Sports round-up 07.11.2025

Archery

Atkins Soup Shoot – 19th October 2025 at Atkins Archers, Epsom

A dry morning turned wet after lunch and remained damp for the rest of the day. Two of our Bearbow archers, Rosie and Izzy, took part in the Atkins Soup Shoot, shooting the Western 40 round. This round consists of 4 dozen arrows at 40 yards and 4 dozen arrows at 30 yards.

It is a great test of consistency and focus, especially with the changing weather conditions. Both archers competed in the Bearbow category, which involves shooting a recurve bow without sights or stabilisers. The setup is simple and traditional, relying on the archer’s skill and instinct for aiming and consistency.

Despite the wet afternoon, Rosie delivered a brilliant performance, taking first place and possibly setting a Surrey county record – a huge achievement! Well done, Rosie! For Izzy, this was her first ever competition, and she showed fantastic composure and determination throughout the day. Competing for the first time in such conditions is no small feat. I am incredibly proud of both Rosie and Izzy. Their effort, attitude, and sportsmanship truly reflect the best of our archery community.

Fencing

Emily T took part in the U14 City of London Freeman School Fencing competition, finishing 15th out of 25 U14 girls – a great effort for one of the very few 11-year-olds in the competition.

Football

1st XI Girls Football vs Royal Russell

The 1st XI girls’ first game this season was a tough opening round match against Royal Russell in the ISFA Cup. A quick start saw the girls go 1-0 early, but they grew into the game and found their confidence to play forward quickly and threaten the Royal Russell goal.

Lots of goals were scored by both teams early on, and as a team we got frustrated after hitting the post three times and the crossbar, which prevented us from getting back into the game. There were some brilliant standout performances from Minnie F, Jade H, Lily M, and Pearl T. The game finished 9-3, but the girls should start each game with huge confidence and be proud of their output.

Rugby

Italy Rugby Tour

A hugely enjoyable and successful rugby tour saw the Under 14 and Under 15 squads travel to the Lake Garda region of northern Italy. Each team took on two Italian club sides, both emerging with one win and one loss. The five-day trip included a full and eclectic itinerary, ranging from the best-preserved amphitheatre in Italy, boat trips into Venice and on Lake Garda, a professional training session at Benetton Treviso – the best club side in the country – to a last-day chill and thrill excursion at the Gardaland theme park.

The opening matches against Parabiago were both narrowly lost, before two hard-fought victories against ASD Rugby Lions (Parma). The Italian teams played with great flair, handling superbly and dynamically when jackling for the ball. Claremont were more structured in their approach, setting up four excellent games, the teams’ contrasting styles providing compelling match-ups.

Rugby tours are, of course, about more than the sport – a chance for the two year groups to bond, enjoy each other’s company, and experience different cultures. The team run-ons to the pitch before kick-off set the tone, and shared post-match pasta teas with the opposition honoured a rugby tradition. Highlights included the motor launch cruises on Lake Garda, watching a professional match in Milan, cruising to the entrance of the Grand Canal in Venice, and the breathtaking 30,000-capacity Verona Arena.

Most pleasing of all was the desire and ability of the two year groups to support each other. The shared humour and competition of evening quizzes, tour courts, and coach trip karaoke were an absolute joy to watch.

Congratulations to all our tourists, who represented Claremont so well. The infectious humour and fun of this wonderful trip will remain with these boys for years to come.

Tennis

Some big news for Greta B, as she reached her first National final in the U11 G2 at Aldershot. Greta lost narrowly 4-6, 5-7, but gained some great experience over the three days. She then travelled to Nottingham for the week-long Tennis Europe event, having made the qualifying draw – her first international tennis event – performing exceptionally well and finishing 2nd in her group. This was an incredible result, especially as the winner was a GB Top 10 player who is a year older than her.

Throughout the week, Greta beat some excellent opponents, including one of the top Irish players in her age group, coming from 5–2 down in the second set to win five games in a row and take the match – a truly impressive achievement.