Sport

Athletics is a major sport in the Summer term for boys and girls.

Hurst has a strong tradition of hosting athletics meets across the season with particular highlights being the annual girls and annual boys meets. Hurst staff were instrumental in the creation of the very well supported Sussex Independent Schools Diamond League in 2018.

Coaches

We have committed and qualified coaches across all events. The college employs a number of professional athletics coaches and also invites external coaches to run CPD sessions for both coaches and athletes.

Teams

Hurst runs three teams for boys and three teams for girls (Juniors, Inters and Seniors).

Fixtures and Tournaments

Fixtures take place on Saturdays, with some arranged midweek, and we also compete in meets against other schools.

Many of our athletes compete in the Sussex Track and Field Competition and we always have a strong representation at the Sussex Schools Championships with some athletes being selected to represent Sussex at inter-counties matches and others achieving qualification for the English Schools Athletics Championships. Our Junior teams also compete in the Sussex Track and Field Cup.

Cross Country

In the Michaelmas term our Year 9 and 10 pupils compete in the Cross Country National cup. In 2019 both teams progressed through to the regional rounds. At the start of the Lent term we have a strong representation at the Sussex Schools Cross Country competition where we have had pupils chosen to represent Sussex at the English Schools Championships. In 2018 our Year 9 girls’ team were crowned Sussex Champions.

Girls cricket is a major sport at Hurst with in excess of 200 girls across the college involved in the game.

Cricket is the major sport for boys in the Summer term. Hurst has a strong cricket history and has had success at all age levels. Fixtures take place every Saturday and also mid-week. We have a very competitive fixture list and play teams across the south east of England.

Coaches

All teams are coached by one of our ECB qualified coaches. Three are qualified to level 2, four to level 3 and two at level 4.

Teams

We run the following teams: four Seniors (A-D), three U15 (A-C), three U14 (A-C).

Fixtures and tournaments

For girls, fixtures start in January with the Lady Taverners indoor tournament followed by various matches and tournaments in the Summer term for all age groups. Over the last few years, girls’ cricket in Sussex schools, both independent and state maintained, has grown in popularity resulting in many more fixtures available for our girls. Matches are played mid-week and Saturdays. Girls also play in the boys’ squads with Za Za Menzies and Jess Young included in the boys 2nd XI in 2018.

For boys, fixtures take place every Saturday and some mid-week in the Summer term. We also compete in block fixtures against Whitgift, RGS Guildford and Eastbourne College, amongst others.

Our 1st XI participate in the National Schools’ T20 tournament and the Langdale Trophy, which is the Sussex Schools T20 competition. Our U15A team compete in the Blackshaw Bowl Sussex Schools T20 competition and the County Cup. Our U14A team compete in both the Holdsworth T20 Cup and the Sussex Lord’s Taverners competition.

Tours and pre-season

The winter training programme, run by our Performance Manager, starts from September and includes both squad training and one-to-one coaching. We also run a pre-season programme of fixtures in the weeks leading into the Summer term.

Outdoor training for the girls is offered just prior to the Summer term.

Cricket tours are run on a cycle with the other major sports and include national and overseas destinations. Previous tour destinations include Cape Town, Dubai, Malta, India.

Facilities

The college boasts 6 cricket grounds and a brand-new bank of 12 artificial nets (installed in Summer 2020). These new facilities give Hurst a total of 15 dedicated practice wickets to go with the four cages that can be used on our grass surfaces

Winter nets are conducted in our sports hall where we have six indoor nets.

Football is a minor sport for boys in the Michaelmas and Lent terms.

Football runs throughout both terms for students in Remove, Fifth and Sixth Form. It is a developing sport, with a growing fixture card that includes teams in both the independent and state maintained sectors. Our first team is increasingly competitive, with fixtures taking place during the school week to ensure students are able to take part in the major sports matches on Saturdays. Students are welcome to take part in casual or competitive sessions, depending on their other sporting interests.

Golf is a minor sport across all three terms for boys and girls.

Our Golf team play against other schools and also compete in a range of competitions such as the HMC Foursomes, ISGA Knockouts, British Schools Golf Tour and Alexander Quin Invitational.

Recent golf achievements include National finalists in the HMC Foursomes (2016-17), 4th in the National Finals of the ISGA Knockouts (2017-18), 8th overall in the ISGA National League table (2017-18 and 2016-17), 2nd in the HG Trophy (2017).

Hockey is the main sport for girls in the Michaelmas term and the main sport for boys in the Lent term.

Coaches

We have a number of fully qualified England Hockey coaches who assist all team coaches.

Teams

We run the following teams for both boys and girls hoc: four seniors (1st–4th), three U16 (A-C), four U15 (A-D), four U14 (A-D).

Fixtures and tournaments

Matches are played every Saturday, with some fixtures and competitions during the week.

Our 1st XI participate in the England Hockey National Schools Championship, the Independent Schools Hockey Cup and the Sussex Knockout Cup.

The U16A and U14A teams compete in the National Schools Competition, and the U15A in the Independent Schools Hockey Cup and the Sussex Cup.

Tours and pre-season

Tours are run on a cycle with the other major sports and include national and overseas destinations. Previous tour destinations include Singapore, Australia and Malaysia, Germany and Holland, and South Africa.

Pre-season training takes place during the Michaelmas term and includes indoor and outdoor sessions.

Indoor Hockey is played from U14 to Seniors between September and December. We take part in the National Indoor Competition, hosting county and regional rounds. 

Netball is the major sport for girls in the Lent term.

Coaches

Our very experienced coaches have a wealth of netball knowledge and are either currently playing or have previously played up to National League level. All qualified coaches also have officiating certificates and coach across all the age groups and teams. Although competitions start in the Michaelmas term the bulk of training and matches take place in a very busy and full Lent term. Our fixture card accommodates all teams and competitive matches are played both in and out of the county, home and away.

Teams

Hurst run the following teams; five senior teams (1st VII – 5th VII), four U16 (A-D), six U15 (A-F) and six U14 (A-F).

Fixtures and tournaments

Matches are played every Saturday in the Lent term with extra fixtures arranged mid-week. We compete in full block fixtures against Cranleigh, Wellington and Brighton College, amongst others.

Our 1st VII compete in the National Schools Competition, the Independent Schools National Netball Cup, the Sussex Independent Schools Netball Association Tournament (SISNA) and the Sisters ‘n’ Sport National cup.

The U16A and U14A teams participate in, SISNA, the Sisters ‘n’ Sport National cup and National Schools, while the U15A compete in SISNA, the Sisters ‘n’ Sport National cup and the Independent Schools National Netball Cup.

Tours and pre-season

Tours are run on a cycle with the other major sports and include national and overseas destinations. Previous tour destinations include Malta and Barbados.

Pre-season netball runs throughout the Michaelmas term as teams prepare for their cup competitions. Our A teams also take part in the Brighton Midweek Netball League throughout the year. There are sessions every week for players who wish to train during the Michaelmas term.

Rugby is the major sport for boys in the Michaelmas term.

Coaches

We have a number of fully qualified RFU Coaches who assist across all teams throughout the school. Four are RFU Level 3 qualified coaches and 10 are RFU Level 2 qualified.

Teams

We run the following teams: four Seniors (1st–4th), two U16 (A–B), three U15 (A–C), three U14 (A–C).

Fixtures and tournaments

Matches are played every Saturday with cup matches and extra fixtures during the week. Our 1st XV and U15A teams participate in the Champions Trophy. Our U16A, U15A and U14A teams take part in the Sussex Cup competitions.

The 1st XV play at the prestigious St Joseph’s Rugby Festival in October half-term. An excellent tournament, attracting some of the best rugby schools in the country and beyond.

The U15 play in the Langley Rugby Festival each year.

Tours and pre-season

The rugby department arranges long haul tours on a rotation with short haul or UK based trips every year. Previous tour destinations include; Biarritz, Italy, Ireland and South America.

Pre-season rugby takes place towards the end of the Summer holidays in the lead up to the start of the rugby term. All players from U15 through to U18 are invited to attend a week long training camp in preparation for the coming season.

Rugby Sevens

Though not the major sport of the Lent term, we do run an extensive senior sevens programme comprising of eight plus tournaments including Surrey Sevens and Rosslyn Park, with training three times a week. Our U16, U15, U14 also have tournaments throughout the term, with a slightly more sporadic training timetable to fit around Hockey. Our U14 and U16 teams also compete at Rosslyn Park.

Hurst provides tailored strength and conditioning programmes to suit a wide range of individuals’ sporting needs. We support the athletic development of athletes from the ages of 7 to 18 years, with special attention to developing fundamental movement skills and injury prevention.

Our Player Welfare Programme was developed in 2014 to treat and support our young athletes with sports injuries. This unique, multi-faceted and visionary programme with its integrated and reliable service is highly regarded by other schools. All students have access to this service.

The team of sports injury specialists includes highly-skilled chartered physio and sports therapists who provide clinical injury assessment, advice and monitor students’ recovery from injuries from a fully equipped rehab room. Rehabilitation and prevention through education is an important focus of the service.

In-house clinics are held three days per week, with pitch-side first aid provided for many events. The team integrate closely with the college’s Medical Centre, the Sports department and houseparents.

Swimming is an all-year round sport.

Our Swimming teams throughout the school compete in both internal and external fixtures.

The teams train throughout the school year during games and activity sessions as well as early morning coaching sessions. Galas take place throughout the school year usually on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Our swimming squads have a strong reputation across Sussex through their successes at the Sussex Cup, ESSA Nationals and Bath Cup, and are always highly ranked in each event. The Senior School girls’ team have continued to remain unbeaten at inter-school galas over the past couple of years and the boys’ swimming team is now one of the strongest in recent times.

Tennis is on the sports curriculum throughout the year as a games option for all Senior School students. In the Summer term tennis is a major sport for girls and a fast growing one for boys.

In the winter we enter boys’ and girls’ teams in the LTA Senior Students National Knockout competitions. In the summer we have block fixtures for boys and girls. We also compete in the LTA Aegon Schools League for U15 and U14 boys and girls.

We enter the National Cups – Aberdare for girls and Glanvill for boys. In addition, we have our own individual championships for Junior and Senior boys and girls.

In the past three years, Hurst girls have won the Sussex U14 Cup twice and our teams have won three Fair Play Awards at the Sussex Schools Championships. In 2018 Hurst was a nominee for Sussex LTA Tennis School of the Year.

Other sports available at Hurst are: Aerobics, Badminton, Basketball, Dance, Fitness, Gymnastics, Pilates, Squash, Street Dance, Triathlon and Yoga.

Outdoor Pursuits also includes climbing, sailing, canoeing and rowing.