Nothing like a Dame on the squash court
DAME Allan’s Schools continued their excellent success in the National Schools Squash Championships as two of their teams were crowned national champions.
The under-15 girls’ squad completed a hat-trick by winning their third title in a row.
They were joined on the winners’ podium for the first time by the under-19 girls’ team.
The under-15s of Beth Dean, Annie Anderson, Jessica Arnott, Annabelle Satow and Calum Howie - permitted to join the girls’ team as the school had not entered a boys’ squad in the same age category - won both their games in a roundrobin final 5-0.
The national success continued as the under-19s added to the silverware, winning their semi-finals by the narrow margin of 3-2 before clinching the final 4-1.
The team was made up of Lowri Waugh, Laura Neill, Martha Spalding, Olivia Satow and Angus Forster.
The victories come during a successful time for Dame Allan’s following year 11 pupil Max Forster’s capture of the senior Northumbria County Squash Championships at the age of just 16.
Dame Allan’s Principal Dr John Hind said: “Both teams played to an incredibly high standard and we are so proud of them.
“The future of squash in our school is looking very bright with more than 40 young players coming up through the junior school.
“Our aim next year is to get the boys through to the final stages as we have one of the best young men in the country in Max, who is now ranked second nationally at under-17 level.”
Dame Allan’s Schools are a group of independent schools in Newcastle.
The schools were founded in 1705 - with the girls’ school believed to be one of the oldest independent schools in the country.