Brentwood Preparatory School Magazine

87 Brentwood School Preparatory National Prep Schools’ Cross Country Competition The Year Six Boys cross country team went to Malvern College in Worcestershire for the NPSCCC. They finished a very creditable 29th position out of 80 plus school from across the whole country. Josh Knightbridge was our first runner in finishing in 67th place out of nearly 400 runners. Our other runners were: Thomas Eastwood, Thibaud Mathieson, Calum Donovan, Finn Hennessy and Damifola Odelusi. It was a wonderful experience at a superbly organised event in a stunning setting. Essex County Tennis Final Excitedly I woke up at 6:50am on Tuesday 27th June. Quickly I dressed in my school sports kit then hurried downstairs for breakfast. As soon as I finished my breakfast I sprinted back up the stairs, brushed my teeth and hair, put my shoes on, grabbed my already packed bags and fled out the door with my Dad at 7:10. In the car, I chatted to my dad about technique of the red ball on red court because I’m used to hitting the ball hard with an orange and green ball. He said to put lots of top spin on the ball and not to hit it so hard. We arrived at school half an hour later (we live in Billericay) so I rushed off to meet Mrs Woodford just outside the library with Freddie Johnston(Y4,) Ben Shear(Y3,) Edie Griffiths(Y3) and Brooke Skinner, me (Y4.) Nervously, I waved to my dad and set off in the fresh morning air across the lawns to where the mini bus stood. Carefully, we climbed aboard. Edie and I at the front and Ben and Freddie right at the back. Eventually, after an hour and a bit we arrived. It was a huge place but people guided us to the tennis courts. On the way I saw a swimming pool and some kind of sport shop run by the club. When we had found our way to the courts we realised it was inside so we had to play with a sponge ball (I think sponge ball is easier than red because you can hit it properly with a bit of power.) Edie and I found an empty court and start knocking up with each other. I was girl 1, Ben was boy 1, Edie was girl 2 and Freddie was boy 2. After about 10 minutes, we were told where we would be playing so the tournament began! In tennis, you serve in the diagonal box (not the diagonal tramline.) If you serve first, it’s from the right but otherwise left then right. In the rally you can hit anywhere (just not out or in the net.) Firstly, I had the first round to see who was best from each court to get in the semi-finals. I won my two matches 8-1 then 6-3. We thought the other team cheated and put their better player as boy 2 and girl 2 but it didn’t really work for them because we beat them in all of them except for their girl 2. We won our court though so we were through to the semis! Edie and I kept on practising and trying powerful serves, hitting the ball harder, moving each other around, before they told us where we would be playing for the semis. Mrs Woodford (our sport teacher) quickly whispered, “You’re all good players and the lowest we can get if we get through is 4th but the highest is 1st so I think you have a shot at this!” After those words, it gave us a bit more courage so we went out and won our semis then through to the final! My score was 6-4 to me. In the finals, I was playing a girl I knew from my tennis club and she is very good. Her name is Sirena and I beat her 7-6! Close! All the others beat their opponent except Freddie who drew. Finally, the four of us got to eat something because we weren’t allowed food or drink in there except for water so we went outside. Almost immediately, we were called in for the ceremony. They announced all the schools and what place they came and Brentwood School didn’t come 3rd or 2nd but 1st!!! Carefully, the woman delicately handed a glass trophy to us. They also handed us a giant racquet to take a picture with which was posted on twitter by Mrs Woodford. On the way back to School, everybody celebrated even Mrs Woodford who was so proud and thankful as this was her last year at Brentwood School! Congratulations to Freddie Johnston, Brooke Skinner, Ben Shaer and Edie Griffith for their performances in the District Tennis Cup Competition on Tuesday 2nd May. They won overall and now go through to the County Championships later this term. Congratulations to Sean Read, Toby Read, Sarah Yuen and Tahlia Ayan are for their performances in the District Tennis Plate Competition n Tuesday 2nd May. They came runners’ up and all played exceptionally well in all 6 matches. U9 Tennis Congratulations to Brentwood Prep’s superb U9 tennis team who became Essex County Schools’ tennis champions on Tuesday 27th June. The team consisted of Edie Griffiths, Ben Shaer, Freddie Johnston and Brooke Skinner. All played to an exceptionally high standard and we are very proud of their achievement. Sport