WINNERS: Female team of the year – U12 Netball.
The school, who has a solid tradition of sports education going back nearly 40 years, regularly dominates the inter-school competitions at both primary and secondary levels. Earlier this year, Doha College won the very first edition of the ‘British International Schools Qatar’ (BISQ) Games in both U13 (jointly with Sherborne Qatar) and the U11 categories. The sports presentation event honoured Secondary students, and the 2018 winners of the key awards were, Ella Hudson from Year 13, Sportswoman of the Year; Callum Smith from Year 13, Sportsman of the Year; U12 Netball Team, Female Team of the Year; U16 Basketball Team, Male Team of the Year; and Sakshi Mani, Service to School Sport.
This year, a new category was introduced to celebrate the incredible success of four DC students who represented Qatar at the West Asian Rugby Championship in Lebanon recently. The four girls won every match, becoming inaugural female champions. Lucie Murphy (Y10), Abi Falcous-Gill (Y12), Charlotte Finney (Y10) and Yasmine Tobun (Y12) play for Doha Rugby Football Club (DRFC) and at U17 category, making their selection for the senior Qatar team all the more impressive. Charlotte holds the additional honour of being DRFC ‘Player of the Year’ in her age category.
Doha College has competed in over a staggering 350 fixtures this year and put forward 70 different sports teams. Many of the students awarded were part of multiple teams in different sports, and by the end of the ceremony, some were weighed down with huge bunches of jangling medals, adding an additional sound effect to the proceedings.
Gary Froud, Head of Physical Education at Doha College, spoke about the young students’ success: “Doha College is privileged to have many talented sportsmen and women. Sports are a vital part of the Doha College community and it’s always very pleasing to see the students being recognised for their success. It again goes to show that an enthusiasm and commitment to sport can be balanced with academic studies and in fact can benefit both. On behalf of the Doha College staff and students, I congratulate each and every winner on their achievements.”
Ella Hudson, Sportswoman of the Year 2018, achieved the title in addition to being Doha College’s Head Girl, a true measure of her dedication and commitment. She took academic PE for her A-Levels, which suggests that sports will always be an important part of her life.
Doha College offers PE and swimming throughout Primary and Secondary School, fosters a close partnership with Evolutions Sports Qatar, and is home to a huge variety of sporting ‘Enhanced Curriculum Activities, from golf and Zumba, to taekwondo and badminton. The Primary School runs morning ‘Wake Up and Shake Up’ sessions for students, parents and staff, as well as weekly ‘Run a Mile’ Monday for as long as weather permits. It organises the traditional Doha College 10k and 5K Race each November, and its students and staff are members of many local sporting clubs.
To find out more about Doha College’s offer of PE at GCSE and A-Levels, as well as the recently introduced BTEC Diploma in Sports Coaching, visit www.dohacollege.com
