Athletics is one of Bedford Girls’ School major summer sports and is contested amongst local, regional and national school teams.
The school enjoys regular success at both District and County Level and has had girls qualify for the finals of the National Preparatory Schools competition in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Teams are formed in the Junior School, with the core running, jumping and throwing skills taught in curriculum lessons from Year 3. Girls start competing for the school in Year 5 and they have the opportunity to continue representing BGS right up to and including Upper Sixth. We have an abundance of opportunities to compete with local leagues being run for Years 5-9. We also have a proven track record in the English Schools’ AA Track and Field Cup for Junior and Intermediate age groups, regularly qualifying for the regional rounds.
All girls are able to attend regular training sessions throughout the Summer Term regardless of previous experience or ability. Years 3 and 4 make use of the onsite provision of a grass track, long jump pit and high jump bed.
For all girls above these years we take full advantage of the amazing facilities at the Bedford International Athletics Track that is right on our doorstep. We also continue these links with the Club and encourage girls of all ages, who are showing particular potential, to attend the plentiful and regular training sessions they run.
Athletics is the source to one of the major Inter House events of the year. Sports Day is a Whole School event that sees every girl in the school don their running, jumping or throwing kit in house colours to contribute to their House score. A truly encompassing event that shows our house system at its best.
Cross Country
Distance running, including Cross Country, is one of the most empowering and challenging sports a girl can embark on.
It also provides a fantastic foundation for lifelong fitness as well as improving mental focus, determination and resilience of character – qualities that transcend curricular and co-curricular sport and have a positive impact on general wellbeing.
At Bedford Girls’ School, we have an extremely successful team of Cross Country runners who compete in local and regional competitions. The school also has several girls who have been selected to run in national competitions and a number of elite runners who have raced for England at international fixtures.
We run teams from Years 3-Upper Sixth throughout the Autumn and Spring Terms, encouraging girls to step out of their comfort zone and challenge their boundaries. It is extremely rewarding to watch girls grow in confidence as they realise that what once seemed an overwhelming distance or terrain is surmountable, and that with hard work and perseverance new individual and team records can be set. Our school teams regularly qualify for the Regional Finals of the English Schools Cross Country Championships and have also made the National Finals in Bolton.
The School has strong links with Bedford & County Athletics Club, who regularly pick BGS girls for their teams that compete in Chiltern League Division.
