Kilgraston Senior Sports Day 2024
Kilgraston Senior Sports Day 2024: A Day of Outstanding Achievements
The Kilgraston Senior Sports Day 2024 was a vibrant celebration of athleticism, teamwork, and school spirit. Our pupils showcased their remarkable skills and determination across various events, making it a memorable day for everyone involved. Here’s a recap of the standout performances and results:
In track events, Rebecca took first place in the 100m for Fourth Form, Erin F won the 100m and 200m for Fifth Form and another Erin F won both these events for Sixth Form too, while Lara, Lucy, and Charlotte triumphed in the 800m and longer distances.
Field events saw impressive performances in high jump by Rebecca in Fourth Form, Clementina in Fifth Form and Jessica in Sixth Form. Maia excelled in the long jump for Fifth Form, while Erin took the top spot for Sixth Form. Caitlin, Poppy, and Fiona demonstrated their strength in shot put, and Anneliese, Stephanie, Afton, Rebecca, Stephanie, and Julia excelled in discus and javelin, earning Pre-Sports Finalist Medals.
The Interhouse Relay winners were Inchcolm for Fourth Form, Kinnoull for Fifth Form, and Arran for Sixth Form, showcasing teamwork and competitive spirit.
Trophies were awarded to Rebecca in Fourth Form, Lucy and Maia in Fifth Form, and Erin in Sixth Form, highlighting their exceptional performances in various categories.
Arran emerged as the overall winner in the Senior School category with 91 points, reflecting their outstanding collective achievement.
The Sports Day concluded with a ceremony celebrating the achievements of all participants. It was particularly heartening to see the camaraderie and support amongst students, a true reflection of Kilgraston’s community spirit. The dedication and hard work of our athletes, along with the enthusiastic cheers from fellow students, parents, and staff, made the day a spectacular success.
Congratulations to all our athletes for their incredible efforts and achievements. A special thank you to the organizers, coaches, and volunteers who ensured the event ran smoothly. We look forward to more exciting events and continued excellence in sports at Kilgraston.
Kilgraston Hockey Challenge Plate Winners 2023
Kilgraston Hockey Challenge Plate Winners 2023, and read Lower Sixth’s Martha’s match report:
Last Friday (17th March), the Senior Girls Hockey team left Kilgraston at 7:30 in the morning to drive to Peffermill in Edinburgh to play the Scottish Challenge Plate Final against Galashiels Academy. Excitement and nerves built as we edged ever closer to the 10am push back.
We were welcomed and given our changing room where we had our team talk from Miss Patton and Mr Stott before the final motivational comments were passed to amongst each other (not forgetting last minute hair prep)!
The whole team emerged into the Edinburgh sunshine for a nervy warm up on the pitch listening to the build up from the man in the tartan suit on the microphone! About 15 minutes from pushback two Kilgraston mini buses arrived filled with supporters from school. They came laden with posters and were prepared to be in full voice for an hour.
Along with school friends we would like to thank parents and grandparents for coming along too. It was also lovely to see Mrs Davie, Mrs Ferry, Mrs McCormick and Mrs Cran in the stands too.
The whole team lined up and we were each introduced one by one before walking out and going into our final huddle.
“Kilgraston… Cor Unum… OI OI OI!”
The team set up and the whistle blew and we were off! We did not wait long to score. The ball was played down the right to Martha who was in the circle who pushed it into the goal with a final reassuring tap in from Fern. The second goal came from Christabelle Pratt after just seven minutes. Galashiels have played the whole time this season without a goalkeeper and we used this to our advantage. However, despite having a 2-0 lead, Gala regained some control and were soon rewarded with a goal.
Just before half time, the Kilgraston girls got a penalty corner which was hit to our Captain, Lexie MacMillan, who passed it to Martha who pushed it past a number of defenders to find the back of the goal. We still weren’t done, 30 seconds before half time, Martha scored again, hitting the ball from the top of the circle making it 4-1 to Kilgraston going into the second half.
In the second half of the game, Fern got a diagonal pass down the right from Lexie which she dribbled into the circle under pressure from two defenders and fired it into the bottom left of the goal. Due to some violent play from Gala, they were given a green card and forced to sit out for two minutes which was soon followed by another card for Gala which resulted in us being rewarded with a penalty flick. Lexie took the flick and shot a composed ball into the left hand side of the goal to make the final score 6-1.
Despite not playing with a goalkeeper, Galashiels pushed us all very hard and made some dangerous attacking play which was very well defended and cleared by our players at the back. In the build up to the final we have been working hard on our attacking play practicing the forward leads and getting outcomes in the circle and it was great to see our work in action!
It was a brilliant way to end our journey within the Scottish Cup and we are all incredibly proud to bring back the Challenge Plate for Kilgraston!
Thanks also to those who watched the game on Watch.Hockey which is still available to watch back if anyone would like to watch here.
Unfortunately it was one of the last games for some of our U6 players including captain, Lexie Maxmillan, vice captain, Christabelle Pratt and Jeanie Stirling but it was a great way to end their school hockey career and we all wish them the very best for after school.
By Martha (L6)
Watch the Scottish Hockey post match interview below with captain, Lexie, and Martha
Kilgraston Senior Invitational tournament 2023
Following the success of Friday’s Scottish Challenge Plate win, our Senior XI were busy again at the Kilgraston Invitational Senior tournament. We were delighted to invite three Junior players who are part of our Hockey Academy programme in Upper Four and Lower Fifth to gain experience of this annual event and help prepare them for forthcoming Under 16 and Under 14 Midland trials.
Charlotte, Natasha, and Willow did not disappoint, and all played a crucial part in winning the group stage of the tournament. The schedule saw all three finals (5th v 6th, 3rd v 4th and 1st v 2nd) all go to running penalties; testament to the excellent standard of play on display.
Our final against Strathallan school was no exception with the final score one goal apiece after a great goal from Lexie. After three running penalties from Fern, Martha and Lexie which resulted in another (some amazing saves from Goalkeeper Lower Fifth Academy player Melissa S too!) it moved onto sudden death!
Such a close final, but eventually Kilgraston scored a silver medal place. Our opposition teams named Lexie as their player of the match and the player of the day went to Melissa S who has stepped into the 1st XI team halfway through the season following an injury in the squad. Such an exciting group of players who can’t wait until next season!
Well done and thank you to all involved.
Mrs Ferry, Head of PE
Sports Day 2022
Kilgraston Sports Day 2022 took place June 9th and 10th with the sun shining for both the Junior and Senior events.
This year our Senior Sports Day started on Friday morning. Each house gathered on Front Lawn in their colours and were piped to the sports field by Lower Fifth’s Libby before the event compère, Mr. Allaker, who did a fantastic job.
The first event was the 100 metre sprint in year groups (Fourth Form, Fifth Form and Sixth Form). It was followed by the Long Jump, Shot put and High jump. Each event was very fun to watch, but my favourite was the high jump! The other two running events were the 800 and 200 metres. The fun races included the egg and spoon race and the sack race. There was an egg and spoon race for the teachers and parents too.
The last races of the day were the relays, which were in the usual year groups, with an extra one which is the staff against the sixth form.
At the end senior event, Libby piped us to the finish line for presentations to the Champions from Mrs. Davie. Thank you to Mrs. Ferry and everyone who made this years sports day so successful.
Jaya, Upper Four
Kilgraston Tennis Tournament 2022
On Friday 27th and Saturday 28th May we hosted our annual Kilgraston Tennis Tournament, the Kilgraston Invitational Doubles event. This is always the most important date in our season and it was a very special two day tournament.
On the Friday, we competed against other independent schools including Morrison’s, Craigclowan, Dollar, Strathallan, Mary Erskine’s and Lorretto. There was some amazing tennis on display as the girls competed for the under 12 and under 14 trophies. The Kilgraston team did incredibly well, with Olivia and Willow winning the under 14, A Pool, winning all 6 matches. To top it off, our Upper Four team came third in the B Pool, which meant that Kilgraston won the overall under 14’s event (A and B pools combined).
On the Saturday it was time for the under 18 event, where we played against Dollar’s top four pairs and Morrison’s top two pairs. Kilgraston’s number one pair: Olivia and Pauline (both only 13 years old) won the A pool beating the Dollar first pair (both 17 years of age) 6 games to 3. It was an inspired performance by Olivia and Pauline, who stuck to their game plan throughout the match and executed their tactics with conviction – well done girls!
I am so proud of the Kilgraston Tennis Team. The girls showed amazing team spirit, fair play and determination throughout. Now it’s back to training for next year!
Billy McNeil, Kilgraston Tennis Coach.
Kilgraston Equestrian team wins at prestigious competition
Friday 13th may be dubbed a luckless day for some but it was not unlucky for one of the Kilgraston Equestrian teams. Horses, ponies and riders headed down to Kelso for a prestigious National Schools Equestrian Association show jumping and arena eventing competition.
It took place in the grounds of the spectacular Floors Castle and the competition ran alongside Floors Castle International Horse Trials where some of the biggest and best names in equestrian were taking part.
Friday was the first day of the competition and the atmosphere crackled with anticipation with the Kilgraston riders and horses showing confidence and poise. The team of Olivia, Hannah, Phoebe and Lucy and their ponies performed outstandingly, winning the 75cm show-jumping class much to the delight of all. This now means they qualify for the National Championships which are held in Bedfordshire in October, a brilliant achievement.
Next up was the 85cm class with Melissa, Phoebe and Olivia coming third, just missing out on further qualification and Hannah, Lucy and Olivia on Beano this time coming fourth.
Saturday kicked off with the arena event, where riders jump round a course of SJ and XC fences whilst getting marked on their style as well as jumping and time faults. The 75cm team knocked a few poles putting them down into 5th place, and the 85cm team of Mellissa, Hannah, Phoebe and Olivia came 3rd, again just missing out on qualification by one place.
The girls did so well, riding in an extremely busy arena with a lot of activity around them with some fantastic results too, a huge well done to all riders and their horses.
We are thrilled and cannot wait until October.
Kilgraston Tennis Academy - season update
Kilgraston tennis stars have done so well this term, showing amazing determination and team spirit. We’ve been so busy with coaching and matches and we would like to share with you some highlights from the last couple of weeks.
On April 28th, we had a very well-earned draw against Strathallan seniors, we were over powered by their A Team, but the youngsters in our B Team, fought incredibly hard to get a 5-4 win – which was incredible so well done to you all.
Last week we played away at Glenalmond and again it was a very close encounter, with both teams producing some fantastic tennis. Our under 14 team won overall and our under 15’s lost narrowly to a tough side so again well done on a fantastic team effort girls.
I would like to mention our Tennis Academy players - Olivia and Willow (both L4), who have been a standout doubles pair this term. They were undefeated against Strathallan under 13, under 14, seniors, St Leonards under 15 and Glenalmond under 14. It took the might of Dollar’s Senior Team (both 18 years old) to defeat Olivia and Willow who are both 13 years old and the score was so close 7-6 6-7 8-10 to Dollar. Incredible effort girls, we are so proud of you.
Our next match is against Morrison’s on Saturday 14th May at home, please come down and cheer the players on.
Billy McNeil, Kilgraston Tennis Coach
Kilgraston pupil (and teacher!) discuss netball in this month’s Independent Schools Magazine
An innovative scheme, to hear and learn from youthful voices, has been established by Netball Scotland. Kilgraston School pupil India D, chosen as one of only 25 ambassadors, tell this month’s Independent Schools Magazine what the role means for her. Also writing, is PE teacher Emma Patton, who discusses the benefits of netball in the School’s curriculum.
The full article can be read here on P38
Record recruitment for Kilgraston’s summer camp programme
Fresh from getting their children back to school after months of lockdown learning, parents are now turning their attention to the looming summer holiday period in a bid to satisfy offspring’s pent-up energy.
“Bookings have only been open for three weeks,” comments Donna Douglas, Kilgraston’s Summer School Course Director, “but already they are far exceeding those of the pre-Covid summer of 2019, and there are still eight weeks to go.”
While Kilgraston’s summer camps did take place during 2020’s lockdown-easing, social distancing and higher than usual teacher-to-pupil ratio requirements capped numbers: “Demand during the six-weeks was huge,” notes Douglas, “but, unfortunately, we had to disappoint many families as rules just didn’t allow us to take the numbers we’d have liked.”
But 2021 is proving to be a whole different ball game: “We had 510 visitor days’ booked over Easter,” continues Douglas, “and summer confirmations are already well over those of 2019 levels.”
Being asked to provide packed lunches and snacks, hasn’t proved a game-changer, with parents still very keen to get kids out and about on the playing fields and equestrian centre or developing skills at the newly-announced Dance and Multi-Arts camps: “We’ve had bookings from all-over central Scotland,” Douglas says, “from north of Dundee to over the Firth of Forth. Parents are citing an emphasis on fun and energy outlets, especially with restrictions on foreign travel.”
Camps will keep age-groups together in tight ‘bubbles’, with one adult to every seven students: “Generally, children stay in small, familiar, groups all day, generating a family atmosphere,” notes Douglas, “If we reach capacity, a ‘wait-list’ is created, where additional staff will be recruited if demand dictates.”
If you’d like further information or to book a place on one of the many activities, please click here or email directly to [email protected]
Parent and Staff Golf Day
In the glorious sunshine, 4 staff and 7 parents participated in the highly competitive Golf Day at Murrayshall Golf Club.
Team A Stewart won - Karen Moran, Niall Macleod, Glenn Kippen
Longest Drive: Karent Moran & Glenn Kippen
Nearest the Pin: Euphan Stewart & Billy McNeil