U11 Cricketers make History
We’re incredibly proud to celebrate the fantastic achievements of George and Freddie from Cundall, who played a key part in helping the Nidderdale District Under-11 cricket team make history this season. After a thrilling display of teamwork, determination, and cricketing prowess, the team was crowned champions of Yorkshire — the first time ever Nidderdale has claimed the title in this age group! The task facing Ben Quick’s side was no easy one, yet they managed to navigate a fiercely competitive tournament featuring 16 different regions from across the county with real skill. Their journey to the title began with a dominant performance in the group stage, where they emerged victorious in fixtures against York, Derwent, and East Yorkshire. Their winning momentum continued in the semi-finals, where Halifax were edged out, setting the stage for a crunch showdown with Huddersfield in the final. In a nail-biting contest, Nidderdale’s young stars held their nerve, defeating the previously unbeaten West Yorkshire outfit by three wickets to secure the county crown. George hit the winning runs and Freddie also took two wickets – a great Cundall contribution. Coach Quick, who led the team to the semi-finals the previous year, said: “All the boys were fantastic and thoroughly deserved the historic championship. Their hard work in training, improvement throughout the season, self belief and the spirit amongst the group was exceptional. This victory was built on the foundation of a true team effort, with all 13 squad members contributing to match-winning performances throughout the tournament.” The squad comprised players from Harrogate, Beckwithshaw, Whixley, and Kirk Deighton — and of course our very own George and Freddie, whose contributions were vital to the team’s success. That diversity proved to be a strength, as the boys united behind a shared goal. This landmark championship marks a milestone moment for Nidderdale District Under-11s, and Coach Quick says that both he and his players are full of excitement and anticipation for the future: “Hopefully, the boys will continue to take their game to the next level, all whilst enjoying their cricket and playing with passion.” A huge congratulations to George, Freddie, and the entire Nidderdale U11 squad — Yorkshire champions and history makers. We can’t wait to see what’s next for these rising stars!
Record-Breaking Sports Day
Record-Breaking Sports Day Cundall Manor School in North Yorkshire hosted an unforgettable annual Sports Day this year. Despite the blazing heat, Cundall pupils showed incredible determination — breaking seven school records along the way. Josh B (Eldmire, Year 10) delivered a remarkable performance in the shot put, setting a new school record with a throw of 11.39 metres—surpassing the previous best from 2017. On the track, Imogen S ran the race of her life in the 800 m, finishing in a record-breaking 2 minutes and 39 seconds, comfortably beating the school’s previous mark. Rainia Clark added to the achievements with a new best time of 46.69 seconds in the 300 m sprint. Over in Leckby, Darcy B (Year 9) soared to a new personal and house best in the long jump, leaping 3.60 metres. The youngest athletes also played their part in rewriting the Cundall Manor School record books. Year 6 pupil Frank N sprinted to victory in the 50 m dash with a time of 8.25 seconds, while Sophie B ran brilliantly in the girls’ 50 m, finishing in 8.69 seconds. Meanwhile, Lowery A impressed in the 300 m, crossing the line in just 55.72 seconds to set a new Cundall Manor School record. The day was filled with energy, encouragement, and strong support from staff, students, and families. Headteacher Simon Weale praised the pupils, commenting: “We are so proud of every student who gave it their all. Breaking records is exciting, but it’s the team spirit and resilience that truly define our sports day at Cundall Manor.” The overal winning house was SAXONS, claiming their first victory in 14 years! Congratulations to all who took part in Sports Day 2025 at Cundall Manor School—and special recognition to the record breakers who made this year one for the history books.
Hockey Talent from Cundall Manor Plays for England U16s
Young Hockey Talent from Cundall Manor Represents England U16s Cundall, North Yorkshire – Cundall Manor School is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of pupil Alistair, whose passion and dedication to hockey have seen him excel both nationally and locally over the Easter break. Alistair, aged 14, recently represented England U16S at the prestigious 6 Nations Tournament, facing elite teams from across Europe including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Scotland, and Ireland. Demonstrating exceptional skill and composure, Alistair helped England secure an impressive 3rd place finish, culminating in a 3-1 victory over Austria in the final match. In addition to his international success, Alistair was named Young Player of the Season at the City of York Hockey Club’s Senior Awards Dinner – a recognition of his outstanding season playing with the club’s Men’s 1st team. Alistair’s hockey journey began at Thirsk Hockey Club aged 7, where he continued to play until just a few months ago. During the same season, Alistair started playing hockey at Cundall Manor in Year 3. His natural talent was evident from an early age, as he regularly competed above his age group and consistently demonstrated a drive to develop his skills. Beyond school fixtures, Alistair has dedicated countless hours to training and development — independently practising, attending holiday camps, and taking part in club and representative training and matches, starting at the age of nine with North Yorkshire U12s. Alistair’s family see Cundall as a fantastic school environment that nurtures well-rounded and ambitious individuals, and one which has enabled Alistair to excel in his chosen sport. They highlight that, alongside Alistair’s self-motivated dedication, Cundall’s small class sizes and efficient use of lesson time help him to successfully balance his academic studies and extracurricular Cundall fun with a demanding daily training schedule and weekend hockey commitments. Alistair is also a keen tennis player and continues to play weekly for Thirsk Tennis Club Mr. Couttie, Head of Boys’ Games at Cundall Manor, reflected on Alistair’s growth: “We saw the potential in Alistair from a very young age. His commitment to the sport and determination to get better have been extraordinary. It’s fantastic to see that hard work and love for the game pay off at such a high level.” Headmaster Simon Weale added: “Alistair is a wonderful role model. Hockey is a major sport at Cundall and all of the pupils receive top-class coaching. Our teams are always competitive. Hopefully Alistair’s journey has only just begun and he will continue to inspire our school community.” Everyone at Cundall Manor School extends their heartfelt congratulations to Alistair on his incredible accomplishments and looks forward to supporting him on the next steps of his hockey journey.
Junior Premier League winners!
Huge congratulations to Annie, Eliza who play for the York City Academy U16s squad and have won the Junior Premier League North Title during the Easter break. We are especially proud of Annie and Eliza for the part they played in such a memorable season. A fantastic effort and an experience they will carry with them for years to come. The team’s success came after an incredible run of victories against Sunderland, Durham, and Leeds United. Their consistency and determination saw them edge out reigning champions Durham by just a single point to secure the title. After a week of back-to-back matches they headed straight to Warwick for the National Championship Finals. There, the team produced a brilliant performance but were narrowly beaten by AFC Bournemouth in a hard-fought contest.
5K Park Run Takeover
Cundall Manor School proudly sponsored the Millfield Park Run event on Saturday, 28th September. As part of the Park Run takeover, Cundall staff and pupils took on key roles, providing refreshments, including homemade flapjacks, and assisting with marshalling. It was an engaging start to the weekend, with the school supporting this much-loved community event. Ian Swannell, Head of Seniors at Cundall Manor, shared the school’s enthusiasm for being involved: “Many of our staff and pupils run it regularly, so it was a great opportunity to give the usual volunteers a break. We were delighted to support the event and encourage more of our pupils to take part. Park Runs offer free, accessible sporting events across the country, perfect for families and individuals to enjoy a sense of achievement and community.” The event saw 201 participants cross the finish line, including standout performances from Cundall Manor alumni Will, who crossed the line first with an impressive time of 17:36, and Peter, a Cundall parent, who followed closely with 19:04. In total, 29 runners achieved personal bests, with plenty of cheering from the sidelines. This marked Millfield Park Run’s 207th event, and according to Race Organiser Clare, takeovers like this add a special energy to the day. “It’s always great to see new faces and have extra support,” she said. “The teas and coffees at the finish line also gave runners a chance to stay a little longer, enjoy a chat, and connect, rather than heading off right after the run.”
Sports Day ’18
Another fantastic Sports Day this year with so many smiling faces competing hard for their houses. Thank you to everyone who came along to make it such a wonderful event and congratulations to Tudors who claimed the House Shield. Visit our Facebook page to view the full album byclicking here.
Cundall claim national hockey title
Cundall Manor School secured their first national title of the season as they came out on top in the U13 ISA National Championship at the Olympic Park in London. The girls claimed the prestigious trophy at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre which was used in the 2012 Olympics. The school, based between Ripon and Thirsk, triumphed against tough opposition from across the country before clinching the title in the final after a dominant performance against a strong Hull Collegiate side, beating the travelling East Yorkshire team in an all Yorkshire final 3-1. The side, who only conceded one goal throughout the tournament, were presented with the trophy by Phil Roper, Wimbledon and GB Hockey international. Head of Girls Games at Cundall Manor School, Louise Bessey, said: “I am absolutely delighted by the performance the girls put in to achieve this prestigious title. This team are a great balance of experience and enthusiasm for a game you can see they love.” The Cundall side fielded several county players and combined players from the U12 and U13 sides. The team beat Malvern St James from Worcestershire 4-0 in the opening game before overcoming a strong Ballard side 2-0 to progress to the knock stages. En route to the final the North Yorkshire youngsters fought hard to beat Lingfield School 1-0 in the quarter final before meeting Ballard again in the semi-final. Mrs Bessey added: “The team performed exceptionally throughout the tournament. Hannah Barker put away her opportunities in front of goal with a calm conviction and the defence held their own with an outstanding back line, only conceding one goal all day.” The national win at the ISA championship comes hot on the heels of the school being shortlisted for the Independent Schools Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sport.
It’s twice as nice for Cundall Hockey winners
The annual Loretto Hockey Tournament proved incredibly successful for Cundall Manor School as they claimed two titles at the leading independent school. The girls from Cundall Manor School competed against a wide range of prep and junior schools from across Scotland and the North of England before claiming the two hockey titles on offer. The tournament had teams from Cundall Manor, Belhaven, Ardvreck, Loretto, St Mary’s and Cargilfield schools competing for two crowns. Teams from Cundall competed in the U11 and U13 competitions with the U11’s going unbeaten in the group stages before beating St Mary’s 3-1 in the final. This victory means that the school retain the title which the team claimed last year. The U13 competition saw the school’s U12 team compete against a number of highly physical teams before meeting Cargilfield in a tense final. Following a 0-0 draw in regulation time, the match was decided on shuffles with Cundall coming out on top beating a strong team 2-1 following four quality saves from goalkeeper Lily. Head of Girl’s Games at Cundall Manor School, Louise Bessey, said: “I am incredibly proud of the girls who put in a series of fantastic performances against some very good sides.” “Loretto, as always, provided a beautiful setting for the event and the school was incredibly hospitable. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the trip and played some wonderful hockey.” Louise added: “The girl’s played with determination and were a credit to the school.” The school are offering a wide range of scholarships, including sport, with the deadline for applications being 31stOctober 2016. To find out more call 01423 360 200 or emailadmissions@cundallmanor.org.uk
Gundog Challenge Accepted for School Pupils
Two schoolgirls from Cundall Manor School are celebrating reaching the finals of the ISA Gundog Challenge. Tallulah Lascelles and Hattie Attwood, both reached the final of the Independent Schools Association Gundog Challenge at Weston Park in Shropshire earlier this week. The pair progressed into the final following an impressive showing in qualifying rounds. Both of the girls managed to be one of two selected for the final of eight contestants from four larger qualifying groups. Hattie placed 4thoverall and Tullulah 5th. Hattie also managed to claim the ‘Judges Choice Award,’ an accolade which comes with the enviable prize of a solid silver dog whistle. The competition was held at the annual Midland Game Fair which took place on the 17th & 18th September at Weston Park in Shropshire. John Robertson, owner of The Gundog Company, enjoyed showing the enthusiastic crowd the tricks of the trade. He said: “The purpose of the competition and show is to allow younger children to gain a knowledge of the gun dog and how they work. “By the time I am finished explaining how they work and what they do, the children have a good knowledge and are eager to put it into action with the dogs.” The competition is run in association with the ISA and John has so far visited nearly forty schools up and down the country. The business, based near Leicester, has had busy summer with appearances at Countryfile live at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire and several game fairs and county shows. Eager to embed the skills within the curriculum, the school have now secured a series of Saturday morning enrichment sessions with the business, starting later this month. To find out more about Cundall Manor School, call 01423 360 200, visit the websitewww.cundallmanorschool.comor simply come and see for yourself at the next Open Morning on Saturday 15thOctober from 10am.
Cundall Swimmers make a big splash at finals.
A TEAM OF SWIMMERS from Cundall Manor School made a big splash competing at the English Schools National Swimming Finals. The swimmers from the school were one of three teams who qualified to represent the North East region, in the Team Medley competition at the National Finals. Racing last Saturday at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, they lined up against 24 of the best school teams from across England. For three members of the five-strong team, appearing at the English Schools Swimming Association National Team Finals, was the first time that they had competed at such a large arena, with huge cheering crowds. The event opened with the singing of the National Anthem before the Captains of each school team paraded around the Olympic sized pool. There were more than 500 swimmers taking part in the competition. Cundall Manor Swim Captain, Minnie Pollock, 11 said, “being Captain and taking part in the team parade was exciting as there were so many people watching.” With live commentary throughout the races, the Y6 pupil spoke of how inspiring the event was, “it was an amazing experience to take part in a national event, it was such a great atmosphere.” Minnie, who swam the freestyle leg of the mixed team relay, was joined by her Y6 classmates Pippa Bentley, and Izzy Faris-Wilson, and Y5 boys, Otto Cockroft, and Oscar Fenby. Jo Pollock, who coaches the school squad said, “It was a great achievement for Cundall Manor School to be representing the North East of England at the national relay championships. They swam very well, all swimming faster than their qualifying round in March. “They were in a very fast heat and held their own, just being touched out into 7th position and coming 21st overall. We have come home with some incredible, new PB times and a great experience to build on and learn from.”