Gosforth Academy had an incredibly successful time last week competing at the National Schools Squash Finals at Edgbaston Priory club, Birmingham.

The KS3 Girls team of Lucy Ulyatt, Meera Jatania , Freya Finnemore, Tara Michla, Zara Ali Saleem and Lila Begg were never troubled in any of their matches, beating Roseberry school from Surrey 4 - 1 in the quarter final, Wycombe Abbey from Buckinghamshire 5 - 0 in their semi final and then comprehensively beating Benenden school from Kent 5 - 0 in the final.

The KS4 Boys team of Duncan Rutherford, Aidan Mahoney, James Ulyatt, Charlie Armstrong , Leo Blackett and Will Young won their quarter final against Kings College Wimbledon 5 - 0 and then ran into one of the pre-tournament favourites, Epsom College in the semi final, where they narrowly lost 2 - 3. They finished off with another very close match against Wycliffe College for the 3rd / 4th play off, again narrowly losing 2 - 3. 

The KS4 Girls team consisted of Rebecca Little, Isla Cook, Lexi Sweenie, Sophie Cockett, Syra Bhatt and Izzy Wright, beat Downe House school from Berkshire 4 - 1 in their quarter final, but then lost a very close semi final 3 - 2 against Sevenoaks school from Kent. They secured third place with a 4 - 1 win over Lincoln Minster school from Lincolnshire.

The KS5 Girls had a very strong squad consisting of Shae Paterson, Ava Naisbitt, Rebecca Little, Kate Naisbitt, Katherine Palmer, Sarah-Jane Mothersole and Anna Morgan, who all play in our County ladies leagues and most of them have represented the County at junior level. They had comfortable wins against Wycombe Abbey in the quarter final, Sevenoaks in the semi final and then 4 - 1 against Epsom College in the final.

All the players that represented Gosforth Academy last week were products of the schools outreach work that Northern Squash club do in the local community. Anyone who would like more information about how to get involved in squash can contact the head coach at Northern, Richard Vitty Tel - 07757 989582.