Nether Stowe sports stars excel far and wide

A team of young sporting stars from Nether Stowe School deserve a ‘big hand’ – after making it to the national finals of the growing sport of handball.

Their achievement is just one part of a string of sporting successes at the Lichfield school, which is part of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership.

The under 13 girls’ team have reached June’s National Handball Finals in Nottingham after triumphing in first the county and then the regional finals in Wolverhampton. The regional success is a first for the school, for whom Daisy Mole was particularly outstanding.

The under 13 and under 15 boys’ teams also reached the regional heats, where Oscar Furmaniak and Finn McIlkenny starred for the respective sides.

“They may not have made it to the nationals, but the boys also represented Nether Stowe incredibly well.”

The success continued on the track and field in the latest District Athletics League meeting in which Imogen Willis won the 200m and Kymani Chisholm earned victory in the hurdles.

Also on the podium were Niamh Patrick who was second in the javelin, Finn McIlkenny who was runner-up in the high jump and Mia Fennell and Olly Brown who were third in the 200m and long jump respectively. Chloe M was fourth in the 100m.

Miss Merrick added: “The dedication of our athletes has been so admirable, with some even competing in both handball and solo athletics.

Elsewhere, a Nether Stowe team were crowned district special educational needs boccia champions at Chase Terrace Academy.

Boccia is a precision ball sport related to bowls and pétanque and is popular at Nether Stowe.

The school entered four teams – all accompanied by a staff member – and Miss Merrick’s team won the overall tournament as they beat Rugeley School 8-2 in the final.

Of the 16 overall squads, the remaining Nether Stowe teams all progressed from the group stages and finished in at least the quarter-finals on what was an amazing day of success for the students.

Main picture: The under 13 girls are relishing their trip to the National Handball Finals.