Year 7 Girls’ Netball

Congratulations to the Year 7 Netball team who had an excellent victory in the South London League versus St Cecilia, winning by 8 goals to 3. The Ashcroft goals were scored by Yasmin Bouchair 7t3, Angel Deugoue 7t5 and Emese Parti 7t5 (5). Other members of the team include Lacy Finch 7t1, Lottie Harvey 7t1, Katie Hughes 7t2, Jaida Anderson-Thomas 7t2, Lois Johnstone 7t5, Margaret Amara 7t5, Angelica Obijiaku 7t6 and Lottie Dyer 7t7. That is two wins from two for the year 7 girls’ team in this league – the next fixture will be a strong test against a traditionally experienced Graveney team.

Year 9 Girls’ Netball

Hard luck to the Year 9 Girls’ Netball team who faced tough opposition against an extremely well organised St Cecilia’s team. The score was a 15 -3 deficit with Ashcroft’s goals scored by Mischa Tseliki 9t5 and Nafisa Isse 9t6 (2) – this does not really scale the abilities between the two teams, but more the practice and effort towards attending club. So well done to the following for your efforts and the PE department hope to see more regular attendance to clubs in order to develop skills and strategies:  Jessica King 9t1, Hiba Sheikh 9t1, Viktoria Hunter 9t4, Mischa Tseliki 9t5, Nafisa Isse 9t6, Catarina Gomes Pereira 9t6 and Sharnye Adegoke 9t7.

Years 7/8 Indoor Athletics

A number of students from years 7 and 8 were selected to represent the Academy at Tooting Leisure Centre for the Wandsworth Borough Indoor Athletics Competition. A slightly different format of events included a number of track events such as sprints, speed endurance and relays. Whereas the field events included the shot, standing vertical and long jumps and the speed bounce. The stand-out individual performance was from De‘Shaum Grutzka 8t5 who performed incredibly well during the year 8 boys’ speed bounce. But it gives me great pleasure to say that the year 7 girls’ team finished second overall in what is a strong borough for Athletics. The team includes Lottie Harvey 7t1, Katie Hughes, Avni Bakre 7t3, Lois Johnstone 7t4, Emese Parti 7t5, Angelica Obijiaku 7t6 and Lottie Dyer 7t7. This group of students’ have been exceptional over a range of sports and activities this year since starting at the Academy and I cannot wait to report further successes from these students. They are excellent role models for girls’ in sport – well done!

We look forward to starting the traditional Athletics on the curriculum for years 7 – 9 after Easter and anticipate a number of medals at the Borough Championships in April and May.

Year 11 Boys’ Basketball

I have reported previously how well this team has performed to win the Under-16 Wandsworth borough tournament. The progression of this competition sees one school from the 32 winning boroughs enter the London Games. There are four knockout rounds which leads to the final, with the eventual winners going on to represent London in the regional competition. However, I am disappointed to report that Ashcroft lost 29 – 24 to St Gregory’s School – the winners of Harrow borough – at the first knockout stage. This will probably be the final opportunity to represent the Academy Basketball team for these students, so I would like to congratulate the following on their efforts and improvements over the years – your performances and dedication have proven to inspire students of younger year groups to participate in Basketball: Fozey Abdalla 11t1, Gerald Lamptey 11t3 Muyiwa Obamakin 11t3, Girogi Ugrekhalidze 11t3, Crispin Low 11t5, Hanan Manan 11t5, Sidali Hammia 11t7 and Kyle Vannucci 11t7.

Year 7 Boys’ Football

Mixed news for the year 7 boys’ Football team this month with one win and one loss – unfortunately the win being a friendly game and the loss in the league.  The league defeat was by 6 goals to 4 against Harris Academy Battersea, with goals coming from Sameed Tahir 7t5, Jayden Mulyanti 7t6 (2) and Mouadh Nour 7t3. After a positive start, too many errors allowed Harris back into the game and we were short of the standards that have previously been set. With three wins and two losses from five games, it will be difficult to finish the season as champions, but look forward to correcting this mistakes in our next fixture versus City Heights Academy before the end of term. A better performance against St Cecilia’s resulted in a 3-1 win with goals coming from James Hall 7t3, Sameed Tahir 7t5 and Dominik Laska 7t6 in a friendly game.

Year 8 Boys’ Football

A change in fortunes for this team after two straight defeats with a 3 – 1 victory over Ark Putney Academy in the Wandsworth league. An accomplished performance on a tricky afternoon of snowy showers saw goals contributed by Tino D’Ancona 8t4, Milo Koba 8t1 and Kieron Nogongou 8t4. That is now two wins from four games and we hope to finish the season in winning fashion – starting with Bolingbroke and Harris Academy towards the end of term.

Year 9 Boys’ Football

This group of students continue to impress in the Wandsworth league with another victory – this time, 4 – 0 winners against Ark Putney Academy. Goals were scored by Ishmael Bygrave 8t3, Adem Ouali 9t5, Duncan Seruwagi 9t5 and Ryan Madouri 9t5. Currently top of the league with four wins and one draw from their five games played, the year 9 team have three games to play – next up is Bolingbroke before the end of this term.

Year 10 Boys’ Football

Unfortunately, another defeat for this group of students in a friendly versus a strong St Cecilia’s team. The game finished 4 – 0 but there was good demonstration of resilience. Special mention goes to Edi Miftari from 10t6, who despite the score line, continues to produce excellent performances in goal. The next game sees Ashcroft take on Bolingbroke before the end of this term.

Years 7 and 8 Panathlon

Well done to the following students who competed in the Panathlon Challenge on Tuesday 29^th January: Dhimesten Petko (7t3), Alissa Smith (7t1), Rachel Ayeni (7t6), Muzammil Ahmad (7t5) and Hassan Malik (8t5). It gives me great pleasure to announce that Ashcroft finished second overall as a team, just two points behind leaders Sutton in first place. However, there were also some excellent individual performances to comment on. Muzammil Ahmad (7t5) achieved gold medal in the standing Javelin with an outstanding throw of 9.2 metres. Dhimesten Petko (7t3) achieved a silver medal in the standing long jump with an impressive jump of 0.7 metres. Rachel Ayeni (7t6) participated in the seated beanbag throw and attained bronze medal. Ashcroft finished second overall in the Polybat competition with excellent performances from Alissa Smith (7t1) and Muzammil Ahmad (7t5). A fantastic team performance saw Ashcroft win first in the relay with superb runs from Dhimesten Petko (7t3), Alissa Smith (7t1), Muzammil Ahmad (7t5) and Hassan Malik (8t5). Huge congratulations to these students and please take time to acknowledge this – we all look forward to the next stage of this competition at St Mary’s University on Monday 25^th March. And special recognition to Abraham Brown for organising and inspiring this group of students.

Years 9 and 10 Volleyball

I am pleased to report that Ashcroft A team finished second in the borough tournament, only behind an extremely experienced and well-organised Ernest Bevin team. Losing to Ernest Bevin, Ashcroft were able to record victories over Southfields, Graveney, Putney High and Bolingbroke. Well done to Kyane Perera 9t4, Noah Soliman 9t1, Sujgeevan Vanthiyathevan 9t1 and Shyam Chudasana 9T4. We also participated with B and C teams, with each team winning all their games, besides one. Well done also to: Ziad Sajed 9t4, Luc Parry 9t4, Rihan Ahmed 9t4, Ateeq Dar 9T4, Larvin Paeste 9t4 Lukas Deegan 10t4, Maria Choudhry 10t4, Dante Smith 10T5 and Deniz Uysal 10t6. Volleyball at the Academy is going from strength-to-strength, not only in aptitude, but also having nearly 30 students attend clubs on Wednesday.