Grosvenor In View Magazine 2025

148

SPORTS TEAMS

The Table Tennis Squad before travelling to compete in the Ulster Schools Cup

triumphed 11–8 to become this year’s Nelson Cup champion. In February, Grosvenor entered five teams in the Ulster Schools’ Team Championships, Under 19 boys, Under 19 girls, Under 15 boys, and two Under 13 boys’ teams. The Under 19 boys’ competition consisted of 13 teams. The Grosvenor team was made up of Euan Hanna, Stanley Rintoul, Jack Bailie, Karsten Close, Matthew Bailie and Joseph Rainey. They faced St Catherine’s College, The Royal and Prior Comprehensive School and Cookstown High School in the group stage and won every match 6-0. In the quarter final match, they faced Monaghan Collegiate ‘B’ team, and they again won 6 – 0 in the singles matches. In the semi-finals they played Monaghan Collegiate ‘A’ team and they won 5-1. In the final they played Friends’ School, Lisburn and won 5-1. After a hugely successful day, the boys were the deserved winners of the Under 19 competition and are now the Ulster Under 19 Champions. The Under 19 girls’ team was made up of Lily Parke, Melissa Johnston, Naomi Humes, Emma Mackey, Amelia Jankowska and Gracie Ashbridge. They faced teams from Strathearn School, Sullivan Upper School and Monaghan Collegiate in the group stage and they won all the matches comfortably. The final was against Bloomfield Collegiate. It was a tightly fought competition and, at the end of the singles matches it was even. It would now be down to the doubles matches. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, and we ended up losing 5-4. The team are now ranked second in Ulster at Under 19 level. The Under 15 boys’ competition featured 10 teams from across Ulster. Representing Grosvenor were Alfie Kennedy, Ethan Reid, Scott Reid, Finn Stevenson,

The Table Tennis Club at Grosvenor remains both popular and successful. It was great to welcome back many regulars in September, along with a number of enthusiastic junior pupils. Senior squad members supported new players through internal coaching. Both internal and external competitions took place, with the Under 19 boys’ team once again crowned Ulster Schools’ and All-Ireland Champions. The Under 19 girls’ team finished second in the Ulster Schools’ Championships. At the Ulster Individuals, Karsten Close won the Under 14 boys’ title, with Matthew Bailie runner-up. In the school’s Nelson Cup final, Club Captain Euan Hanna narrowly defeated Karsten. It has been another excellent year for the sport. In October, Grosvenor hosted the Belfast Regional Championships, with our pupils achieving excellent results. In the Under 14 boys’ event, Karsten Close placed first, Matthew Bailie second, and Alfie Kennedy third. Will Apsley won the Under 14 boys’ consolation, with Luke McKeown and Aaron Armstrong joint third. In the Under 14 girls’ consolation, Evie Nelson came second and Sophie Boreland third. Euan Hanna was runner-up in the Under 19 boys’ competition, while Vybhav Bellamkonda took third in the Under 19 boys’ consolation. Lily Parke also secured runner-up in the Under 19 girls’ event. The Nelson Cup, our highly anticipated internal table tennis competition, saw an impressive turnout this year, with participation from pupils of all skill levels. After a series of exciting and competitive matches, the tournament culminated in a thrilling final between Euan Hanna and Karsten Close. Karsten took an early lead, winning the first two sets, but Euan staged a determined comeback, claiming the next two sets to force a decisive final set. In a nail-biting finish, Euan

GROSVENOR IN VIEW > 2024/25