Senior boys hockey team qualifies for All Ireland - well done!

The senior boys hockey team qualified last Wednesday for the All Ireland Schools Competition in Limerick in late October. John Willoughby scored the all important qualifying goal mid way through the first half of a tense game against King’s Hospital at Grange Road. High School had a number of other chances throughout the game but were unable to breach their opponents defence a second time. The team, captained by Jonathan Walker can now look forward to taking part in the premier schools tournament for the first time.
The All-Ireland Schools (Boys) Championship brings together the top school talent in a play-off tournament. It is the right of each province to produce its quota of schools every year in its own way. Ulster is based on previous year’s results and qualifying games, Leinster and Munster on qualifiers if necessary with the winners entered into European competitions every second year. The tournament consists of sixteen teams, eight Ulster, five Leinster and three Munster, with four pools, the winner of each pool playing in the semi final and then final. The remaining teams then play a friendly against each other.

Bicycle polo

On the weekend of 13 September, James Harding and Keenan Lacey (Form 5) travelled to Normandie in France to represent Ireland in bicycle polo. There were eight teams playing, including five French teams, two English and the Irish team. The interesting thing is that bicycle polo was invented by an Irishman called Richard J McCready in 1891. With this in mind, there was a lot of pressure on the Irish to do well.
The tournament started well with Ireland winning all of their games against the English and most against the French. It wasn't until we played the favourites (Sanvic) that we lost a hard fought match. Overall we finished 3rd and were also awarded the "Best Sportsmen" trophy.
The bikes we use are fixed gear, low and have no brakes. To brake you have to pedal backwards. The pitch is about the size of a football pitch and divided into quarters called chukkas. The game is like football on bikes in that we tackle each other and shoot the ball from wherever we want. We wear hurling helmets to ensure our safety. The ball is a size one football and to hit it we have mallets.
James Harding, Keenan Lacey

Right - three of the five members of the band "The Works" performing It's Never Enough, one of their own songs, in assembly.

Pink ribbon day

The library committee will be selling ribbons (€2), pins (€3), phone charms (€3) and keyrings (€4) from 26 September in aid of Action Breast Cancer. They will be sold in the library and outside the Reynolds Hall. Please support this worthy cause.
Gavin Rothwell, Zoe Dolan on behalf of the committee.

Fixtures and training this week

Girls hockey
Sen 1 (L), Jun A St Gerard's Wed 24 Away 2.15
Sen 2 (L), Jun B St Gerard's Wed 24 Away 3.15
1st Yr St Gerard's Wed 24 Home 1.45
Min A (L) Loreto Bray Wed 24 Home 3.00
Min C St Gerard's Wed 24 Home 2.00
Jun B (L) St Wolstan's Thurs 25 Away 3.15
Jun A Mt Sackville Sat 27 Away 9.00
Jun B, Min B Mt Sackville Sat 27 Away 11.00
Min C Mt Sackville Sat 27 Away 10.00
Sen 1 Mt Sackville Sat 27 Home 10.00
Sen 2 Mt Sackville Sat 27 Home 9.00
Sen 3 Mt Sackville Sat 27 Home 11.00
Sen 4 Our lady's Terenure Sat 27 Away 10.00
Boys hockey
Senior Wesley Fri 26 Home 4.30
Junior Wesley tba
Rugby
1st XV (L), 2nd St Gerard's Wed 24 Home 2.30
U 14 A, B Gonzaga Wed 24 Away 2.30
U 16 Wesley Sat 27 Away 11.00
JCT St Columba's Sat 27 Away 2.30
U 14 A, B Castleknock Sat 27 Home 11.00
Girls basketball
U 16 St Columba's Fri 26 Away 3.45
U 19 St Columba's Fri 26 Away 5.00

Sports results - well done!

In girls hockey against Our Lady's Grove, the Minor A won 6-0, the Minor B won 2-0, the 1st Years won 2-0, the Junior A won 6-1, the Junior B drew 2-2 and the Senior 2 drew 2-2. In rugby, the Under 14 B beat Terenure 49-14.