Sports Reports
Tennis Our focus during the tennis season was on ensuring that we fielded a greater number of teams so that more girls could represent the school. Although the small nature of a tennis team and court space has meant this was not always possible, a total of 109 girls represented one of the 15 tennis teams. The Junior Teams enjoyed the U15 and U13 Aegon National Championship, where our U13 Team were unbeaten and advance to the regional round in the Autumn Term. 24 girls and their partners entered our Family Tennis Tournament, where Eliza Leng and her brother Archie overcame Georgia Williams and her father in an extremely close and tense final. Rebecca Randall won the Abbot Tennis Trophy for the most improved player. However, our overriding memory
Mrs Heidi Marvin Director of Sport
Tennis Colours Senior Sophie Collin, Isobel Kenney-Herbert*, Florence Dove*, Isabella Warner*. Intermediate Gemma Briston, Eleanor Dove, Olivia Erwin, Olivia King*, Lily Marriott, Jessica Mather*, Mia Millman*, Rebecca Randall*, Chloe Waller. Junior Bonnie Bartlett, Jemima Brown*, Georgia Murdoch*, Hope Pleydell-Bouverie, Isobel Smith, Laura Steel, Georgia Williams. Tennis Half Colours Claudia Meissner*, Emily FitzPatrick* Maria Perry*, Emma Ralph*, Polly Roberts*, Isabella Tottenham*, Iona Westwood*. *New Awards
Vale do Lobo
Tennis
At the beginning of the Easter holiday, a group of girls made their way to Portugal with their rackets in hand and heavy bags!
Camp
After a very early start, we arrived at our villa at 11am. We had a fabulous villa with a swimming pool and a great view of the tennis club. The sun was shining, so we took time to relax around the pool until the first training session from 5-7pm. The girls were introduced to their coach Nuno, who they all fell in love with! 82
of the season has to be the awful weather; it is amazing to think that we only had to cancel one match. Play went on whatever the weather and, whilst I rarely taught an UIV Form lesson without a polite plea to run for cover, on several occasions the heavens opened and not one player broke their rally to question the option of stopping. Girls were seen voluntarily out on the courts in the pouring rain, such was the commitment to tennis at St Mary’s. Let us hope the planned Sports Hall does not make us soft, but I am not saying we do not need it!
Training
Over the five days, the girls had five hours of training every day, plus singles and doubles competitions against other English schools (including boys) that were out there.
Olivia got the information wrong about the opening time of the shop - fabulous Portuguese - but we found a lovely smoothie bar to compensate.
When not on court, the girls managed to squeeze in a little revision around the pool in the sun; we went to the beach for a paddle in the freezing Atlantic and played mini golf where it all got a little competitive!
On the final night, we decided to go out for a meal but, unfortunately, the weather turned for the worse and we have never been so wet in all our lives. We had to use the oven to get our clothes dry - we have the pictures to prove it!
We also took one trip out to the supermarket which was very eventful as
Mrs Natalie Baldwin Head of Extra-Curricular Activities
The girls really improved in all aspects of their tennis and are raring to go back again for the next pre-season session.