2015 Interschools Fencing Competition An interschools fencing competition was held in RBAI in Belfast on Wednesday 17June. Sullivan Upper Fencing Club entered 2 teams, RBAI 2 teams, Campbell 1 team, Methody 1 team, Strathearn 1 team and Hunterhouse 1 team. The SU A Team consisted of senior fencers Emily Maginn, Ella Reid, Rachel Smyth and Adam Cunningham, while junior fencers Erin Maginn, Phoebe McPherson, Izzy McMahon and Anna Vaughan made up the SU B Team. Ms Carey and Mr White were coaches in attendance, while injured SU fencer Iona O’Neill attended in a support role. The SU A Team defeated RBAI B by a significant margin to go into the last 4 but then lost to favourites Strathearn. The B Team, despite a strong fight-back that included Phoebe winning 20 consecutive points, were narrowly beaten by Campbell in the first round to finish joint 7th. The A Team then comfortably beat Campbell in a fence-off to take 3rd place. Methody were overall winners. Sullivan Upper Fencing Club A and B teams plus coaches and support. David White SUFC Coach 18 June 2015

Hockey News – June 2015 Matthew Crookshanks(Year 12) and Tom Robson (Year 11) have both been picked for the Irish U16 team. They will represent Ireland in a tournament in Holland in July. Fergus Gibson (Year 11) and Harry and Matthew Morris (Year 10) were picked for Ulster U16s. Congratulations to the boys.

Kathleen Smartt (Year 11) won the Irish trampoline championships in Limerick on 10 May 2015 (Level 3, Age 15+). She has been selected for the Northern Ireland squad to compete in the British Championships in Peterborough on 29/30 May 2015.

Ulster Athletics Results 2015 Well done to all those who competed in the Ulster Schools Finals on Saturday 16May 2015 at Antrim Forum. Two Senior pupils now go forward to represent Ulster in the Irish Schools: Mark Burton came 1st in the Triple Jump Laura Potts came 2nd in the Discus In the Junior Girls Emma Hanna did well to come 6th in the 1500m as she has another year in this age group. Year 8 were the most successful this year: Girls Katie Monteith came 1st in the 100m and the Relay team of Katie, Sasha Barrett-Ferris, Emma Thallon and Rachel Gillespie won the competition. Boys Jonny Moore came 3rd in the Long Jump Zac Mornaghan came 4th in the 100m Sam Rutherford came 6th in the Shot The relay team of Jonny, Zac, Sam and Alex Uprichard were narrowly beaten into second place.

Sullivan Fencing Champions The 2014/15 fencing season came to a close in April 2015 with the last round of the Northern Ireland Junior Foil Series at Hunterhouse College in Belfast. The NIJFS is a series of 6 tournaments held by school and independent fencing clubs across N Ireland (including Sullivan) to find the country’s best junior fencers in U10, U12, U14 and U16 age groups. This year Sullivan Upper produced two champions: year 11 pupil Emily Maginn in the U16s and year 8 fencer Anna Vaughan in the U12s. Both were clear winners, Anna winning in 5 out of the 6 rounds and Emily taking gold in 4 from the 6. Emily Maginn                                                                     Anna Vaughan N Ireland U16 Foil Champion                                          N Ireland U12 Foil Champion Other Notable Sullivan Junior Performances In the U12 Boys, year 8 Conn Finnegan competed in the first 4 rounds, taking a bronze medal in the 3rd round at Sullivan. Despite a foot injury preventing him taking part in the remaining rounds, he still finished 7th in the overall rankings. The U14 age group saw strong performances throughout the year from year 9s Erin Maginn and Phoebe McPherson. Erin won 2 silvers and a bronze from the 6 rounds, while Phoebe won 4 bronzes, taking Erin to 4th overall and Phoebe to 5th. The U16 Girls’ category was dominated by Sullivan fencers. While Emily took the overall win, the next 3 positions in the final rankings were all filled by Sullivan girls. Iona O’Neill finished 2nd overall, Ella Reid 3rd and Rachel Smyth 4th. Rachel bagged 4 bronze medals across the year, Iona 3 silvers and a bronze, while Ella won a silver, a bronze and then won gold at the last round. Sullivan Fencers in Senior Competition In parallel to junior competition, Sullivan fencers have also begun to make their mark in senior (adult) fencing. This year Emily won a bronze medal at the N Ireland Open and finished 7th at the Irish Open in Dublin. At the Belfast Open in March, Emily finished 3rd and Ella 7th. David White SUFC Coach 13 May 2015

Congratulations to Callum Robson (Year 13) on his selection for Ireland U18 squad for the upcoming EuroHockey Championships in Santander, Spain from 19 to 25 July 2015.

District Athletics Results 2015 Congratulations to all those who qualified for the Ulster Competition and well done to others who achieved good times and distances and enjoyed the day. Athletes who qualified are: Seniors Laura Potts – Discus -1st (29.24m) Mark Burton – Triple Jump – 1st (13.57m) Inters Amy Rothwell – Shot -2nd (9.83) Maggie Gillies – High Jump -2nd(1.51) Nia McNally – 3000m – 1st(12.03.2) Peter Speers – 400m Hurdles – 3rd(66.7) Jonny Brattle – 3000m – 3rd(9.58.0) Juniors Emma Hanna – 1500m – 2nd(5.18.10) Minis Katie Monteith – 100m – 1st(13.74)   Shot – 1st(7.18m) Rachel Gillespie – 800m – 3rd(2.39.78) Girls Relay(Katie Monteith, Rachel Gillespie, Sasha Barrett-Ferris, Emma Thallon) 1st(57.38) Jonny Moore – 100m – 2nd(13.11)      Long Jump – 3rd(4.58) Zac Moraghan – 100m – 3rd(13.18) Sam Rutherford – Shot – 2nd(8.55) Boys Relay (Jonny Moore, Zac Moraghan, Sam Rutherford, Alex Uprichard) 2nd (54.83) Mini Boys and Girls Teams both won the overall team event.

David Stinson (Yr8)  – BelTech NI Coding Competition

Congratulations to the Sullivan Singers who were runners-up in the BBC Radio Ulster School Choir of the year competition. Facebook link below: https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadioUlster/videos/vb.193022337414607/928479690535531/?type=2&theater¬if_t=scheduled_post_published BBC link below: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02qbpyy

Congratulations to pupils Bethany Currie (Year 10) and Harry Sheridan (Year 9) in gaining their black belts in Taekwondo. They have trained for a number of years with Holywood TAGB and recently did some intensive black belt training in Banbridge over several months with other members of TAGB NI. They travelled to Bristol to grade with members of TAGB from all over the UK and were informed in their class in Holywood that they had passed. They received their new black belts, black belt doboks, tie and badges.

Sullivan were well represented when an Ulster Under 17 team supported by a few senior players played the Brazilian Mens’ National Team. The Brazilians are based at University of Ulster for a training camp prior to playing in a qualifying competition for the Olympics. The final result was a 2 all draw with Brazil equalising with the last hit of the ball. Sullivan were represented by Hockey Coach, Andy Williamson, Callum Robson (Year 13), Matthew Crookshanks (Year 12) and past pupil, Connor Roberts.

Congratulations to Sophie Todd (11G) and Kathleen Smart (11G)  who have qualified for the Irish Gymnastics Trampoline Finals to be held in Limerick on Sunday 10 May 2015.  They will be 2 of only 3 girls from their age group to qualify from Northern Ireland.