On Monday 13th May the Year 8 Netball team travelled to Rockport to take part in their annual Netball Tournament. This is a competition for Under 11 and Under 13 girls with 40 teams competing throughout the day. The girls had a successful day, winning their matches against Strathearn, Belfast High, Bangor Academy and Sacred Heart to reach the semi-final against Rockport in the afternoon. Unfortunately this was to be the end of the tournament for the girls, but it did not dampen their enjoyment of the day. With the opportunity to catch up with friends and teachers from their primary schools, whilst also enjoying some BBQ food for lunch, the girls had a great time building their relationships as a team. A great way to finish the season!

On 25 April 2024, 50 Year 8 & 9 pupils took part in the UKMT Junior Maths Challenge. We had 11 Gold, 8 Silver and 20 Bronze awards. Nyla H was the highest scorer in Year 8. Annabel C & Alison McN came out top overall. Well done to everyone who participated!

On Monday 29 April 2024, Dylan Goldring, Toby Caldwell, Finn McDaid and Alfie Livingstone made up our team for the UKMT Junior Team Maths Challenge today at St Malachy’s College, Belfast. The team contested four rounds of mathematical problem-solving requiring knowledge and some athletic ability too! They finished in 3rd place in Northern Ireland following up the team’s 2nd place finish from last year. It was a great day out and very competitive!

Well done to all Sullivan pupils who represented at the All Ireland Schools Athletics competition at Tullamore on Saturday 1 June 2024. Matthew Lockington placed 7th in 800m, Anna Moran and Roger McMullan competed in the Iong jump and the Inter Boys relay team (Roger McMullan, Curtis Hughes, Finn McGuigan and Benk Kirk) placed 5th.

The 2024 British Youth Fencing Championships were held over the weekend May 4th to May 6th in the English Institute of Sport arena in Sheffield. Four SU fencers had qualified for the event and took part across 2 age groups: Cassidy Ogle, Lennox Brown and Myles Wilkinson in the U16s and Adam Sugar in the U14s. The BYCs is the biggest UK youth fencing competition of the year with all of the UK’s best young fencers competing. All 4 SU fencers put in strong performances including one L32, two L64s and one L128.   SUFC 2024 BYC Results U16 girls: Cassidy 27th. U16 boys: Myles 63rd, Lennox 43rd. U14 boys: Adam 77th.   David White SUFC Coach 12 May 2024

Congratulations to all Years 8-10 pupils who competed at the Districts at Mary Peters Track on Thursday 2nd May. Well done to the pupils who have progressed to the Ulster Schools Athletics competition on Wednesday 15th May.   Max Reid - 2nd 100m Matthew Lockington - 1st 80mH and 800m Nyla Hughes - 1st Long Jump  Connie Fulton - 3rd Long jump  Jean Robinson - 3rd High Jump  Caoimhe Fenlon - 1st shot and 3rd 75mH  Abbie Irwin - 2nd Discus  Lily Andrews - 3rd Javelin Joy Ifonlaja - 1st 1200m Walk and 3rd shot

Members of the Debating Society attended a workshop organised by Concern Worldwide and hosted by Kate Nichol MLA at the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings on Friday 19th April. The theme of the workshop was Gender Equality and students took part in a range of activities which explored this theme. Member of the Sullivan Concern Debating Team and Junior Debating Society members joined students from: St Dominics; Hunterhouse College; Grosvenor Grammar School and Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle, to vigorously debate issues around the gender pay gap, access to healthcare, feminist activism and traditional gender roles. The students interacting very positively with other students, and Junior members were more than able to hold their own with more experienced debaters.  We continue to meet every Wednesday after school and look forward to progressing even further in next year’s competition.

Junior Irish Open The Junior Irish Open was held last Sunday 28th April in the Loreto Abbey Sports Centre in Dalkey, Dublin. Two SU fencers made the trip to this, the largest junior fencing event of the year in Ireland: Cassidy Ogle and Noah Currie. Both gave excellent performances, Cassidy winning gold in the U16 girl’s foil and Noah taking silver in the U16 boy’s foil.   Junior Commonwealth Fencing Championships The 2024 Junior Commonwealth Fencing Championships will take place in Christchurch, New Zealand in July and two SU fencers have been selected to represent N Ireland in U17 and U20 age group competitions: Alexandra Ong and Cassidy Ogle. Congratulations to both.   David White SUFC Coach 28 Apr 2024 Noah & Cassidy at the 2024 Junior Irish Open

The East of Ireland Open, the 5th of Ireland’s 6 Senior National Circuit fencing events, was held on the weekend before Easter on 23rd & 24th March in University College Dublin. Three SU fencers took part: Amelia Penny, Cassidy Ogle and Myles Wilkinson. Also taking part were 2 ex-SUFC fencers, now fencing for Oxford University: Victoria Morris and Alexander Penny.   In the women’s foil, held on the Saturday, Victoria and Cassidy both made the quarter-finals, Cassidy winning her last 16 fight 15-12, Victoria winning hers 15-13. Victoria was placed 7th overall, Cassidy 8th, while Amelia finished 12th after a narrow 13-15 defeat in the last 16. The men’s foil event on the Sunday saw Myles and Alexander lose tough last 32 fights, Alexander finishing 17th and Myles 24th. For Myles and Cassidy, as under 16s, this was valuable experience in their progression from junior to adult competition.   The next event for SUFC fencers will be the Irish National Championships in Dublin on the 20th and 21st April.   David White SUFC Coach 05 April 2024

3rd XI Gibson Cup: Congratulations to the 3rd XI for getting to the semi-final of the McDowell Cup. The girls faced Ballyclare High in very cold, wet conditions just before half term. They went 1-0 up very early in the game but Ballyclare came back strongly and equalised in the first half and grew in confidence in the 3rd quarter, but Sullivan defended valiantly. Sullivan dominated the last quarter and came so close to scoring that all decisive goal but unfortunately were denied so the match had to be decided on a series of run-ins. Ballyclare eventually emerged as winners but the girls can be extremely proud of their determined and competitive performance and they certainly showed what a very strong 3rd XI team they have become over the season. Year 8’s: The year 8’s attended the Annual Grosvenor Grammar Tournament and played some good hockey coming away with draws with MCB, Down High, Antrim Grammar and a fine 3-0 win over Wellington College. U14 Junior Shield: The U14’s faced Victoria College in the semi-final of the Junior Shield. The match was very competitive with Sullivan dominating most of the play, making the stronger start and being very unlucky not to capitalise on a few good chances in the first half. They continued to dominate possession in the 2nd half but unfortunately Victoria were the team who capitalised on a quick break and scored in the far corner of the net. Sullivan did not give up and kept fighting to the final whistle but unfortunately could not get that all important goal they so deserved. A tough end to a great game dominated by Sullivan. Huge commiserations girls. 1st XI Senior Shield: Massive commiserations to the 1sts after loosing out 3-2 to BRA in the semi-final of the Senior Shield. It was an exceptionally competitive, entertaining, end to end match. BRA took the lead but Sullivan equalised with an amazing individual goal from Lucy A. Both teams had chances denied until BRA eventually edged ahead 2-1 in the 4th quarter and quite quickly doubled their lead. Sullivan continued to put on the pressure and Hannah L finished off a well worked attacking move up the right hand side to make it 3-2. Despite throwing everything at it in the dying minutes, Sullivan were unable to capitalise on any final attacks and BRA remained strong to the end. An excellent display of school girl hockey. Well done girls and commiserations on an excellent performance. Leavers: This super bunch played their last matches for Sullivan. Thank-you so much for all your commitment, dedication, hard work and fun over the last seven years. Great role models, great memories. All the best for the next chapter….we’ll miss you. (Jessica, Lois and Indie missing) Last matches: We are delighted that we have had over 220 girls involved in playing girls hockey this season. Well done to everyone and we look forward to what next season has in store.

At the end of February, the girls 1st and 2nds squads head on tour to Glasgow. After an early Stenaline crossing to Cairnryn our tour started with two great games v StAloysius College. The 1stXI lost 2-1 (Niamh F) and the 2nd XI had a super 5-1 win (Maddie x2, Ella, Niamh McC, Selena). We finished our first day with dinner at the Hard Rock Café. The second day our Scottish tour consisted of exploring the world of VR, overcoming some fears on a high ropes course, a quiz and some very competitive games involving some singing Day three saw us competing in a very exciting selfie scavenger hunt around the city involving big hats, flags, eating haggis, irn-bru and bagpipes. After squeezing in the viewing of the Ireland v Wales rugby match, we had a very competitive set of matches v Western Wildcats ending in a draw for the 1sts and a loss for the 2nds. The day ended with a visit to La vita Sputina for some great Italian food and of course no evening would be complete without some ice cream Our final day plans changed slightly due to a frozen pitch which meant we couldn’t play our planned match v Scotland Over 35’s but that didn’t dampen our spirits, so instead we headed off for some ten-pin bowling, before heading back to Cairnryn. Some interesting techniques and bowling actions on display, so I think it’s safe to say we’ll stick to the hockey! Thanks to everyone for helping make a very successful and memorable tour.

Emily MacCormack (8B) and Anna Atkinson (8E) placed 2nd in Under 14 novice pairs.   Erin Playfair (10C) and Mia McConnell (9D) placed 5th in under 14 pairs.   Sophie Kingston (9D) and Megan Goldring (9D) placed 3rd in under 14 pairs.   Patrick Lee (13C) and Sophie Kingston (9D) placed 1st in under 19 pairs and have qualified to represent Sullivan at the British finals in stoke-on-Trent.   Erin Farrell (11B) placed 3rd in under 19 tumbling. Amelia Rodger (11E) placed 2nd in under 19 tumbling and has qualified to represent Sullivan at the British finals in stoke-on-Trent.   Megan Goldring (9D), Mia McConnell (9D), Sophie Kingston (9D), Leah Atkinson (10D), Rosanna Smith (8B), Caroline Mcdaid (8E) placed 3rd in the under 14 groups.   Elsie Buckley (11A), Erin Farrell (11B), Grace Yeates (11F), Amelia Rodger (11E), Erin Playfair (10C), Effie Lappin (11C) placed 3rd in the under 19 groups.