GEMMA CUMBER OF FARLINGTON SCHOOL WINS HORSHAM TRIATHLON AND OTHER SCHOOL SPORTING SUCCESSES
18 Jul 2013
Gemma Cumber of Farlington School, just outside Horsham, has won her first ever triathlon. Held at Horsham Park on Sunday 23rd June, Gemma competed in the 13-14 year age group in the first Horsham Triathlon.
There were several age group and categories from those wanting to try a triathlon to those who were more experienced and competitive. In the girls Tristar 3 category age 13-14 , Gemma Cumber in Year 7 was competing against many girls older than herself .They started by swimming 300m in the pool and quickly emerging to collect their bikes in the transition area and cycle 5400m before finishing with a run of 2000m. In spite of being one of the youngest in that group, she came first. Gemma was competing in her first triathlon and went on to win the swimming leg and the running leg which put her in first place overall. Gemma was really surprised but pleased with the win. She is a member of Atlantis swimming club and regularly trains over 20km per week and it was this superb fitness which saw her over the line.
In tennis, Farlington’s Under-13 team have won the Aegon Tennis West Sussex League Division 1 and now go through to the knockout stage which will be held between 26th September and 10th October.
The team beat Burgess Hill School For Girls 10–2, had a clean sweep against Angmering School 12–0, before winning their toughest test against Our Lady of Sion School 10–2. The team comprised Sophie Kitson, Alexandra Malzer, Isabel Malzer, Kate Pellow and Alana Rowland.
In athletics, Farlington’s Under-13 and 14 girls competed at the Sussex Prep Schools Athletics event on Friday 21st June at K2, Crawley. There were a number of notable performances: Charlotte Lionel came 3rd in the Under-13’s 100m and 200m; Isabel Malzer came 3rd in the Under-14’s 200m and Alexandra Malzer came 3rd in the Under-14’s 800m. Two Farlington girls came 1st in both their events and have now qualified for the National IAPS Athletics Finals in Birmingham in July: Gabriella Eltham won her long jump and 800m in the Under 13’s age group and Amy Fitzpatrick also qualified in the Under-14’s for 75m hurdles and 100m.
Congratulations also go to Fiona Cragg of Year 11 who has just been selected for the Under-18’s junior regional hockey squad after a good season as vice-captain in the Sussex team.