Joe, Andrew and Jacob

Olympic sprinter, Andrew Steele, returned to St Bede’s to talk about his experiences in the recent Olympic Games in Beijing and his preparations for the 2012 Olympics in London. He gave a talk to an A-Level PE class and met some of the College’s future rising sports stars. Head of Boys PE,

Elizabeth and Andrew

Kevin Rafferty, said, “It was very good of Andrew to spare some time in his very busy schedule to talk to the students. They really appreciated the insight he gave them into being a professional athlete and all that it entails. He was an  inspirational speaker and gave the students much to think about.”
When asked about his time at recent Olympic Games Andrew replied, “I was really nervous, but I felt really good when I ran a personal best and won my heat. It made all the hard work worthwhile.”
Andrew was Head Boy at the College in 2002

James, Simon and Greg

St Bede’s College PE department is celebrating a hat-trick of successes as three of the College’s 1st XV Rugby Squad, have secured call ups for professional clubs and positions on the Cheshire and England Squads.

Simon (U6) who is currently playing for Sale Rugby has received an England call up, while Greg (L6) has been signed to Warrington Wolves Academy and has already played against Wigan in front of 7,500 fans.  James completes the trio of success stories with his call up for Cheshire, where he scored a hat-trick on his debut.

Amy has been selected as a backstop for the under 15s squad,  Caragh and Isabelle have been selected as bowlers for the under 13’s England squad.

Amy said: “This is my third year in the England squad so although I was a bit apprehensive I was not too nervous at the trials. I was really happy to get the call up again, having already played matches against Scotland, Wales and Greece.”

St Bede’s wish them every success for the future.

St Bede’s were victorious again at this year’s Manchester and District Tournament hosted by Bolton School. This is a long established tournament which celebrates its centenary in two years’ time. In the round robin, we beat Bolton School, Altrincham Grammar, Our Lady’s Royton and Sale Grammar School and drew with Bury. However, we won the competition because our goal difference was higher than Bury’s.

The victory was more significant because the team was a combination of U16s and U15s and consisted of Brittany, Millie, Sophia, Megan, Mary, Kerrianne, Elizabeth (Captain) and Aimee.

We eagerly anticipate the National Schools tournament, which holds its first round on the 8^th November.

Team Photo - Click to enlarge

The College’s historic first Rugby tour of the ‘West of Ireland’ during the February half term was hailed a great success. The mixed team of under fourteen’s and under fifteen’s were undefeated in their two matches against ‘Ballina’ and ‘Castlebar’. The teams trip to Ireland had received coverage in ‘The Irish Post’ and Mayo’s ‘Western People’ as well as airtime on Irish radio shows in Manchester and Mayo. Friends and relatives of the team came out to show their support at both games.

Despite arriving just minutes before their first game against Ballina after a delay at Manchester Airport the team won the match by 31 points to 7 points. Their second game the next day was against ‘Castlebar’, after a good night’s sleep and a ‘Full Irish Breakfast’ the team won their second match by a score of 50 points to 5 points.

The squad of twenty two fourteen and fifteen year old boys were joined by Head of Boys PE at the College — Kevin Rafferty, their coaches Mike Nally and John Devitt and Tony Hennigan who acted as the team’s official photographer.

During their stay in the region of Ireland the team stayed in the seaside resort of Enniscrone at the newly opened luxurious ‘Ocean Sands Hotel’ just outside Ballina. The hotel is owned by one of Mr Rafferty’s uncles – Michael McKeigue. Mr McKeigue went out of his way to look after the boys and staff, he arranged a professional photo shoot from a journalist with national media contacts. The staff were also invited to attend a meal with an Archdeacon and Monsignor from Ballina.

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Full use was made of the areas unspoilt beach with organised team games by the staff at Sunset each evening. Trips were also arranged to the holy shrine of ‘Croagh Patrick’ and a shopping trip in Westport. On Saturday evening the entire squad and staff attended mass in Enniscrone where they were made welcome by the Parish Priest and congregation. While in Castlebar the team enjoyed an afternoon of sport watching a GAA Game of football between Mayo and Donegal.

Another relative of Kevin Rafferty — ‘John Forde’ who played for Mayo’s ALL Ireland GAA winning team in the 1950’s came to visit the team at the hotel and happily posed for photographs with the students.

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The teams Rugby kit and Polo shirts were sponsored by Mr And Mrs Mulhern (Pat Mulhern Civil Engineers) the parents of Patrick Mulhern who was one of the team players.

Kevin Rafferty the head of Boys PE said “The team were a credit to St Bedes College and excelled on and off the field. We enjoyed a wealth of Irish hospitality from both of the teams that we played and we hope to make this an annual trip.”

Special thanks to Ballina Rugby Club officials – Arthur West (The President of the club), Niall Jennings (Coach) and Gerry O’Donnell. Also to Danny Cunningham (Castlebar Rugby Club) for hosting the fixtures and their generous hospitality.

Sir Alex Ferguson with the triumphant St Bede's Team

The ISFA Six a Side Tournament was a resounding successs, not least because St Bede’s won the prestigious trophy which has been contested annually since 1957 and which brought 32 schools from all over England and also Jersey to Brantingham Road Playing Fields on Sunday 9th September.

After winning their group in the morning, the College team progressed to the quarter-final with a narrow 2-1 victory over Repton. In an epic encounter St Bede’s then defeated the tournament favourites Millfield 3-2 before gaining their place in the final with a comfortable 3-1 win over Royal Grammar School, Newcastle. In a hard fought encounter with Charterhouse, goals from Robert and Daniel gained St Bede’s their second triumph in the tournament, our previous success occuring in 2004.

Played in ideal weather conditions, the ISFA competition revealed St Bede’s College at it’s very best. Twenty six teachers, forty two 6th Form students and numerous parents ensured that the organisation went without hitch and 288 players and 64 coaches were well looked after throughout the day.

Former Premier League football referee David Elleray, who is chairman of ISFA, said in his letter of thanks,

“Yesterday was a great triumph for St Bede’s. Nothing was left to chance and the attention to detail ensured that everyone had the most enjoyable day.

Thank you so much for the warmth that greeted us all from the moment we arrived. It was an outstanding effort to have so many staff and senior pupils involved and every one of them gave the impression they were pleased to be there. The individual guide for each team was especially successful and greatly appreciated.

Thank you does not quite adequately express the gratitude of everyone from ISFA and a2om for all your school did. I am sure that there will be many people who will long-remember yesterday and St Bede’s boys and staff will be an integral part of those happy memories.

It was, without doubt, one of the best Sixes tournament in the competition’s long history.”

This extension means that we now have 18 changing rooms and this area will be called The Kennedy Centre as a token of our very deep appreciation to the Kennedy Charitable Trust.

The teacher in charge of soccer, Mr Fallon, and the Head of Sixth Form, Mr Kearney, who assists the running of the first XI, took 18 players to Valencia during the last week of August. Based at a 4-star Hotel on the outskirts of Valencia the squad trained for four hours each day with coaches from Valencia Football Club.

During their stay the team played three matches against Spanish U18 clubs all of whom were affiliated to the Valencia Academy. The first two games were both won 2-0 and in the final game, played in the middle of the day with a temperature of 42 degrees, St Bede’s lost 2-1 and, to add to their chagrin, what looked like a last minute equaliser was ruled out for offside.

Nonetheless, the team made an extremely favourable impression amongst the footballing cognoscenti in Valencia, so much so that the U18 academy coach at nearby Villa Real has invited this current First XI squad to participate in Villa Real’s prestigious U18 tournament next July. With the exception of St Bede’s, all the other entries will come from professional clubs in Spain, Portugal and France.

RUGBY

The Rugby squad, accompanied by Mr Lalley, Mr Rafferty and Mr O’Donnell, trained at Plas Menai outdoor pursuits centre in Caernarfon, North Wales. Quite apart from learning new skills and sampling new activities, the objective was to help integrate the new Upper 5th and Lower 6th students into the 1st and 2nd team squads

During a most enjoyable weekend the rugby players and their coaches participated in catamara sailing, high speed powerboat handling, sea kayaking and windsurfing.

As always happens when a St Bede’s party is away, the rugby players and their teachers went into Bethesda to a vigil Mass on Saturday evening. Similarly, the foorballers in Spain attended Sunday morning Mass at the magnificent Valencia Cathedral.