Thank you to Mr Swanwick for the following report: 

“Our U13 girls cricket side travelled to Aysgarth recently for the quarter final of the Yorkshire Cup in what proved to be a very tight match.   

Batting first, Richmond recovered from 10-4 to post a competitive 79-4 from their 16 overs, the innings being expertly held together thanks to a 69-run partnership between Annabel Hodges (37*) and Georgia Clarke (8*).   

Aysgarth began their innings quickly, but they were pegged back thanks to quick wickets from Annabel and Ellie Buchanan to leave the hosts 31-2 off 5 overs. However, the next over bowled by Delia Barnham threatened to turn the match on its head, taking 3 wickets in 4 balls to leave Aysgarth reeling on 38-5. The home team steadied the ship and pushed towards the total, but yet again, 3 wickets were taken in an over as Anna Barber reduced the hosts to 58-8. The game was on a knife edge! Some quick thinking from Rose Brown led to a direct hit, running out the Aysgarth number 10.   

With 3 overs to go, Richmond needed 1 wicket and Aysgarth 6 runs for the victory...  

But it was the home side’s number 3 batter that held her nerve to see Aysgarth home, winning by 1 wicket.  

The match was a great advert for girls cricket. A number of the girls are fairly new to hard ball cricket, so it was nice to see their confidence growing as the match went on as well as the support that they always show for one another.   

We wish Aysgarth the best of luck as they progress to face Scarborough College in the semi final. 

Thank you to Ms Richardson, Head of Sixth Form, for the following:    

“Students from Richmond Sixth Form College attended the Year 13 Prom at the Morritt Arms, Greta Bridge last night. It was an evening of celebration and fun, marking the end of an era for these students and also the promise of an exciting future.     

It was lovely to see the students arrive, watched by their friends and family, then enjoy the evening and dance the night away! The weather was glorious, so we were able to access the lovely grounds at the Morritt late into the evening.   

The Head Students organised awards for students and staff which were well-received and presented by Joe White, Ellie Hughes and Guy Feakins.    

We are so very proud of our students, and a great night was had by all!”  

These photos are just a selection. More can be found at the link below:  

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RLsNAy6XxcpuxJcK9 

Isobel was nominated by Miss Jackson who said: “Isobel has gone above and beyond this year to show all CREDIT values wherever possible. She is always extremely respectful in tutor and shows teamwork most mornings by helping others and offering to hand out LIFE resources.  

Isobel has also been an asset to the Food and Textiles department this year by helping out at the Year 6 open evening and offering to stay back with Mrs Dawson after school to help finish off other students' pet pillows, again showing teamwork, respect, creativity and excellence.  

Finally, Isobel has recently been helping me to upcycle a student's prom dress. We were asked if we could remove all of the sequins and replace them with white pearls. This has entailed a great number of hours of hand sewing, which Isobel has helped me with beyond all my expectations. Isobel showed great determination to make sure the dress was complete and ready in time for prom and independently offered to take it home on weekends and even during school holidays as well as using time in Textiles Club." 

Students from Years 7–10 recently travelled to Middlesbrough Sports Village to proudly represent Richmond School at the Hambleton and Richmondshire School Athletics Championships, competing in a wide range of track and field events throughout an exciting and highly successful day. 

From the first event to the last, students demonstrated outstanding determination, resilience and teamwork. Whether competing on the track, in the field, or supporting from the sidelines, they embraced every challenge with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. It was particularly pleasing to see students encouraging one another, ensuring teammates arrived at their events on time and celebrating each other's achievements throughout the day. 

The supportive atmosphere created by our students was a real highlight. Competitors showed great sportsmanship, cheering on their peers and working together to help everyone perform to the best of their ability. Their commitment and encouragement reflected the school's values and contributed to a fantastic team spirit across all year groups. 

The day concluded with the relay events, where students truly excelled. The relay teams displayed excellent teamwork and communication, supporting one another and fully embracing the occasion. Their enthusiasm and determination made for an exciting end to the championships and showcased the strength of our team spirit. 

All students should be extremely proud of their efforts and achievements. They represented the school brilliantly and were excellent ambassadors throughout the day. Well done to everyone who took part. 

Results are below: 

Y7 Girls - 5th 

Y7 Boys - 6th 

Y8 Girls - 6th 

Y8 Boys - 7th  

Y9 Girls - 8th 

Y9 Boys - 2nd  

Y10 Girls - 4th 

Y10 Boys - 3rd 

After the Area Trials and the York Track and Field event, a small number of athletes were accompanied by their parents / carers to York for the North Yorkshire Schools County Athletics Championships. 

Thank you to Danielle Middlemiss, mum of Olly, Year 9 student, for giving us an insight into this event: 

“After participating with the school PE department in athletics at Middlesbrough and York, Olly was selected to represent the Hambleton and Richmondshire athletics team at the North Yorkshire Schools County Athletics Championships in York on Saturday 6th June.  

On the day Olly competed in the junior boys long jump and junior boys 300m race and successfully achieved 1st place in both events, getting a personal best in both events too! Success at this event meant Olly was then invited to represent North Yorkshire at the Inter County Athletics match in Hexham on Saturday 13th June.” 

Danielle then provides a report from the Hexham match: 

“The inter county match was more of a challenge for Olly. However, he still managed to get 2nd place in the junior boys long jump and helped the 400m mixed relay team to get third place. Contributing to the points meant that North Yorkshire came in 2nd place overall. 

Considering Olly has only competed in these athletics events for the first time this year his success is fantastic and has given him a real passion to pursue athletics in the future.” 

Congratulations to Olly for these fantastic performances at a very high level of athletics. 

We know there were more students who travelled to these events. If anyone has any other information, reports or photos, please send them to swardle@richmond-alt.uk and we’ll include them in an updated version of the article in the July edition of our Newsletter. 

Thanks again to Miss Jeans for this report: 

“On the day after the Area Trials, a group of 15 students from Years 9 and 10 travelled to York to take part in the York Track and Field Cup athletics event. Despite being a relatively small team, the experience proved to be an outstanding success both competitively and in terms of personal development. 

At the start of the day, many of our students were understandably apprehensive. Having competed the day before, they were already feeling fatigued, and the sight of significantly larger squads from other schools added to their nerves. However, these initial concerns quickly gave way to determination and resilience. 

As the event progressed, our students rose to the challenge admirably. Many exceeded their own expectations, delivering performances that reflected both their ability and their commitment. It was particularly pleasing to see students surprise themselves with what they were capable of achieving, demonstrating real growth in confidence as the day went on. Overall, performances were incredibly strong across the group. 

One of the most impressive aspects of the trip was the conduct and attitude of the students throughout. All students represented the school exceptionally well, behaving responsibly and showing respect at all times. Equally notable was the positive and supportive environment they created among themselves. Students worked collaboratively during warm-ups, shared advice and encouragement, and consistently supported one another during events. This strong sense of teamwork contributed significantly to the overall experience and success of the day. 

In summary, the trip was an incredibly rewarding experience for all involved. The students not only performed well but also demonstrated excellent character, resilience and team spirit. They should be very proud of their efforts and the way they represented the school. Results are posted below. 

Inter Boys Results 

1500m Aiden Johnson (4.43) 2nd, Wilf Lamb, (4.45) 6th, Dylan Hall (4.54) 10th 

100m: Jake Murrell (12.30) 1st in heat, 2nd overall 

200m: Nathan Collier (26.00) 3rd in heat, 4th overall, Charlie Downes (26.20) 2nd in heat, 6th overall 

300m: Olly Middlemiss (39.80) 2nd in heat, 2nd overall 

800m: Josh Gaskell (2.26.30) 4th in heat, 5th overall, Kai Moorfoot (2.27.80) 5th in heat, 6th overall 

Relay: Josh, Charlie, Nathan, Jake (51.40) 2nd in heat, 2nd overall 

Long Jump: Olly Middlemiss (5.00m) 3rd 

High Jump: Josh Gaskell (1.47m) 5th 

Javelin: Nathan Collier (19m) 11th 

Triple Jump: Wilf Lamb (9.65m) 9th  

Inter girls results: 

80m hurdles: Connie Wilford (14.00) 1st in heat, 3rd overall 

100m: Mathilda Townend (14.50) 1st in heat, 3rd overall 

200m: Tegan Smith (29.40) 2nd in heat, 4th overall, Freya Atkinson (30.20) 1st in heat, 5th overall 

300m: Tallulah Whent (57.20) 7th 

800m: Connie Briggs (2.51.90) 4th in heat, 4th overall 

Relay: Mathilda, Freya, Tegan, Connie W (56.20s) 1st in heat, 1st overall 

Javelin: Tallulah Whent (14.83m) 11th 

Long Jump: Mathilda Townend (4.17m) 3rd, Freya Atkinson (3.80m) 13th   

Thanks to Miss Jeans for the following report: 

“A group of 25 students travelled to Middlesbrough Sports Village to compete in the recent Area Athletics Trials, with the opportunity to qualify for the North Yorkshire Team and compete at York in the North Yorkshire Schools County Athletics Championships. 

Throughout the day, our students demonstrated the very best of our school values. Their resilience and determination were evident in every event, as they competed with focus and commitment against strong opposition. Equally impressive was the sense of teamwork displayed, with students consistently supporting one another, offering encouragement, and celebrating each other’s performances. 

Many of the older students showed excellent independence and leadership by assisting with the organisation of the day. This included recording performances for GCSE assessment purposes and helping younger students navigate the venue and manage event timings. Students also took responsibility for their own preparation, ensuring they were ready for warm-ups and events at the appropriate times. 

The event was a fantastic experience for all involved, providing both competitive opportunity and personal development. Every student represented the school with pride, maturity, and excellent behaviour throughout the day. 

Overall, it was a highly successful and enjoyable event, and we look forward to seeing which students' progress to the North Yorkshire Schools County Athletics Championships in York for the next stage of the competition.” 

Special shout out to those that did qualify for the next stage: 

Charlie Downes 200m 

Olly Middlemiss 300m and Long Jump 

Mathilda Townend 100m and Long Jump 

Freya Atkinson 200m 

Tallulah Whent Javelin 

Tegan Smith 200m 

Jake Murrell 100m 

Nathan Collier 200m 

Aiden Johnson 1500m 

Josh Gaskell 800m and High Jump 

Thank you Mrs Wardle for the following report: 

“Last weekend over 80 Year 10 students took on the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh expedition in Swaledale. With varying routes from Reeth up to the overnight camp at Rukin’s Park Lodge campsite, Keld, all students were in good spirits and looking forward to the weekend ahead.   

All students worked well within their teams demonstrating excellent teamwork as they helped split packs for those who needed to lighten the load and encouraging each other on to complete the trek to Keld. 

All made camp in good time. Their assessors watched them camp and cook, to ensure they could be self-sufficient and had made good food choices to fuel the walk back to Reeth the following day.   

On the Monday after the expedition, we received a lovely email from two walkers who met many Richmond D of E students during the day on Sunday: “I hope you don’t mind me e-mailing but I just wanted to let you know how lovely, polite and friendly all the young people were who we met walking from Keld to Reeth on Sunday. 
 
My sister and I are doing the Coast 2 Coast and met quite a few of your Duke of Edinburgh groups, both the lads and girls - they were so pleasant, despite a few of them grimacing a bit towards the end!! 
In particular, there was one young girl who ran quite a way to catch up with us who had picked up my sister’s glasses case that had dropped off her rucksack without us knowing. The case had her very expensive sunglasses in it, so she was extremely grateful to get them back - unfortunately we didn’t get her name, but we did thank her profusely - you obviously have a great set of young people at your school. Young people these get a lot of criticism, so we felt it only right to contact you to congratulate you and your youngsters.”  

What a brilliant reflection on the approach and attitude of our students during the weekend – well done to them! 

During the evening, Richmond School & Sixth Form College, Marrick Priory and the Scouts made presentations of thanks to Tony Potter, who retires this year. Under his leadership the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme has grown significantly, with over 700 students walking in the Yorkshire Dales around Richmond, in all weathers, under his care. The students were highly appreciative of his dedication and commitment and will remember their DofE time with much fondness.” 

Some time ago we posted an article about Richmond School students’ involvement in Darlington FC and Stockton Town’s success in the TJFA league. 

We recently heard more of the same, this time from Paul and Ged, coaches at Catterick Village Pumas. Thank you to them both for this report: 

“Last season, Catterick Village Pumas U14s enjoyed an outstanding campaign, going undefeated throughout the league season. The team won 15 matches and drew 1, scoring an incredible 107 goals while conceding just 24. This remarkable achievement saw the Pumas crowned TJFA Division 9 champions. 

As we look ahead to the new season, the team has joined forces with Richmond to become Richmond U15s. With this move, we expect to compete in a higher division and embrace the new challenges that come with it. 

Several players from the championship-winning Pumas squad attend Richmond School and played a vital role in securing the league title. These players are Archie King, Owain Hyatt, Gabe D’Silva, Joe-Jackson Hall, Jackson Findley, Sam Crouch, Lennon Foster, Liam Dent and Bradley Boylan. 

Their commitment, teamwork, and determination were key factors in the team’s success. 

Everyone involved is excited for the season ahead and looks forward to building on last year’s achievements as they move to Richmond Town U15s, with the aim of continuing their success at a higher level.” 

Thank you to Miss Spittlehouse for this report:  

The recent Year 12 geography field trip combined coastal, human, and river studies over two days in North Yorkshire. 

In Redcar, students investigated sand dune succession, observing how vegetation and soil development change inland from the shoreline. They also completed a “changing places” study, comparing the town centres of Redcar and Reeth to explore differences in function, identity, and economic activity between a coastal town and a rural settlement.  

Further to this, our time in Arkengarthdale was spent carrying out river investigations, measuring characteristics such as channel depth, velocity, and bedload, although conditions were challenging due to poor weather and relatively high-water levels. Despite the rain and difficult fieldwork conditions, the trip ended on a positive note, with improving weather in Redcar allowing everyone to enjoy ice creams and fish and chips by the coast, rounding off a valuable and memorable fieldwork experience. 

Thank you to the staff and students for such a superb couple of days. We look forward to the overnight stay in July.”