Sporting success for Wallace pupils in high profile contests

Two weeks ago, seven swimmers from the Lisburn school travelled to Ballymena Leisure Centre to compete in the annual Ulster Grammar Schools’ Swimming Championships. Representing Wallace were Year 8 pupil Ben Carey, Year 9 pupil Lauren Walker, Rachel Bethel and Amy Lyttle from Year 10, Ruth Russell and Kyle Mawhinney from Year 12 and Year 14 pupil Peter Sands. All swimmers competed extremely well and a total of five medals were successfully achieved.

Ben Carey, on his first appearance at these Championships, qualified for the Junior Boys 50 metre Backstroke Final, whilst Rachel Bethel retained her title as Junior Girls 50 metre Butterfly Champion after swimming in a very close final and also picked up the title of Junior Girls 50 metre Freestyle Champion. Ruth Russell had two great swims; achieving two silver medals in the Intermediate Girls 50 metre Freestyle and 50 metre Butterfly, whilst Kyle Mawhinney qualified for two finals and finished in Bronze medal position in the Intermediate Boys 50 metre Freestyle and fourth position in the 50 metre Backstroke Final. Peter Sands also deserves great credit as he qualified for two finals in the Senior Boys 50 metre Backstroke and 100 metre Individual Medley.

In badminton, the highly prestigious Champions of Champions took place on Tuesday November 12 in the Racquets Club. Year 13 pupil Alannah Stephenson won the Senior girls title beating Rachael Darragh of Royal & Prior and continuing her excellent early season form, whilst in the Minor Boys Thomas Cherry was runner-up to Kyle Magee from Foyle College. Alannah’s cousin Beth Stephenson was also runner-up in the Minor Girls to Rachael Woods of Hunterhouse.

Two cross country runners from Wallace continue to prosper with Jonathan Whan and Tom Baird producing some excellent results in recent times. Jonathan is hoping to be selected for the Celtic International in January and having won both the Ulster under 17 and 18 races looks in a great position to fulfil his overall goal. With the Irish under 17 cross country race coming up on December 15 he has plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks. Year 12 pupil Tom, who is a year younger than Jonathan, ran in the under 17 Ulster Age Groups in Londonderry in November, coming fifth and has also qualified for the under 17 Irish Age Groups in Waterford on December 15. He is also looking forward to the Schools Championships next term.As ever, the Wallace school community is extremely proud of the success of their pupils in all sports and look forward to continued good news in the weeks and months to come.