schools' 3000m title, Joanne Mills ran away with the Ulster title, and came second too in the 1500m.  Orla O'Conor, the Down Schools' shot putt champion, came in fifth in the Ulsters.  Huge congratulations to both.

Irish Open

Under rainy skies, our Darren Clarke golf team headed off to the Irish Open outside Dundalk - I hope they don't expect sympathy.  Leah and Robbie headed down with them to spot the stars and learn from the skills on parade.  Our golf team has done us proud this year, and deserved their day out.  

More and More Success

In the Minor boy's high jump, Ryan McTeer came 1st and qualified for the Ulster finals and Jake Barbour 4th; Lee Newell was a semi-finalist in the 100m; the team took 5th place in the 4x100m final; Tomas Cairns came 9th out of 26 in the long jump with Karolis Kurmis 12th; in the shot putt Karolis Kurmis came 9th out of 24 and Conor Wylie 13th.  In Junior boys Nathan Allen came 3rd and qualified for the Ulster finals; Dean Patterson came 4th in the high jump.  

In the Minor girls Clarissa Murphy came 4th in the 100m.  In Junior girls, Emily Drummond came 4th in the shot putt.

Down Schools Success

Terrific results at the Down Schools Track and Field Championships: Joanne Mills won the 3000m and came second in the 1500; Orla O Connor won the senior girls' shot; the intermediate boys won the 400m relay; Thomas Drummond won the high jump - I'll be checking for more results.  Good luck to the juniors and minors who compete on Friday.

Right to the Final

Our wonderful year 8 boys' soccer squad made it right to the final of the North Down Soccer League in their first year of competition.  They were defeated in the end by a strong side from Saintfield High School.  Well done all of you, and to indefatigable coach, Miguel Navarrete.

Fantastic Run Joanne

Our Joanne ran in 11th in the London mini marathon out of a field of approximately 280 runners.  Joanne was running in the Northern Ireland team.  Glorious sunny day, and a glorious result!

Adam and Gareth are Go

Gareth Rea and Justin Kirk won themselves places on the Youth Sports Trust course at the University of Ulster over Easter, and seem to have had a fantastic time.  They also gained coaching qualifications and are back full of enthusiasm and aiming high.

Rachel's Sporting Success!!!

Shimna Integrated College A level student Rachel Skillen proudly presents her Trophy as Junior Club Sportsperson of the year. Rachel won the award for her work with the Downpatrick School of Lifesaving. The award was presented at the Slieve Donard Hotel by the Down Clubmark Sports Association.

Team Leah Wins

The sun comes out and certain persons head out onto the golf course.  Our team defeated St Columban's in the latest fixture as part of the Darren Clarke schools golf championship.  Very well done - and we don't resent your sunburn one bit!

Team Sarah Wins

Sarah Colgan came in first in today's cross country competition.  She was keen to point out to me that her win was the result of team work, and she played huge tribute to her fellow Shimna runners.  Very well done, girls.  The girls' results also contribute to their GCSE grade.

Down to Downshire

I'm afraid we did go down to Downshire, but battled hard despite the disappointment of a disallowed Bonnargent try.

Joanne's All Ireland Silver

Joanne Mills lifted the Silver medal at this year's Irish Schools Cross Country Championships.  Great news and well done, Joanne.

Through to the Semis

Great result against Our Lady's and St Patrick's, Knock for the Medallion rugby squad. We won 20:15 Well done all.

Youth Trust Sport

We were delighted to receive notification that Justin Kirk and Gareth Rea have both been allocated places at the prestigious Young Sports Leader and Volunteering Residential Camp at the University of Ulster at Easter.  The places include the possibility of selection for a UK wide schools sporting event in Wales in September.  Good for them, and well done.

Senior Rugby Back on the Pitch

It was good to see our senior squad in action again, this time against Abbey Grammar School, Newry.  It was a closely fought match, with Abbey beating Shimna 7:5.  It was a good humoured and sporting match.  We definitely suffered from being one twin down, glandular fever to blame.  Welcome back also to Luc, bringing some French Pzzzaz to our efforts.  Well done.  Thanks for respecting the demands of examination classes and organising the throw in for 3.30.  Full attendance is essential at this time of year.

Well Played

Well played, our rugby squad, though it won't be Ravenhill this year.  Our team played their best against a strong side from Fivemiletown.  It is great to see Luc back from France to strengthen our side for next year's bid.  Upwards and onwards.

Our Ulster Champion

Our Joanne led from the front all the way and brought home the gold medal as Ulster Champion in the 1500m.  Other terrific results came in from, among others, Hannah and Rebecca Stevens, Clarissa Murphy, Shannon McKibben, Anthony McMullen and his broken arm and Nathan Allen.  Well done to everyone.

Through to the Ulsters

Great results at the Down Schools Cross Country Championships today.  The minor and junior boys and the intermediate girls are through, and Clarissa Murphy and Shannon McKibben are through as individuals.  Anthony McMullen had a great run and goes through as well.  This represents a great showing in competition against so many schools.  Really well done all round.

Through to the Quarter Finals

Our rugby team defeated Slemish Integrated College 39:19 and won their way through to the quarter finals of the High Schools Cup. This, coming on the heels of the Plate victory over Antrim Grammar Schools bodes very well for this powerful squad.

Lost with Honour

Our year 12 boys' soccer team lost to St Malachy's 3:2. Well played anyway.

Famous Find Out

The score was 14:0 to Shimna against Antrim Grammar School.

Win over Antrim Grammar

Our Medallion side beat Antrim Grammar School ?:0 (We scored two tries and two conversions, but I am a rugby ignoramus and don't know what that adds up to.) A famous victory when I find out!

Outstanding Achievement Award

I've just been checking the blog archive, and I don't know how I managed it, but I seem not to have blogged the excellent news that on 21st November Stephen Gordon and James McCormick were presented with their Outstanding Achievement Awards for their contribution to the development of our senior rugby squad. The Award is a real tribute to the two boys and to the squad, and we are delighted for them.

Show Jumping Success

I have just received a lovely email from Alex McCully from New-Bridge Integrated College to let me know about Victoria Farr's great contribution to the showjumping team. It is always hard for one school to field a team for all the showjumping events, and Alex works with Hunterhouse School as well as New-Bridge. However, she has emailed to say that the teams could not have managed without Victoria's contribution and willingness to pitch in at short notice. Well done. I was very pleased that Alex took the trouble to let me know what a good student we have.

Dalriada Medallion Match

Our Medallion team put up an excellent show against a great team from Dalriada in Ballymoney, eventually losing out. Both teams played a very sporting match, and the Dalriada team enjoyed their sausage rolls and soup to warm them up on a freezing afternoon. Well played all. Joseph O'Hara, Anthony McMullan and Daniel Stanfield got a special mention in despatches.