FEATURED IN THIS EDITION:
THRILLS AND SKILL ON CRICKET TOUR
JUNIOR CRICKETERS SHINE
TOP AWARD IN ETON FIVES
QE WINS AT BARNET ATHLETICS MEET
JIU JITSU COMES TO QE
SPORTS LEADERS STEP UP TO SERVE
TABLE TENNIS PLAYER AT NATIONALS
ÉLITE SPORTSMEN ALL TOGETHER
During an exciting tour, QE’s players showed resilience and played with great skill as they battled fiercely to pull off victories against tough opposition, firstly from Pate’s Grammar School and then Sir Thomas Rich’s School. The QE wins came just days after Gloucester’s Sir Thomas Rich’s – or ‘Tommies’ – had beaten their Cheltenham rivals to become U15 county champions.
Head of Cricket Richard Scally said: “Our players displayed excellent teamwork, skillful batting, and accurate bowling, which contributed to their success. Overall, the tour proved to be an enriching and memorable experience for the Year 10 team, leaving them with valuable lessons and memories to cherish.”
Besides the two matches, the touring party’s packed three-day programme included team-building activities, exploring the vibrant city of Gloucester and watching a professional T20 game.
In the T20 at Worcester’s New Road ground, Worcestershire Rapids maintained their winning streak to beat Notts Outlaws by five wickets. “Watching professional players in action provided the students with valuable insights into the game and inspired them to further develop their skills,” said Mr Scally. “The atmosphere was electrifying, and the team witnessed some breath-taking cricketing moments.”
In their team-building exercises – an “exhilarating” escape room experience – the boys had to work collaboratively,
solve puzzles, and think critically under pressure. “It served as an excellent opportunity for team-bonding and problem-solving, fostering a sense of camaraderie among the players. The students demonstrated excellent communication skills and decision-making abilities, which allowed them to make the all-time top ten leader board,” said Mr Scally.
For more images of the tour and match reports, turn to page 2
Against Pate’s:
Ved Nair scored 47, with Daksh Vinnakota and Ayan Hirani taking 2 wickets each.
Result: QE won by 69 runs
For: 146 for 7
Against: 77 for 7
Against Tommies:
Notable contributors included Rudra Patel, scoring a disciplined 34, and Surya Senthilkumar, keeping it tight, with 2 wickets for 20 runs.
Result: QE won by 1 wicket
For: 144 for 9
Against: 139 for 5
The First XI play host to a high-quality touring team from Sri Lanka in the last week of term.
The élite academy squad from the Mercantile Cricket Association includes players from many different schools, including Royal College, Colombo, which is one of the venues visited by QE touring parties on past sports tours to Sri Lanka.
Head of Cricket Richard Scally said: “We are really excited to welcome Mercantile Academy: it will be a great opportunity for both teams and may even lead to a ‘return leg’ if we visit Sri Lanka on tour again.”
The MCA Cricket Academy team are coming to QE for a warm-up match prior to playing at this month’s International Council of Cricket Academies Global Academy Cricket Championship at Worksop College, an independent school in Nottinghamshire. There they will face opponents from countries including India, Zimbabwe, USA and UAE.
The match at QE will be a 25-over game, starting at 9.30am on Tuesday 18th July.
After last year’s memorable season, when they were crowned as U12 Middlesex county champions, the U13s again reached the final of the cup in 2023, following an impressive semi-final win against Avanti House, in which Aarush Choudhary scored 101 not out. A repeat of 2022 was not to be, however: they lost the final to St James Senior Boys’ School by 24 runs.
The U13s also reached the second round of their national cricket competition (the David English Bunbury Cup), beating Beeston Hall in the first round and narrowly losing out to Dulwich College in round 2. Chasing more than 250 runs for the win, QE achieved a valiant 193.
The U12s have won five of their eight fixtures to date. The highlight was another centurion’s performance: Neil Bhabra scored a mighty 100 off just 53 balls against Watford Grammar. The U12s are waiting to play the postponed final of the County Plate against London Oratory.
I was so happy to be chosen as the best player from the tour. This is the first time I have been to the west country and I’m now really looking forward to playing senior cricket next year.
Player of the tour, Surya SenthilkumarThe touring party enjoyed team-building activities, exploring the vibrant city of Gloucester and watching a professional T20 game.
To take the trophy, QE beat off competition from two powerhouses of the Fives world – Old Salopians (for Shrewsbury School alumni) and St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington. The nomination from the EFA praised QE’s “success story in recent years” led by Director of Sport Jon Hart, noting that “with just one court… the school not only produces large numbers of players, but the standard and strength in depth is quite remarkable”. The nomination referred to Year 10’s Yash Kedia and Zayn Phoplankar becoming U15 champions and Year 9’s Veer Gali Sanjeev and Ishaan Mishra reaching the final of this year’s U14 Beginners’ Competition.
Mr Hart went with PE teachers Richard Scally and Peter Pickford to the EFA Dinner and Awards ceremony at the RAF Club in Mayfair to receive the Team of the Year award.
“This award is for the pupils – and deservedly so!” said Mr Hart. “The time and effort they have put in have led to an ever-growing squad and to improved results at the Nationals. This success is a reflection of the commitment and dedication that players have shown towards the game, through their training and participation throughout the year.”
Last year, QE picked up the Best Coach and the Spirit of Fives awards.
Founder’s Day brought not only the cricket action on Third Field, where the Old Elizabethans beat the School team by 39 runs – but also a popular martial arts display. The demonstration came from the experts at High Barnet’s The Resistance: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Discussions are now under way about organising extra-curricular sessions for QE boys as part of the Flourish programme.
Boys from Years 7–10 battled both their opponents and an onslaught of torrential rain to triumph at Barnet Athletics Championships, held at the Stone X Stadium, the home of Saracens rugby.
Competing against all secondary schools in the borough, QE’s athletes emerged as the overall winners, reports Director of Sport Jon Hart, despite conditions being “challenging, to say the least”.
The Year 9s were especially strong, with Victor Varbanov, Alvin Xu and Peter Atanasov all winning their events (javelin, shot and 100m respectively), while the Year 9 team won the relay.
The Year 10 runners also won their relay. Year 8’s Roshan Patel came first in the 800m.
QE’s Sport Leaders have been having a positive impact across Barnet, using their growing skills to serve in primary schools as well as helping out back at Queen’s Road.
Targeted at young individuals enthusiastic about sports, the Sports Leaders programme aims to develop leadership and other skills. QE’s Sixth Form Sports Leaders receive specialised training from Richard Scally, Head of Cricket, so that they can become effective ambassadors for physical activity. They learn to promote and organise sports events, and are soon able to bring real expertise to bear in multiple roles within the community.
“Their efforts have not only made sports days and cricket tournaments more enjoyable and run more smoothly, contributing greatly to their success, but have also helped to promote physical activity, teamwork and leadership skills among the participating students,” said Mr Scally. “By acting as role models, the Sport Leaders have inspired younger individuals to become more active and engage in sports regularly.”
In QE and primary school cricket tournaments, Sports Leaders coach players, assist with match logistics, and promote fair play and sportsmanship, thereby “fostering a love for cricket and developing young cricketers’ skills”. At the primaries’ sports days, they set up event stations, supervise games, and provide guidance and encouragement. QE’s Sports Day is similarly busy for them – a grand sporting celebration that is a fitting swansong for those on the programme.
QE Sports Leaders have been assisting with:
• Christ Church C of E and Monken Hadley primary schools’ sports days
• Barnet primary school cricket tournaments
• The Micro Marathon, hosted by Christ Church and attended by Year 6 children from other schools
• General sports activities at QE
• Cricket tournaments at QE
• QE’s own Sports Day, providing support in logistics and the judging
• The famous QE Mile race at Sports Day, forming their own squad
It has been great to learn new skills and put them to the test. I remember how special sports day was for me at primary school, so we were all keen to give the pupils a great experience.
Sports Leader Rohan Belavadi, Year 12
He stood third in his group and narrowly missed qualifying for the quarter-final round in his age category at the championships, which featured representatives of 35 counties. Aaryan had qualified for the nationals after taking a runner-up spot in a Hertfordshire county competition earlier in the year.
“Mum says I need to grow more and get muscles, but I like that table tennis is about reflexes and technique!” he says.
He started playing at home during the Covid-19 lockdowns and then, when he moved to Barnet so he could attend QE, he joined a Barnet table tennis club. There he received coaching, including, on one occasion, from one of the country’s top coaches – and a former top-level player – who was visiting.
At Wolverhampton, Aaryan was in the U13 category – there were also U11 and U19 competitions, all competing in a big gym complex. “It was really fun, not just playing, but watching the other matches, too.”
Representing Hertfordshire, he came 15th in the country, having won 2 and lost 2 of his 4 group matches (although with a good points difference). He had, in fact, played at county level before, but had on that occasion been thwarted when he came up against a national champion.
At QE, Aaryan is a keen member of the Friday lunchtime table tennis club. He also plays tennis and competitive badminton, finding table tennis to be “a mix of the two, but quicker”. Alongside all the sport, he also makes time for LAMDA English-speaking exams (grade 3), drama club, Junior Strings (violin) and Physics Club.
“Overall, I’m really enjoying my time at QE, it is brilliant with all the clubs and competitions. My ambition is to get back to the nationals again.”
My biggest weapon?
my attacking forehand – my backhand is more about placement.
National finalist Aaryan
Second from back: Aashir Irfan (Saracens Rugby), Sumant Pande (Berkshire Cricket), Ishaan Mishra (Eton Fives National Finalist), Kevin Mao (Middlesex Athletics), Keeyan Shah (National Academy Water Polo), Zayn Phoplankar (Eton Fives National Champion), Namish Thakur (London Schools Cricket), Thomas Young (Saracens Rugby).
Second from front: Veer Gali Sanjeev (Eton Fives National Finalist), Neil Bhabra (Middlesex Cricket), Mayank Jagetia (Buckinghamshire Cricket), Aarav Kaushik (London Schools Cricket), Sarang Nair (Hertfordshire Cricket), Lakshmi Chirumamilla (London Schools Cricket), Krish Deebak (Hertfordshire Cricket).
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