Paralympians return from Sochi

This year, Britain had one of their most successful years at the Winter Paralympics since Innsbruck in 1984.The GB team won six medals - one gold, three silvers and two bronzes - which made the team finish 10^th in the medal table.

Photo: Charlotte Evans, Kelly Gallagher,
 Jade Etherington and Caroline Powell

This was the first ever gold medal won by the GB paralympians, thanks to Kelly Gallagher and her guide Charlotte Evans in the super G.

Jade Etherington and her guide Caroline Powell took bronze in the same competition and won a whopping total of three silver medals in the visually impaired downhill, slalom and super combined. GB's wheelchair curling team, Aileen Neilson, Gregor Ewan, Jim Gault, Bob McPherson, and Angie Malone, took a bronze medal.

British skier Jade Etherington, who won three silvers and a bronze along with her guide Caroline Powell, has been classed as being the greatest British Winter Paralympian of all-time; because of this Etherington had the honour of carrying the British flag at the closing ceremony. Unfortunately, Etherington missed her final race of the competition, Sunday's giant slalom, because of illness but recovered for the closing ceremony.

The closing ceremony celebrated the achievements of the 547 athletes from 45 countries who competed for the 72 medals.

International Paralympic Committee president, Sir Philip Craven, exclaimed that the Games were the best ever Winter Paralympics. "Proud Paralympians - your inspirational athletic performances have redefined the boundaries of possibility," he told the crowd. "You have shown the world that absolutely anything is possible and that life is about amazing capabilities and not perceived deficiencies."

Britain hopes to exceed even further in future Paralympics and the UK has set up funding to help create future winter Paralympic stars.

The Paralympic flag was lowered and presented to Pyeonchang in South Korea, hosts of the 2018 Winter Games.

Virginia Mitreva,

year 8

Boston Head

Sunday 19th January saw many junior and elite rowers visit the historical town of Boston ready to race on Great British waters.

Boston had received entries for 287 boats ready to take on either the 3 kilometre or 5 kilometre course (in very bright and smart racing all in ones). The morning saw some rain and a strong head wind, but the competitors gritted their teeth and pushed on; the hard work paid off when the times were released at the end of the division.

The clubhouse filled quickly as hungry competitors and officials took a break from the icy wind. Times were released soon after and Boston found they had an advantage being on home water and knowing the best ways to take the bends.

I was racing in division 2 so after a quick burger, my crew and I proceeded towards the start line just over 3 kilometres away, with a quick warm up and a jog thrown in. When we got down to the starting line we had to sort ourselves into numerical order.

As soon as we heard the bell, Lucie and I pushed. Within the first kilometre we gained ground and caught up with the double in front. However, we didn't sprint and take over them until the beginning of the last kilometre; our stroke rate was pushed to 25 strokes a minute. 

Coming up to the finish, the crowd and bystanders were cheering as we both gritted our teeth and gave ten solid strokes that pushed us over the line. Our final time for our 3 kilometre sprint was 12:43. In the under 15's category we came 5^th overall.

It was a great day and everyone enjoyed the racing and close competition.

By Kyra Balderstone,

year 9

BMX Stunt Rider Cycles over a New Bridge for its Opening

In Fort Worth, Texas, a new bridge was built and to celebrate the opening someone cycled all the way over the top of one of the sides.

The cyclist was filmed and also had a camera on his handle bars showing how steep and thin his track was.

The side of the bridge went up and down very steeply making it even harder, but the cyclist made it all the way to the other side without even nearly falling off.

The cyclist went at a fast speed making it look scary and dangerous.

By Anya Stacey

year 9

Video: ITN News report on the stunt 

Football Club goes Broccoli

The Spanish team La Hoya has a new football kit that is inspired by Broccoli; it has been given the name of ‘ugliest football kit ever’ by some people.

The team that play in Division B, the 3rd division in Spanish football, have a kit that is covered with broccoli on the back and front and the kit also has matching shorts. However, the shirt seems to be selling very well and drawing a lot of attention to the football team.

The coach of the football club, Jose Manuel Campos, told BBC News Round that the shirt is ugly, but argues that the club felt “familiar” with it and that it has drawn attention to them.

The team is based in an area of Murcia, Spain which famous for growing and selling the broccoli and is apparently the area’s most successful export in the last few years. Due to this, the team has the football shirt that it currently has. One player, Alfredo Ortuno, seems determined to see the positives. He chooses to see the shirt as ‘original’, rather than ugly.

What do you think about this rather unique kit?

Nesta Baxter, year 9

Bale Shows Critics Just How It’s Done

Many have criticised Gareth Bale for being transferred to Real Madrid (with a record breaking transfer of €100 million) and then playing a disappointing match against Barcelona. However on the 30^th of October when Real played Sevilla, Bale scored two goals adding to the final score of Real’s win of 7-3.

Real Madrid Coach Ancelotti was delighted with the £85 million player’s performance telling the BBC "Everyone saw the real Gareth. He showed fantastic skills." Not only did Gareth score two goals, but he also played for a full 90 minutes. He was unable to in other games due to foot and thigh injuries have prevented him playing a full game.

Bale’s performance last weekend was disappointing and therefore Bale suffered lots and lots of criticism from Madrid’s press and other places all over the world, with fans feeling as though their club had made the wrong decision. Therefore it was very important that this game showed perfect performance from Bale and that is just what he did.

Real Madrid fan Taylor said “In the game against Barcelona last weekend I was expecting Bale to play a good game. However this didn’t happen and I felt as though Bale was a waste of money, but I knew that my club wouldn’t do that. So I knew that Bale would play a really good game on Wednesday and perform and impress me and that’s exactly what he did and I feel hope again.  I know we have a chance of beating Barcelona in the Primera Division as we are only 6 points behind.”

Bale's goals, a 15-yard strike and deflected free-kick, came in the first 27 minutes, and he also helped to set up other goals. Ronaldo scored a hat-trick while Benzema grabbed Real's other two goals.

The former Tottenham player now promises that his best is yet to come after scoring his first goals for his new club at the Bernabeu.

In quotes reported on realmadrid.com, Bale said: 
"I felt good and I completed the whole game.”
"I have to keep improving and working hard to be one hundred per cent as soon as possible.”
"It was a great night and important to my fitness.”
"We played very well and hopefully we will have more games like this in the future.”
"Now I continue to improve and work hard and as soon as possible try to be one hundred per cent."

It was by some way his best performance for the team who are now six points behind the leaders, Barcelona.

Bale added: "It was a great game and a great atmosphere. We played very well and we got a lot of goals but the important thing is to have got the three points and we have scored many goals which is very positive for us.” 
"The downside has been that we have received several goals, but we were good, it gives us confidence.”
"We have a lot of confidence and hopefully we can keep winning and producing performances like tonight."

Real Madrid are now six points behind leaders Barcelona after the win and two from second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Nesta Baxter, year 9

Could American Football be the New Big Sport in the UK?

The NFL (National Football League) says that they want to continue to grow the American Football fan base in the UK.

On Sunday the 29th of September the Wembley Stadium hosted the Seventh International Series Game. The Vikings claimed a close and very tense win over the Steelers with a final score of 34- 27. With a crowd of 83,519 people, the Steelers nearly scored in the final seconds but luckily for the Vikings they did not.

Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel told the BBC "What an amazing experience".

The Jaguars will play San Francisco 49ers on the 27th of October also at the Wembley Stadium.

Chris Parsons of the NFL International told BBC London what they are doing to try to make this fascinating sport appealing to the British. "What we have been doing over the past six years, playing games here in the UK, is really about embedding the sport into the popular culture."

In 2012 the Jacksonville Jaguars signed a four year contract to play one regular-season match per year at Wembley. Popular teams like the Jaguars will hopefully soon get British people to begin to enjoy the sport.

Lin, a British fan of American football, said "It would be fantastic to see other people begin to appreciate my sport and become fans of such a great and interesting game".

Nesta Baxter, year 9

Sports Reporter