4 minute read
Adventure & Leadership
AHELMWITH HIGHHOPES
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In recognition of her incredible dedication to the sport and extraordinary talent, Jemima Price has been appointed our first ever Captain of Sailing. Jemima plans to use her new role to generate enthusiasm for sailing at Sherborne Girls and build a team to rival her fellow sailors at Sherborne School.
I first started sailing at the age of 8. It was my mum ’ s dream to have her two daughters brought up with a sport that she and her mother so passionately loved! We first sailed on the River Dart in Devon in a small boat known as an Optimist. That trip also marked my first capsize, when I watched our little boat sail away without us. I have loved sailing ever since!
I am incredibly proud to be Captain of the Sherborne Girls sailing team. We sail with Sherborne School every Thursday and Saturday, travelling together in a minibus to Sutton Bingham Reservoir. One of the best parts of combining forces with Sherborne School is the opportunity to make friends and support sailors in other year groups.
Older sailors hold RYA Assistant and Dinghy Instructor qualifications, enabling them to guide the younger years and assist them with boat handling. Together we form one big mixed aged group, helping each other improve our skills and sometimes competing as a joint team.
Looking ahead, I am hoping that more girls will join the sailing team this summer. Although there has been a steady uptake, I would really love to see more of my friends at school taking part.
Charlotte Philips (M5), the youngest sailor in our team and the most avid, says that sailing is the highlight of her week because of the high spirits and enthusiasm of those involved. She particularly loves the fact that everyone works so well together on the water, supporting each other to secure the best possible sailing positions.
This term is the first time that Sherborne Girls will enter the National School Fleet Racing Championship and I would love to see us compete in strong numbers. With so many new opportunities available, it will be great to see more women taking part in a traditionally male dominated sport.
A a deeper understanding and greater p
TOGETHERIN ADVENTURE
Sherborne Girls and Sherborne School continued to collaborate on adventures this year, following the success of their first joint enterprise, the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’ s Award (DofE) canoeing expedition. As well as experiencing breath-taking scenery, the wonders of wild camping and the joy of miles under foot, mixed team expeditions enhance co-operation skills, develop leadership potential and forge new friendships.
Best of luck to the teams embarking on the final Gold DofE walking expedition in Snowdonia and to those paddling the length of Scotland’ s Great Glen in the final canoeing expedition over the summer.
TACKLING TENTORS
Representing Sherborne Girls in the prestigious Ten Tors Challenge for the first time, Clementine Hurrell, Rose Stanley-Smith, Octavia Tennant, Hannah Wood, Felicia Zerps and Lucy Hancock (M5) trekked 35 miles across Dartmoor in one team while Amelia Hope-Hawkins and Charlotte Wordsworth (L6) covered an impressive 45 miles in a joint team with boys from Sherborne School.
Robustly prepared during military training weekends, both teams departed at 7am on 7 May, independently navigating their way via ten of Dartmoor ’ s famous tors to finish within just five minutes of each other the following day.
Commenting on their experience, Amelia and Charlotte said: “Being in a mixed team has been so enjoyable. We all have different characters, strengths and weaknesses but each of us adds value to the group. The boys ’ brought out our competitive side as we wanted to be selected and show them that we are just as strong!”
AINTNO MOUNTAINHIGH ENOUGH
During the Easter holidays, nine of us joined nine boys from Sherborne School on a Gold DofE training expedition in Snowdonia. The prospect of spending five days in a group with three boys we did not know was daunting. Despite initial worries, we found ourselves giggling even when ascending the toughest and steepest of hills.
For me, the best moments (aside from the beautiful scenery) were the games we played and the songs we sung on route to our destinations, sometimes causing us to nearly miss checkpoints! It was also amusing to watch each other react to the different terrains from scree to boggy grass.
I would highly recommend co-ed activities, even if you do not know those involved. In fact, that makes it easier because there is so much to talk about!
SHERBORNE GIRLSFIRSTCCF BIENNIAL INSPECTION
In March, we were honoured to be included in the CCF Biennial Inspection for the first time, which took part in the Courts at Sherborne School. We spent the whole of the Lent Term in preparation. A trip to the Cold Stream Guards for an intense day of drill helped iron out inconsistencies and explained the army application process.
On the day, everyone performed brilliantly for inspecting officer and Old Shirburnian, Vice Admiral Andrew Burns CB OBE. The festivities concluded with a wonderful CCF dinner hosted by Sherborne Girls. Overall, the day was a huge success and one we will not forget.
Poppy Evans (L6)
