Page 147 - Bellfort Magazine 2025

NEBSSA Cross-Country—The NEBSSA Cross-Country Championships took place at Sixmilewater Park,
Ballyclare. Conditions on the day were favourable for all competitors, with twenty different schools
being represented. There were some excellent personal performances from our athletes. William
Graham led home the school in the Year 8 race, finishing the 1600m course in 31st position out of
122 competitors. He was closely followed by Oliver Fleck (36th) and Troy Cathcart (46th). Skylar
McAuley had a fantastic run to finish 20th in the Year 9 girls' race. Robbie Montgomery did equally
well to finish 20th in the Year 9 boys' race. David Rad, still a bit jaded from playing rugby the day
before, finished a highly creditable 26th out of 63 competitors.

NEBSSA Athletics—We were incredibly proud to celebrate the fantastic athletic achievements of two
of our pupils, Skye Walsh and Stewart Glass, who both shone at the NEBSSA finals at the Antrim
Forum. On a warm and truly stunning day, Skye Walsh claimed the girls' Under 14 Shot Putt title,
showcasing exceptional skill and determination. Stewart Glass also demonstrated remarkable talent,
earning a well-deserved silver medal in the boys' Under 13 Shot Putt competition. Additionally, our
talented athlete David Rad competed in the boys' Under 15 Shot Putt. While he didn't feature in the
medals this time, his effort and sportsmanship were commendable.

Rowing initiative comes ashore—This year, our school proudly participated in an exciting rowing
initiative organized by ‘Row Ireland’, which brought a wave of energy and enthusiasm to our PE
department and student body alike. Over the course of six weeks, our Year 12 BTEC Sport pupils
embarked on a comprehensive indoor rowing programme designed to enhance fitness, teamwork,
and competitive spirit. Thanks to the generous provision of six additional indoor rowing machines,
our pupils had the opportunity to engage in regular, focused training sessions. These machines
quickly became a popular feature in our PE lessons, with students from various year groups eagerly
taking part both during scheduled lessons and after school. The programme not only improved their
rowing techniques and cardiovascular fitness but also fostered a sense of competition and
perseverance among participants. The culmination of this initiative was an exciting inter-schools'
rowing competition held at Dundonald High School. Our pupils demonstrated incredible dedication
and teamwork, competing fiercely against students from other schools. The event was a tremendous
success, showcasing the talent and hard work of our students and providing a memorable experience
for all involved.

Mid and East Antrim Sports Awards—The highly prestigious Mid and East Antrim Borough
Sports Awards were staged at Galgorm Manor and the Ballymena Cúchulainns, a Gaelic football team
made up of pupils from both our school and St. Patrick's College, received the 'School Sporting
Performance' award in recognition of their success last year in the Northern GAA Games in
Manchester. The Under 16 Rugby team was also shortlisted in the same category, so it was a tense
moment when the envelope was being opened on stage from the sponsor, with our ex-pupil and
player, Noah Carson, clearing his throat just in case he was called upon to say a few words. Oba
Osoko and Pearse Devlin, from St. Patrick's College, both accepted the award from Clare McCollum,
compere for the evening and the current presenter of BBC 'Songs of Praise' - thankfully, neither of
the two boys were compelled to sing on the night!

Adam Courtney, a former pupil who continues to excel on the athletics track, both at home and on
the international stage, won 'Sportsperson of the Year'. It was a tremendous evening, fully
recognising all the sporting talent and achievements of a multitude of individuals and teams within
the Borough. Steven Davis, the most capped British footballer of all time, with 140 appearances for
Northern Ireland, and a former pupil of Ballymena Academy, was also inducted into the Sporting Hall
of Fame.