Luffa have lots to celebrate in sporting arena

Leading the way were the school judo team, who travelled to the national schools championships in Sheffield. With more than 500 competitors at the event, head coach Tony Newton guided Peter Hughes (under-66kg) and Jamie Holmes (over-66kg), both 14, and 16-year-old Kiera Turnball through four qualifying matches each to each make the individual gold medal matches.

Hughes and Holmes fought well but both had to settle for silver. Turnbull showed determination and skill to be crowned national schools champion.

The three individual medals ranked Bishop Luffa among the top schools in the country at this event.

In cross-country and road-running, Amber Westron (intermediate girls), Olivia Wiseman (junior girls), Luke Campbell (intermediate boys) and Will Broom (junior boys) were all selected by Sussex schools for the national championships – an outstanding achievement as only eight pupils in each of the six groups are selected from across Sussex. At county level, the junior boys’ team claimed second place.

In the Sussex Year 7 and 8 championships 58 schools competing. Having won multiple awards at the area finals in January, Bishop Luffa’s Year 7 boys packed well to take a brilliant fifth place. The Year 8 girls took third.

The Year 8 boys’ B team were sixth and Year 8 A scooped silver.

In the Chichester Corporate Challenge, the school was represented by more than 90 competitors.

Building on the success of the Year 11 and sixth-form teams who took their league titles before Christmas, the Year 7 and 8s entered the fray. After unbeaten runs in the area school leagues, both age group eight A teams won their respective cup tournaments. The Year 7s will represent West Sussex West at the School Games county finals in July.

In sportshall athletics, Bishop Luffa has built an enviable record over the past five years. This year proved no exception as all four teams had qualified for the county finals.

Facing the best eight other schools from across Sussex in each of the age groups, after three hours of competition the Year 7 girls took a creditable fourth position, while the Year 8 boys had to settle for bronze.

The Year 7 boys and Year 8 girls both claimed gold medals to leave West Sussex West top of the School Games standings.

The West Sussex West area football league came to a conclusion during the spring term with the Bishop Luffa Year 7 team winning the area honours and Year 8s third in their respective competition. Top-half finishes for the Year 9, 10 and 11 teams was a positive outcome.

The sixth-form rugby squad continued in the county cup, reaching the quarter-finals before being knocked out in a bruising encounter with eventual County Cup champions Seaford College.

The Year 8s went unbeaten from Christmas onwards with convincing wins over CHSB and area champions Felpham Community College.

Added to Bishop Luffa’s success story are the swimming teams taking West Sussex West area honours and hockey teams performing in the county age group tournaments.

TIM BROWN