Sport

Archery has enjoyed a resurgence at Ellesmere with the introduction of an indoor range. All pupils in Lower School have an opportunity to learn archery through their activities programme.

Archery is an important part of our target sports and is closely linked with our shooting AcademyEllesmere enjoys excellent facilities and coaching for this sport with access to the indoor range throughout the year and outdoor facilities in the warmer months.

Athletics is delivered via PE lessons to all pupils up to Year 10 and athletes are entered into local schools and county events.  The school encourages pupils to pursue their athletics at Club level and a number of students train and compete for the Oswestry Olympians team. http://www.oswestryolympians.co.uk/

Sports Day is the highlight of the season internally for Lower School, and annually produces new school records.  

The school has good facilities for athletics including two jumping pits, shot and discus circles, an eight lane grass track and  high jump area.  Indoor athletics for Lower school is also supported.

The athletics links closely with our cross country and swimming clubs where pupils can develop into multi discipline athletes.  This opens up opportunities for Triathlon, Biathlon and pentathlon events.

Badminton is now a well-established sport at Ellesmere with over 40 participants each week. We have a strong fixture list fixture list which runs over two terms and a recreational program in the Summer. We enjoy up to date coaching from our visiting specialist every Tuesday. Students of all ages can access the coaching with additional session available on Wednesday afternoons. Badminton at the school has really taken off with all ability ranges catered for.

The school has its own indoor 4 court hall which provides excellent facilities for playing and coaching. Badminton is increasing in popularity with several students playing for club and representative teams outside school. We run teams at U18, U16 and U14 levels.

The Basketball club is a thriving one, both in numbers participating and on the court. Training takes place weekly throughout the first two terms and there is recreational basketball available in the Summer.

Inter school matches are played on a regular basis during the year. Girls too are encouraged to participate and the house basketball event run in the Lent term is one of the most competitive.

The school enjoys excellent on site facilities. The sportshall provides a full size court with viewing gallery and electronic scoreboard.

Basketball is coached by our specialist staff every Wednesday and Friday with additional recreational sessions available on Tuesday.

Ellesmere cricket has benefited enormously from the outstanding playing surfaces eleven sides regularly take to the field; alongside school fixtures the 1st XI play host to the MCC.

There can be few more delightful settings for cricket than the grounds at Ellesmere. The school Cricket Club aims to ensure that all pupils who enjoy the game have a fulfilling and memorable school cricket career in these wonderful surroundings.

The College pursues this mission by providing as much competitive cricket as possible through a challenging school fixtures list, as well as keenly fought house match competitions. These fixtures are designed to provide an outlet for talent at all levels.

The College aims to ensure that each cricketer develops his/her skills to their full potential. A number of present and former pupils have played at junior level for county and area teams, and for their local clubs. There is a full programme of winter coaching in the Sports Centre at both squad and individual level. This makes use of our excellent indoor facilities and is supported by video analysis and the state of the pitch vision bowling analysis system.. During the season, training takes place in both grass and artificial nets, and there are regular middle practices on the pitches within the school grounds.

Our experienced team managers and coaches (a number of whom have coaching qualifications) encourage the development of technical skills, tactical awareness and a genuine affinity with the spirit of cricket: we ensure that sportsmanship, positive play and an identification with team achievement are seen as at least as important as individual success.

The College is also keen to encourage interest among Ellesmere girls. The Under-11 School Tournament in May is a fast and furious festival of emerging talent that each year introduces a new generation to the sport. A girls cricket club is run during term lunch periods throughout the year. Where possible the girls integrate with the boys cricket coaching and are selected for matches.

Cricket at Ellesmere is flourishing. Top facilities married with first class coaching provide the best environment possible in which to learn and develop this sport.

MIC of Cricket: Mr Gareth Owen: Email
Cricket Academy Director - Mr Rod Jones:  Email

Ellesmere Cricket Academy Information. Click Here

Cross Country training takes place in the Spring Term, The highlight of the year is the inter-house events which are keenly contested. The annual Snowdon run provides an extreme challenge for the most dedicated of runners. Ellesmere is surrounded by excellent routes for running along canal paths and fields.

This leads onto opportunities to participate in Biathlon and triathlon evens which the environment around Ellesmere is perfect for. The town hosts a national qualifying event for triathlon annually.

Ellesmere now enjoys state of the art fitness facilities with the recent refurbishment of our fitness room. The cardio vascular suite on the mezzanine enjoys 15 pieces of Pulse fitness equipment, and a wide selection of fixed machines and free weight area. On the ground level we have our free weight area which includes Olympic bench and squat racks, a smith machine and a variety of fixed machines. We also have a sled and track plus a variety of kettle bells, dumbbells, fixed bars and core stability equipment. The fitness room is a superb facility which is enjoyed by age groups. Ellesmere enjoys the services of a fully qualified performance coach who can take group and individual sessions focusing on cross training and specific routines for sport. These sessions can be organised directly with the coach in addition to the free access to both facilities throughout the year.

The improvement to our gym offers a superb environment for conditioning and fitness. Developing a lifelong commitment to health and wellbeing.

The College supports a 'Sport and Fitness For All' policy. The fitness room is extremely popular with the students. The room is available for use during the day and after Prep time.

Training advice is available from the PE department and through specialist fitness coaches.  

Academy members have training programs designed for their individual need which are specific to the demands of their sport.

Pupils are introduced and reintroduced to the use of the facility through their Physical Education Lessons in year 8, 9, 10 and 11. In year 11 pupils are allowed to join the gym as a full member.

Boys' Football is a flourishing sport alongside hockey in the Spring Term, with a large percentage of boys involved in one of these two sports. In addition to the well established teams at 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI XI level the school has developed sides at U16 U15A &B, U14A & B, U13A , U12A and U11 levels. One of the highlights of the year is our growing U11 6-a-side tournament held annually in October. Indoor 6-a-side football is also enjoyed through our House event run during the Michalemas term. House football caps the end of the Lent term.

The school enjoys increasing success on a demanding fixture list. Several current and former pupils have gone onto professional contracts.

The school enjoys excellent facilities with extensive playing fields. We use 7 full side pitches, 5 grid areas, three floodlit training areas and numerous grass 6-a-side pitches. Although the main term for football is the Lent term we also run a senior side football option during the Michaelmas term and summer soccer in the warmer months.

For information on the Football Academy, click here.

Golf at Ellesmere College is open to both girls and boys and is available to all standards of player. There are coaching sessions available throughout the year by a qualified PGA coach. We play on different courses within the area so that players can have more experience.

Lower school golf takes place on Monday and Fridays with a range of internal fixtures during the summer.  Middle school and sixth form have access to the course at any time.  Coaching is available through the games sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Golf is played throughout the year with Ellesmere benefiting from the excellent facilities provided by our 9 hole course. A range of fixtures, as well as national school tournaments provide competition throughout the year, whilst the annual fixture with the staff is always a highlight.

Our on site course is an excellent place to develop ones game, with bunkers, water features and unique sculpted holes.  Its proximity to school allows golfers free access at any time.

Ellesmere can boast one of the best on-site school golf courses in the country and together with access to the local golf clubs some of , the finest schools' golfing facilities in Europe. This is a bold claim but justified by the fact that, in addition to our own excellent nine hole course, we also have access to explanar swing developers, local driving range and experienced PGA coaches.

For information on the Golf Academy, click here.

Boy's hockey is a fast growing sport alongside Football and 7-a-side Rugby at the College and this term we are proud to have competed in a variety of age groups from the U18 First IX, to U16 and U14.

The Boys' hockey programme at Ellesmere College has three key aims:

· inclusion and participation;

· player development;

· high performance.

Hockey is an option for male pupils at Ellesmere College to play during the Spring term, with High Performance Hockey coached all year round. Boys hockey is accessible to players of all abilities from beginner to elite, at both recreational and competitive level. Opportunities to play and compete include social mixed hockey, inter-house hockey tournaments, inter-school hockey fixtures as well as local and regional tournaments.

Players are encouraged to join local clubs and we have strong links with Whitchurch, Deeside Ramblers and Shrewsbury Hockey Club. Additionally, boys are encouraged to join either the English or Welsh Hockey Player pathways to fulfil their ambitions of representing their country. We have a number of Ellesmere College players past and present playing at club, county and regional levels.

The girl's hockey programme at Ellesmere College has three key aims:

• inclusion and participation;
• player development;
• high performance.

All female pupils at Ellesmere College play hockey during the Michaelmas term, with High Performance Hockey coached all year round. Girl's hockey is accessible to players of all abilities from beginner to elite, at both recreational and competitive level. Opportunities to play and compete include social mixed hockey, inter-house hockey tournaments, inter-school hockey fixtures as well as local and regional tournaments.

Players are encouraged to join local clubs and we have strong links with Oswestry, Whitchurch, Deeside Ramblers and Shrewsbury Hockey Clubs. Additionally, girls are encouraged to join either the English or Welsh hockey player pathways to fullfil their ambitions of representing their country. We have a number of Ellesmere College players past and present playing at county, regional, national and international level.

Ellesmere Hockey has also enjoyed considerable success in winning County titles across all age groups and progressing onto the Midlands Finals Tournament. In 2018/19 the U16 team reached the final 16 in the Investec National Schools Championships.

Download our new High Performance Hockey Programme brochure.

For the latest sporting fixtures, locations and results, please visit: www.schoolssports.com

When Joining Ellesmere each student is allocated to a competitive house.

All students have the opportunity to play for their house during the year.

There are 4 houses in Middle and 6th form. Meynell, Woodard, Wakeman/Lambart and Talbot.

Lower school is divided into three house Phillips, Brownlow and Heywood.

The competitive house system gives another tier of participation and competition for all the students to enjoy. The emphasis is on taking part and giving your best effort. House colours are awarded for contribution to the house and are a treasured possession for all who attain them.

Inter House sports are staged throughout the year and new events are being added. At Sixth form and Middle school level the following interhouse competitions are currently run. Rugby 10's, Hockey, indoor football, indoor hockey, Basketball, Badminton, squash, Football, Netball, Shooting, Cricket, Tennis, Sailing, Volleyball, Cross Country, Golf

At Lower school the following events are run each year culminating in our wonderful sportsday at the end of the summer term. Rugby, Hockey, Netball, Football, Cricket, Swimming, Tennis, Athletics, Shooting, Cross country, Golf.

Netball is the major game for girls during the Lent term. The netball programme has four key aims: 

• · Inclusion
• · Participation
• · Development
• · Performance

Netball is accessible to players of all abilities and opportunities to participate include, lunchtime clubs, afternoon games sessions and evening squad training. Each year we have no less than ten teams ranging from year four through to 1^st VII level. There is an extensive fixtures list which gives our pupils opportunities to compete regularly. These competitions include, inter house tournaments; inter school fixtures; and local & regional tournaments.

Many of our players also play for local clubs and some of these have progressed on and achieved representative honours at county and regional level.

Penthathlon is a developing sport at Ellesmere with and club now running every Friday evening. Coaching is available for Fencing and pistol shooting and combines well with our Academy shooting program and the Academy swim team. We have a strong link with Pentathlon GB and host events during the year. Students enter regional events during the year. Penthalon is a sport that is beginning to flourish and grows in strength each year.

Shooters receive outstanding coaching from a team of  qualified coaches. Academy pupils also have the opportunity to participate in regular sessions to shoot.

Throughout the year pupils are also given the opportunity to do fitness work using the School's excellent facilities and bespoke training programmes can be tailored to the individual. The School participates in regional and national competitions (age appropriate) which are scheduled as part of the programme in each term.

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