Another busy term draws to a close and I would like to reflect on the large amount of Sport and Physical Activity which has taken place since Easter.
This term has been incredibly busy, with exceptional level of participation across all our sporting disciplines. We’ve had record numbers of pupils representing the school in cricket, tennis, hockey, football, equestrian events, sailing, canoeing and athletics.
The Canoe Team secured victory in the Junior Team category at the prestigious Devizes to Westminster (DW) International Canoe Race over the Easter weekend.
Known as one of the most challenging endurance events in the UK, the Devizes to Westminster race covers an extraordinary 125 miles from Wiltshire to the heart of London. Competitors face 77 portages, navigating both canal and river waters, testing not only physical but mental strength, teamwork and determination.
This year, twelve pupils from Kimbolton’s Fifth Form, Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth, took on the gruelling challenge alongside two Old Kimboltonians (OKs). Achieving exceptional results, the team claimed the overall top spot in the Junior Team category, taking home a trophy for their efforts. Additionally, duo, Tom B. and Theo B., finished second place in the Junior Doubles Class.
A number of our pupils competed at the District athletics which saw a number of our pupils become district champions. Consequently, a number of these pupils represented Kimbolton at the county schools championships. Anaïs B., Greg H. and Kitty K. are competing today (2nd July) at the National Prep Schools athletics championships in the Javelin, High Jump and 800m respectively. Clara B., Harrison P. and Josh S. all competed at the Anglian Schools championships, whilst we wish Clara all the best as she represents Cambridgshire at the English Schools National Athletics championships in Birmingham in over the 11th & 12th July.
Although Junior Sports Day had to be adapted due to the heat, we saw three school records being broken. Josh S. and Millie H. broke the Ingrams records in the 800m and Discus respectively, whilst Harrison broke his own Middles 1500m record set last year by 8 seconds.
Bronte C broke the senior girls triple jump record which had been held since 2011, jumping 9.68m
The U12 Boys & Girls Hockey teams enjoyed competing at the Nottingham Tournament back in May, whilst the U13 Girls Football team competed at the national finals, held at St George’s Park in June and finished in the top 8 nationally, a huge achievement considering we only had our first ever girls football match this year.
The cricket season kicked off with a fantastic girls tour to Holland. In total, 210 boys & girls cricket fixtures were played against other schools this term and participation and attendance at after school practices has been huge, particularly at Ingram’s level. The U12 Cricket teams victory at the Perse tournament, beating many notable opponents was probably the standout moment.
Tennis is proving to be hugely popular and we are becoming increasingly more competitive on the circuit. There are record numbers of boys playing the game, with the Ingrams team having their first ever fixtures this term. Both the boys & girls have really benefited for the coaching from Ryan and this growth and development has been really seen in our tactical play, particularly the girls. This has translated into being very competitive at Senior, Middles and Ingrams level, whilst we also entered the LTA cup for the first time.
The equestrian team have certainly been busy across the whole year and there is a detailed report below. We must thank Mrs King who has led the team for 11 years for her dedication, outstanding organisation and drive to develop the team at Kimbolton.
Kimbolton School Equestrian Team have enjoyed more success this year across a range of levels, heights and disciplines.
Tilly R (4th Form), Flora K (3rd Form) represented the school at Bloxham Eventer Challenge Series over the winter months, both securing spots in the Championship in the 1metre and 65cm respectively. Honor C also made her debut for the Equestrian Team on two occasions in the 65cm, both times narrowly losing out on a rosette due to an unfortunate 4 faults.
In November, a team consisting of Millie D. (1st Form), Charlie H-T. (2nd Form), Tilly R. and Lois Z.(4th Form), Emmy B. (5th Form), and Olivia W-B. (U6th, Captain) represented Kimbolton at the County Showjumping Qualifiers at Forest Edge Arena in Norfolk. Excellent rounds from the whole team left Lois as the Individual County Champion at 90cm, and Charlie, Tilly, Emmy and Olivia as Team County Champions at 1metre, all qualifying for the finals at the All England Jumping Course at Hickstead in May. Tilly R. qualified two ponies for the SEG Eventing Finals at Dauntsey, competing on both in challenging conditions. She also qualified both ponies for the NSEA Eventing Finals, which was a long format at Moreton in Dorset in August and came 9th and 10th at the end of the three days.
A further trip to Forest Edge in January saw Millie, Tilly, Lois and Olivia compete again, and a debut from Megan R (5th Form). Kimbolton came away with a team 4th place in the 90 cm class, and a team 2nd in the 1 metre class. Successful outings to the Eventer Challenge competitions at Eland Lodge in February and March saw Tilly, Emmy and Flora qualify for NSEA championships at Hickstead, Emmy in the 1m, Tilly in the 90cm and 1m class and Flora in the 70cm.
A trip to Bury Farm in April saw Kimbolton School retain our title as Country Dressage Champions for Cambridgeshire, with Lois, Hattie M and Olivia W-B in the Open Dressage, and Flora, Millie B(3rd Form), Tilly and Livi B (L6), produced successful tests in the Prelim class. Livi and Olivia finished as County Champions in their respective classes. Particular mention should be made of Livi’s return to school competition following a long lay-off time for her horse this year, and a very successful debut for Millie.
Hattie, Lois, Tilly and Flora journeyed to Hickstead this May to take part in the Championships. They competed as a mixed team for the dressage (Open and Prelim) and finished 12th nationally; special mention should also go to Lois, who was placed 5th individually in the Pop-Up Dressage Elementary class. Flora did well around a technical eventer challenge course, but collected too many faults to be placed, and although Tilly put in a superb performance the size of the class, and an unlucky four faults, meant she missed out on a placing, despite a very competitive time.
Charlie H-T. will be competing at the British Showjumping Pony Premier in Somerset later this June and is working towards GB selection for showjumping.
As the year draws to a close, we would also like to thank Mrs King who has led the Equestrian Team for 11 years. Her dedication to the team and encouragement of younger or less experienced members has been a gift to pupils looking to ride for the school and her organisational skills are truly legendary. Ms O’Donnell and Miss Morrell will take on the running of the team for next year and are looking forward to welcoming new riders and horses. We would encourage anyone interested to get in touch so that we can take part in an even greater number of events.
U13 Girls Football – ISFA Finals
On Thursday, June 19th, the Kimbolton U13 Girls Football team embarked on an unforgettable journey to St George’s Park, the home of England’s national football teams, to compete in the Independent Schools FA (ISFA) National Girls U13 Finals. Having secured their spot by finishing second in the regional qualifiers back in June, anticipation was high as they joined ten top teams from across the country. The finals saw teams split into two pools of five.
Kimbolton kicked off their campaign against Wimbledon High, finding themselves 2-0 down early on. However, the team showed incredible resilience, pulling a goal back with a superb free-kick from Willow. Despite creating good chances to equalise, they were ultimately caught on the break, resulting in a 3-1 defeat. Their second match proved to be a tough test against the eventual tournament winners, Surbiton High, who displayed some truly fantastic football and were deserved victors in both the tie and the competition.
After a much-needed break to cool off in the scorching sunshine, Kimbolton faced Cheadle Hulme. This match saw some heroic defending and goalkeeping, with Kimbolton’s player of the tournament, Leah, producing a remarkable double save to keep the opposition at bay. A crucial interception in midfield then released Willow C., who calmly slotted home to secure a vital 1-0 victory! The final group game against Belmont was a nail-biter, with a semi-final spot hanging in the balance. In an end-to-end battle,
Kimbolton twice fell behind and twice equalised, both goals again coming from Willow, with her second being a sensational free-kick strike. Despite their valiant efforts, the winning goal eluded them, and the game finished in a 2-2 draw. The entire squad—Bea, Felicity, Emilia, Willow, Millie, Lizzy, Juliette, Verity, Leah, and Emily—truly did themselves proud, battling tirelessly in the heat.
The day wasn’t just about the football, though! After the tournament, the girls enjoyed a quick tour of St George’s Park, where they proudly spotted current Kimbolton pupil, Dan McL.’s name emblazoned on the England internationals board. To top off an already incredible day, the girls managed to sneak a glimpse of the Lionesses’ training session! Coincidentally, this was precisely when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was addressing the squad, offering his support in preparation for the upcoming UEFA Women’s European Championships. It was certainly a day the girls won’t forget in a hurry – a fantastic experience filled with competitive football and inspiring moments.
Tennis
Girls Tennis
This season has been a fantastic display of talent and dedication from our girls’ tennis teams across all age groups. The U12s set an impressive tone with an 8-0 win against Bloxham, showing remarkable improvement and teamwork throughout their season. The U13s, despite results not always reflecting their hard work, made significant strides in technique and tactics. Our U14s had a sterling season, winning all their matches, including commanding victories over The Leys and Wellingborough, with the U14B team achieving an outstanding 9-0 win against Bloxham. The U15B team engaged in close, well-fought matches, notably a 5-4 win against Haileybury, while the U15A team had an impressive season, winning 4 out of 6 matches.
Our Senior teams exhibited an incredibly impressive season, making their debut in the LTA Cup. Despite exam pressures, their unwavering dedication led to many fantastic wins, including the 1sts’ dominant 8-1 victory against Wellingborough. Beyond the scores, this season will be remembered for the strong, supportive team spirit they cultivated, making this season one of the most enjoyable yet.
Boy Tennis
The 2025 boys’ tennis season at Kimbolton has been marked by strong performances and growing enthusiasm across all age groups. Our Senior 1st VI, expertly captained by Elliot Bourne, secured four impressive victories, including dominant 7-2 wins against Wellingborough and Haileybury, showcasing exceptional skill and determination. The Senior 2nd VI also enjoyed a successful season with four wins, highlighted by commanding doubles sweeps and demonstrating strong team depth and cohesion, with key contributions from players who also supported the 1st VI.
In the Middle School, both the A and B teams showed significant progress. The Middles A VI achieved a standout 8-1 away win at Wellingborough and pushed King’s Ely to a narrow 5-4 loss. The Middles B VI also made excellent strides, securing two wins and narrowly missing out in two 5-4 defeats, with individual players showing notable progress in athleticism and confidence.
The Ingrams VI demonstrated resilience, bouncing back from an early-season defeat to earn a solid 3-3 draw against Wellingborough School and contributing to a successful mixed team victory against Bedford Modern. As this season concludes, we extend our sincere thanks to our Upper Sixth players for their immense commitment and contributions over the years, which have been instrumental in developing tennis at Kimbolton. The promising performances from our younger year groups ensure a bright future for boys’ tennis in the seasons ahead.
Cricket
Across both our boys’ and girls’ cricket teams, we’ve witnessed incredible individual performances, nail-biting finishes, and a collective spirit that truly embodies the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and commitment.
The girls’ season has been one of remarkable progress and passion. From the very first ball, their competitive spirit shone through. We saw outstanding batting displays, including Zoe H.’s composed 45* for the U15As, Jessica H-Js’ superb 50* for the U14As, and Anais B.’s classy 48* for the U13As. Jess T. delivered some truly explosive performances, notably a jaw-dropping 75* off 19 balls in the House Matches and a phenomenal 96 off 44 balls for the 1st XI against King’s Ely. Our bowling unit was equally sharp, with Martha B. making an unforgettable 1st XI debut by taking a wicket with her first ball! Individual brilliance was abundant, with Georgia B.’s triple- wicket maiden, Abiha F.’s five-wicket haul, and a fantastic hat-trick from Bea C.. The U13As clinched a thrilling one-wicket victory, showcasing their resilience and determination.
The boys’ season began with great promise and delivered consistently strong results. Zac T.’s calm match- winning 50 for the 1st XI set the tone, while Elliott R. led the run-scoring with a stylish 82* and a century- opening stand with Noah T. against the XL club. We celebrated impressive batting achievements like Jack B.’s 109*, and significant contributions from many others across the teams. With the ball, Aarush R. impressed with a stunning 6-for, including a hat-trick, and Elliott C. stood out with 25 1st XI wickets, deservedly earning the MCC Spirit of Cricket cap. Joe McC. and Elliot’s 5 and 6 wicket hauls earned them a place on the Pavilion Honours Board. A special mention goes to Christian L. for his memorable one-handed diving catch against King’s Ely. The U12s crowned their season by winning The Perse tournament, a proud moment and a sign of a strong future ahead.
This has truly been a cricket season to remember, filled with drama, joy, and immense pride in representing Kimbolton.
Sports code of conduct
Please find below our Sports Code of Conduct. Kimbolton is fortunate to benefit from incredibly supportive parents and spectators who, alongside our dedicated staff, foster an exceptional environment for our pupils’ athletic participation. This Code is designed to ensure our pupils can play and compete in conditions that actively support their learning, development, and the cultivation of holistic skills through sport.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the members of staff who have dedicated their time and expertise to coaching and supporting our pupils throughout the term. Their passion and commitment are a vital part of supporting the large numbers of pupils to represent Kimbolton. We hope all our pupils have a well deserved, restful break and we look forward to kicking off the sporting year again in September. We wish our Middles Girl Cricketers and Boy Hockey players all the very best on their tour to the Netherlands. Keep up to date with the tour on @KimboltonSport on Instagram.
