Wycombe Abbey Sports Report – Spring Term 2
25 March 2026 - All
National Schools Squash Championship Finals
The National Schools Squash competitions provided an excellent opportunity for Wycombe Abbey teams to compete against strong opposition from across the country, and it proved to be an exceptionally successful season.
At the National Finals our Key Stage 3 teams enjoyed an outstanding campaign. The A team progressed through to the final playoff, where they narrowly edged out 3 – 2 by Lincoln Minster in a closely fought match. They responded brilliantly, securing fifth place overall with commanding victories over Downe House (5 -0) and Sevenoaks B (3 – 2). A standout performance came from Elsa, who delivered three impressive wins while playing at number one.
Both Key Stage 3 and 5 B teams performed superbly throughout the season, each winning Division 2, a tremendous achievement that reflects the depth of talent within the squad.
The Key Stage 4 team competed strongly and advanced deep into the competition, unfortunately missing out in the final stages.
The Key Stage 5 team finished eighth overall nationally after a tough opening‑round encounter with Sevenoaks, who ultimately went on to win the national title. Despite this early setback, the squad demonstrated real determination across the remaining fixtures. Notable performances came from Hayat, who secured two excellent match wins and came heartbreakingly close against Sevenoaks with a match ball opportunity, and India, who won both her matches and provided assured leadership as captain on the day.
The Bath and Otter Cup – National Swimming Relays
The Bath and Otter Cup is a prestigious national-level invitational relay competition, held this year on Friday 6 March, again in the iconic London Aquatics Centre – home to the 2012 Olympic Games.
This year’s team combined experience with emerging talent. Three returning swimmers, Annabelle, Summer and Isabella, were joined by Dora (UIII), selected after achieving a long‑course PB in the 50m Freestyle weeks before the event. Her inclusion created a symbolic moment: as Annabelle competed in her final Bath and Otter Cup, having represented the school annually since UIII, Dora made her debut, a fitting passing of the baton.
The day opened with the Freestyle relay. After a focused warm‑up, the girls attacked the heats, qualifying for the Large Schools Final in 4th place with genuine medal hopes. In the final, the depth of talent showed, with several schools rotating fresh swimmers between rounds. Despite this, Wycombe Abbey held their position to finish 4th out of 76 schools, an outstanding result.
The Medley relay was tightly contested, with only two seconds separating 4th to 9th in qualifying. Annabelle started strongly with an exceptional Backstroke leg, putting the team into second. Isabella followed with a powerful Breaststroke, handing over in fourth. Summer maintained this with her strongest Butterfly, and Dora anchored with a brave Freestyle leg close to her PB, racing older and more experienced swimmers. The team finished 7th out of 75 schools, an exceptional result in a field of such quality.
Reaching National Finals at the Bath and Otter Cup remains a significant accomplishment, and this year’s performances continue the School’s proud national tradition. With Annabelle inspiring younger swimmers and Dora already rising to big moments, the future is bright for Wycombe Abbey swimming. We now look ahead to the Autumn English Schools District rounds, aiming to build momentum through focused Summer Term training.
National Schools Lacrosse Championships
The National Schools Lacrosse Championships took place from 7 to 10 March, giving our teams another valuable opportunity to compete against some of the strongest schools in the country. Both the 1st and 2nd teams faced strong opposition on day one and competed with real resilience throughout. Although they initially missed out on Championship and Division 1 qualification, both squads began day two with purpose.
The 1sts topped their group and reached the Division 1 final after an intense overtime last‑sixteen match, followed by excellent Quarter and Semi Finals. They finished as Division 1 runners‑up. The 2nds excelled in their Division 2 group and advanced to the final, delivering an outstanding performance to defeat Caterham 3–2 and win the Division 2 Championship.
The U15s and 3rds were equally impressive. The U15s topped their group with several hard‑fought wins, progressing to the last 16, where they beat NLCS to reach the Quarter Finals. Despite creating many attacking chances, they were edged out by Berkhamsted, finishing in the top eight nationally — a superb achievement. The 3rds continued their strong form after placing second in their group, building momentum through the knockout rounds. They reached the Semi Finals and narrowly missed out on a place in the final against Guildford, securing a top‑four national finish.
The U14s placed second in their group and progressed to the Championship round, where they fell to St Helens in a tough last‑16 match. The U13s had a challenging morning, just missing a Championship spot, but responded superbly in the afternoon. With consistently strong performances, they reached the Division 1 final and finished as runners‑up after a narrow one‑goal defeat.
Public Schools Fencing
The Public Schools Fencing Championships, one of Europe’s largest and longest‑running school fencing tournaments, once again offered an exciting stage for Wycombe Abbey pupils to compete against some of the strongest young fencers in the country. Across three days of Foil, Épée and Sabre, our athletes showed resilience, technical skills and competitive determination. With hundreds of entries from leading schools, reaching the later rounds is a significant achievement.
Day one featured the Foil events, where Wycombe Abbey began strongly across all age groups. In Mount‑Haes (UIII – UIV), Allegra fenced with confidence through pools and early eliminations, finishing 15th in a large and competitive field, an excellent result for a younger fencer. In the Junior events (LV – UV), Elizabeth and Jennifer produced superb performances; Elizabeth placed 11th after composed tactical fencing, while Jennifer finished 15th. At Senior level (LVI – UVI), Amy fenced with precision and maturity to take 14th in a category known for depth and national‑level experience.
Day two saw the Épée events, where our Senior fencers excelled. The Senior category is particularly challenging, with many athletes competing at national and international level. Despite the intensity, two Wycombe Abbey pupils reached the top 16. Astrid produced a remarkable run to the quarterfinals, finishing 9th which is one of the School’s best recent Épée results. Close behind, Abila fenced with determination and tactical control to place 16th. Both demonstrated outstanding focus and competitive maturity.
On the final day, the Sabre events took place, with Wycombe Abbey represented by a single athlete, Alicia Rowan. As the school’s sole Sabreur this year, she approached the competition with commitment and strong tactical awareness, taking on experienced opponents with energy and discipline. Her performance was a credit to the school and a fitting end to our participation.
Across all three weapons and age groups, Wycombe Abbey pupils showcased exceptional spirit, determination and technical ability in one of the toughest school fencing arenas in the country. Their results reflect individual talent and the strength of our fencing programme. We are immensely proud of all pupils involved; their performances demonstrated resilience and a willingness to challenge themselves at national level.
Mrs Sophie Bryett-Windle
Director of Sport
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