For the first time in its history East Norfolk Sixth Form College entered a team into the British Colleges’ sport knock-out tournament for badminton.

East Norfolk were in a group where walkovers were obtained over City College Norwich and Aylesbury College to put them into the quarter-finals away to Charters School in Berkshire.

In the boys’ matches, Luke Cox was the only person to lose against a very good Charter’s No 1. Mark Robinson won his singles, and his doubles match partnered by Luke Cox. In the other doubles match Ollie Bailey and Sam Coleman won with ease.

The girls were also dominant as they all won their matches 2-0, through captain Serena Verney, Beth Fox, Jess Rutherford and Laura Thacker.

In the mixed doubles both Ollie and Jess won, as did Sam and Laura, to give East Norfolk a 9-1 victory to put them into the semi-finals.

There, East Norfolk were drawn away to Farnborough SFC in Hampshire. This match was as tight as could be as Luke Cox, Mark Robinson and Serna Verney won their singles matches all 2-0.

Mark and Luke won their doubles match as did Beth and Serena. The Farnborough squad had good strength in depth and won the lower-end doubles and the mixed doubles matches for a 5-5 draw.

On games countback the two sides were still in deadlock.

The next criteria to establish the winner was to see who had won the mixed doubles matches, and that put Farnborough through to the national finals.

Sally Bridgstock, teacher in charge of badminton, was delighted with the way all the East Norfolk players conducted themselves as she saw them all as perfect ambassadors of the college.

Most of the squad are busy training for the BCS national finals where they will represent the east region.

The college’s ski trip to Austria has once again proven to be a huge success.

This year’s party of 40 included students with a wide range of skiing abilities and by the end of the week they had all made some excellent progress on the mountain.

There were some very talented skiers on this year’s trip, with three receiving the highest award possible from the fully-qualified instructors, who provided expert tuition to students for six hours a day for six days.

All the beginners and intermediates challenged themselves and improved their technique and confidence. All were able to ski the more difficult red runs by the end of the holiday, and a majority were able to ski the most difficult black runs.

Michael Papageorgiou, chemistry teacher and ski party leader said: “All the students were impeccably behaved on the mountain and in the resort and were a credit to the college.

“A very intensive week exhausted the students, with six full days’ skiing and a packed apr�s ski programme.

“I was very impressed with the progress that all students made and the way that they were so supportive of one another on the mountain. All students have learned some valuable life skills and many are keen to return for next year’s trip.

“Students, including those in Year 11 at the moment, are welcome to apply for next year’s ski trip via the link on the college’s internet page (under “about college” tab) or can contact me directly at the college for more information”.

The college women’s football team run out 5-0 winners over Long Road Sixth Form College of Cambridge. Amy Hague scored four goals and Laura Thacker one.

The game was dominated early on by East Norfolk with Laura and Broghan running the game from the middle of the park and linking up well with Amy Hague up front.

It only took 10 minutes for Amy to get her first of the day after she was superbly played in by Laura Thacker.

Amy went on to complete a first-half hat-trick with the help of some good build-up play from the midfield.

Eloise Hope was again decisive when called upon but she enjoyed a quiet afternoon in goal as a result of some excellent defending from Beth Freeman, Ella Wisken, Ella Saunders and Gabi King.

An excellent finish from a tight angle saw Amy complete her scoring for the day and there was a well-deserved goal for Laura Thacker from a Nicole Sheldrake corner.

Player of the match was Amy Hague for a clinical display up front but credit also to Gabi King for a solid performance at centre-back.