Hartpury College’s Netball Academy is celebrating more success after their 1st team were crowned U19 champions at the South West Regional Schools Finals on Saturday 3 February 2024. This marks the twelfth consecutive year that Hartpury has qualified for the regional stage of the championship.

The team won all of their six pool round matches, as well as their semi-final against Bournemouth School for Girls. In a nail-biting final match, they fought off Millfield School to take the title by just one goal.

Each year schools from across the South West come together for the Regional Schools Finals. The top two teams from the U19, U16, and U14 age group competitions go forward to represent the South West at the National School Finals. Over 40 schools and college teams competed at Sir David English Sports Centre, Bournemouth in the Regional Schools Finals this year.

Hartpury will now join the other successful teams from across the country for the national competition at Oundle School on 16 March 2024.

The results from the competition matches were: Pool Round - Win v Truro School 22-4, Win v Torquay Girls Grammar School 14-2, Win v Clifton College 19-7, Win v Bryanston 24-7, Win v Richard Huish 22-3, Win v Dauntsey’s School 23-5. Semi Final - Win v Bournemouth School for Girls 16-9. Final - Win v Millfield School 9-8.

Four Hartpury students selected ahead of U17 European competition

Three students have been selected for this year’s Europe Netball U17 Championship & Challenge Event competition in Gibraltar (7-10 March 2024), along with one student named as reserve. Kate Doran (A-levels) will represent the Isle of Man, while Millie White (A-levels) will represent Wales as vice-captain, Anna Stockdale (Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport and Exercise Science) will also be part of the  Wales squad, and Madison Sims (Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport and Exercise Science) will be a reserve.

Holly Duerden, Netball Academy Manager at Hartpury University and Hartpury College said: “We’re very proud of our College 1st team, who have shown amazing determination and resilience in all of their matches, as well as incredible talent on the court. It’s great to see how the pathway has grown and become a proven route that allows talented players to improve all aspects of their game while they study. The outstanding results produced year after year have made Hartpury a real force to be reckoned with.

“I’d also like to congratulate our fantastic four who’ve been selected to represent the Isle of Man and Wales. This is another outstanding achievement and is testament to their love of the game and dedication. We can’t wait to see how they get on and support them along the way.”

Study, train and compete

Hartpury’s Netball Academy has a now well-established programme spanning six years, providing more than 100 student athletes with a chance to play throughout their college and then university studies at Hartpury. Each student, both male and female, has the chance to train in an elite sporting environment, taking advantage of state-of-the-art facilities and leading coaches who are active at Superleague and NPL level. There are also plenty of opportunities for those interested in playing for fun and fitness without the competitive elements.

WSP Solicitors continue to sponsor both the University and College 1st teams, helping them to train and compete.

Hartpury has a record for sporting success, with over 250 international athletes produced over the past 15 years, and 97% of university sports graduates in employment, further study or other purposeful activity (Graduate Outcomes 2023). The dual career pathway is a system that allows students to train and compete while they study for qualifications including A-levels, diplomas and degrees, and more. The pathway was praised in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023) that saw Hartpury rated triple Gold.