William Brookes Year 8 girls’ athletics team are County Champions!

The girls convincingly won the first round of the Aviva Sportshall Athletics Competition, against our partnership schools, and their excellent performance gave them a place in the County final in February.

Hosted by the Charlton School, Wellington, the competition in the final proved tough, but we beat the Blessed Robert Johnson School by just 3 points to take the honours, and secure a place at the West Midlands Final in Solihull.

The 8 strong team chose to adopt the names of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and wore tops with their names on them.

 Well done Joanna, Anna, Sophie, Lindsey, Josie, Claudia, Georgia and Chloe.

Student, Saffron, is a bit of a star on the ice. The 14 year old has already represented her country in Italy and Switzerland at the Chiasso Tournament, and this year will travel to the Czech Republic and Latvia with the England Under 15s Ice Hockey Team.

Team England won the Chiasso tournament and secured the first gold for England for 5 years. This was a particularly memorable occasion for Saffron, who was presented with a special shirt as ‘English Player of the Tournament’ by the English League Officals, who accompanied the team.

Saffron is the only girl ever to play in the team and she told us a bit about how she reached this standard of excellence.

“When I was seven years old, I started skating at the Telford Ice Rink, and after two weeks, joined ‘Telford Venom’ - the Under 10s Ice Hockey Team. Then I joined the Nottingham Under 16s Girls Team (this is the nearest girls team to where I live) and continue to play for them, as well as the national team.”

We asked Saffron if it was different playing on the girls’ team: “It’s a different style of play - it’s slower and not nearly as forceful as the boy’s matches.”

And the future ? “I’ve been offered a scholarship in Canada, but have decided to stay at William Brookes, then, hopefully, go to University in Canada. It’s a great opportunity - the sport is really big over there and they’re very enthusiastic about it. I’d have the chance to play alongside some superb skaters.”

So, you’d play for a Canadian team, but you’d still be willing to play for England at international level, if you could ? “Well, I’ve been pencilled in for the 2014 Winter Olympics, in Russia, and will do my very best to be representing England there.”

Saffron was presented with a repeat award on Tuesday 23rd January at the John Beswick International Awards. She received her award from Liz Nicholson, Shropshire’s Director of Young People & Childrens Services.

We are very proud of Saffron’s achievement and look forward to following her progress into and beyond the olympics.