Cheadle Hulme School is celebrating after taking home three UK netball titles, which the team coach says is unheard of in one season.
The school has been named triple national champions. In March, the independent school’s under-13s quad beat Stockport Grammar 39-31 at Hertfordshire University to win the Smile Independent Schools’ Netball Cup.
Then in April, both the under-13s and under-12s teams came out on top in the Sisters n Sport Netball National Cup, which was held at The Grange School in Northwich. The U13 team beat Berkhamsted School 39-25 and the U12s defeated Bristolians Redmaid’s High School 55-10.
Team coach Olivia Barber said: “This is an amazing result for a very talented and dedicated cohort of players. For a school to hold three national titles in one season is unprecedented. It’s a very well-deserved first for our U12 and U13 squads.”
Matt Higgins, the schools’ Director of Sport, added: “To achieve one national title is really something – a team’s success such as that doesn’t come without an incredible amount of dedication to their sport.
“But to go on an secure another two titles, is almost unheard of. We’re so proud of everything the girls and our dedicated staff have achieved this season, at what’ll surely become a momentous point in time for netball at the School and is another step forwards in the exciting direction that CHS sport is heading.”
Six of the ten-strong under-13s squad, including the captain, have places on the school’s High Performance Programme in sport, which is awarded to any pupil who demonstrates outstanding sporting potential. In addition to a scholarship, they receive a mentor and a variety of specialist advice with attention given to strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, training diaries and career opportunities within sport.