Kent College celebrates students’ sporting success
Leading independent girls school, Kent College, celebrates the sporting achievements a number of its students have accomplished in May.
Annabel Guye Johnson to represent Britain at World Junior Swimming Championships
Lower sixth form student, Annabel Guye Johnson, has been selected for the British swimming team, which is competing at the World Junior Championships 2017 in Indianapolis, U.S. The competition will take place 23 – 28 August and is one of the few opportunities that British junior swimmers have to compete with nations such as the U.S., Australia, China and Japan. Annabel will be one of the 21-strong squad, comprising girls aged between 14 and 17 and boys aged between 15 and 18. Led by British Swimming Head of Elite Development, Tim Jones, Annabel and the team will gain valuable competition experience at an international level and could set them up to follow in the footsteps of the competition’s previous participants such as celebrated Canadian Olympian Penny Oleksiak, who picked up four medals at Rio 2016.
Champions at British Schools Gymnastics Association (BSGA) National Finals
On 7 May 2017, the Acrobatic Gymnastics Under-11s Group from Kent College was crowned British Champions 2017, having demonstrated outstanding performances in their Acrobatic Group. The Kent College squad included: Francesca Arnell, Constance Arnell, Matilda Secker, Jemima Cynk, Caroline Gente and Evie Ginbey, and scored a prestigious 8.7 points. Teammates Francesca Arnell and Evie Ginbey also achieved fourth place with a remarkable score of 9.0 points in the Under-11 Girls Pairs competition.
This year’s BSGA National Acro & Tumbling competition was held in Stoke-on-Trent and enabled the team to challenge the best gymnasts from across the country; competition is tough and the standards across all categories have increased over the years and the results are always close. The Kent College Under-14s Acrobatic Group was placed 6th, the team: Poppy Morrison, Natalia Cynk, Olivia Secker, Phoebe Hollands, Annabel Lloyd and Harriet Fuller, achieved 8.30 points. The school’s individual tumblers also succeeded at the competition. Scarlett Howard-Stapaj was placed 8th and Violet Manser achieved 11th place in the Under-11 Girls final and Olivia Hossenboccus was awarded 10th place in the Over-14s category.
Gold at Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) Swimming Gala
Izzie Mercer, Year 6 pupil at Kent College, won gold at the IAPS Swimming Gala and set a new competition record time for her age group. Held in Crawley on the 6 May 2017, the event is the largest annual Prep School Swimming Gala in the UK, with 1,500 swimmers from 200 schools entering the qualifying galas. Izzie came first in the Girls Under-11, 25-Metre Butterfly race, swimming with a time of 14.23 seconds in the final.
The competition enables participants to represent their school and the finalists have the opportunity to compete against the fastest 16 individuals in the country.
Ms. Julie Lodrick, Headmistress at Kent College, comments: “We are incredibly proud of each of the girls’ achievements. Competing and winning at such a high level is testament to the hard work that they have dedicated to their individual sporting disciplines. We do all we can to support the girls’ personal training needs so that they are able to perform at a national level.
“We have invested a lot in our sports facilities and teaching, enabling us to nurture young sporting talent. We were thrilled to open our new astro pitch last October and together with the two sports halls, indoor swimming pool and fitness suite, we are extremely well-equipped for a whole range of sport. To have our under 11s gymnasts as national champions, Izzie as gold medal winner and Annabel representing Great Britain in swimming means that we can inspire other students to participate in a variety of sports and follow the successful examples set by their peers. Sport and outdoor education is an essential part of the curriculum here as it is an integral to mental and physical wellbeing, commitment, self-confidence and a healthy appreciation for competition; all of which are key for athletic, academic and professional success.”
About Kent College
Kent College is a leading independent school for girls based in Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells in Kent. It is a day and boarding school for pupils aged three to 18 and has been rated “Excellent” across all categories by the ISI in 2016.
By treating every girl is as an individual and valuing her for her unique strengths, talents and ambitions, Kent College nurtures well-rounded students that are encouraged to excel academically and take advantage of a full range of extra-curricular programmes. The school works with each student and her family to tailor her learning to her unique needs and offer a truly bespoke education. Through excellent teaching, high standard sports facilities and drama resources and a supportive school community, Kent College enables every girl to achieve her personal best in all areas of the school life.
To find out more about Kent College, please visit: www.kent-college.co.uk.
