Our teams have continued to excel this season with our academy sides asserting their dominance in football, basketball and netball.

Centre of Excellence Team 1 - North West Premier League

Following their promotion last season, our Football Centre of Excellence side had another phenomenal campaign which saw them crowned the North West Premier League Champions. The team will now progress to the English Colleges' Football Association (ECFA) National Play Offs; where they will compete against the top teams from across the country. They have progressed to the semi finals of the competition, after beating Worcester College at home 3-0. Alongside their league success, the team have progressed well in the British Colleges' National Knockout Cup where they reached the quarter finals and won the North West British Colleges' Cup with a 2-0 win over Aquinas College in the regional final.

Netball Academy

The girls in our Netball Academy have once again proved themselves a force to be reckoned with as they were crowned national champions for an unprecedented third consecutive year.

They also finished top of the North West Colleges League, were Lancashire Champions and will also be looking to retain their British Schools Championship, they are through to the final after a victory against Palmers College (Essex), 54-34.

Basketball Academy

Our Basketball Academy have had another fantastic season so far, they have already been crowned North West Division 1 League champions and are through to the final of the North West Knockout Cup and reached the finals of the North West Division 1 Play Offs.

Congratulations to James Anthony (Broughton), Daniel Benson (Broughton), Chris Boness (Broughton), Michael Dawson (Broughton), Hussam Ahmed Elamin (Arnold), Samuel Fitzpatrick (Longridge), Tom Fry (Priory), Declan Greenwood (St Wilfrid's), Samuel Griffin (Archbishop Temple), Daniel Holyfield (Archbishop Temple), Leighton Holyfield (Archbishop Temple), Alfie Ingham (St Anne's Grammar), Adam Kusnierek (Longridge), Daniel McComb (St Cecilia's), Thomas McCrudden (Hutton) and Greg Whitehead (Lytham St Anne's).

National Winners

Newman's sportsmen and sportswomen had further reason to celebrate at the British Colleges' National Sports Finals at Loughborough University in April.

Year 12 student Abigail Mackley (Ashton) took gold, as her cross country team crossed the finishing line in first place. She said: "I have been part of the Preston Harriers for 4 years and I usually train between 5-6 times a week. The team and I were thrilled at gaining first position, it was really exciting for me especially as it was my first experience of competing at the National Finals and to come back with a Gold medal was brilliant!"

Nishant Barot (Tulketh) and Jessica Brown (St Augustine's, Billington), both Year 13 students, took silver in the mixed doubles table tennis tournament.

Head of Sport Steve Wilson said: "All our participants were superb all weekend at Nationals. The way they played and the spirit in which they conducted themselves proved what a credit they are to the College."

Hockey Aces

Our hockey team finished runners up in the hockey championship and crowned their successful season with a 10-0 victory over Runshaw College. Our girls' team beat Welsh side Merion Dwyfor 5-1 in the National Knockout Cup; winning the North West and Wales Cup; and reached the semi finals of the British Colleges Knockout Cup, as will our men's team.

Kickin' It

Girls' football continues thrive at the College. Last year saw the formation of Newman's first ever girls' side and this year's team has continued to build on their predecessors success.

The girls' tireless efforts have been reflected by their achievements on the pitch. A few highlights from this season have included finishing runners up in the North West league; reaching the semi finals of the North West Cup (only being defeated by the eventual cup winners); only conceding one defeat in the final four months of the season, with only two throughout the rest of their campaign; and managing to notch up double figure victories against both Blackburn College and Warrington College.

Coach, Becky Thompson said: "The girls' efforts and achievements this year have been amazing! I have watched them develop massively in their belief and support of each other; their technical ability and teamwork has been immense and is the reasoning behind their success this year. Next season we will be looking to carry on the brilliant momentum of this season and further our status nationally."

Rocking 'n' Rolling

Cardinal Newman's sporting success reached new heights as our students wowed at a recent rock climbing competition.

Newman's climbers won both the boys' and girls' events held in March at the West View Leisure Centre, which included participants from all the local colleges.

Andy Towers (Brownedge) took first place in the boys' event. Our students made it a clean sweep with our other participants Ryan Sinclair (Priory) and Michael Sinclair (Priory) claiming second and third place respectively.

Andy, who won the competition, is also a part of the Great Britain under 18s rock climbing team and has held the title of the North West champion for the last three years.

In the girls' event, Sophia Gorton (Archbishop Temple) also claimed first place, finishing well ahead of the other competitors.