Multiple Gold Medals for Merchiston’s Ski Champion
One of Merchiston’s Sixth Form pupils, Euan has been training and competing over the last few months and in recent weeks he competed in the Cairngorm Open Ski Championships. He won both the Junior Male Slalom and Junior Male Giant Slalom events and he also went on to win the Fastest Male Category.
Euan has represented the school for five years through his own determination and this year he will be leading a school team in the Scottish Schools Championships at the Lecht on 17 March.
Mikheeva Takes 12U Girls’ Singles Title in Auray
Scotland’s Anastasia Mikheeva has won the girls’ singles title at the Tennis Europe 12U Super 12 in Auray, France. The 11-year-old from Edinburgh joins an impressive list of top tennis players to win the title including Andy Murray, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters and Rafael Nadal.
Mikheeva beat Anna Slovakova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 7-5 in Sunday’s final, winning her sixth consecutive match of the week in straight sets to complete a successful time in France.
The new champion said: “I feel very happy and really honoured to have won this tournament. It’s such a boost because it means we are going in the right direction. But of course I need to keep practising, otherwise this means nothing.”
Anastasia is a pupil at the Tennis Academy Scotland which is a joint venture between at St George’s School and Merchiston Castle School. Through the Academy, Anastasia trains at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre. Head Coach of the Tennis Academy, Marcel du Coudray commented: “This is a fantastic result for Anastasia. Her work ethic sets her apart and she has put in the hours on court in preparation for this event.
“She loves her tennis and its very rewarding seeing her achieve top results at this level. It would be easy to become complacent after such a result but Anastasia is very determined and this result will only inspire her to keep working hard at improving her game.
“Its great that young players such as Anastasia can measure themselves against the best in Europe and with past winners of this event coming from Scotland like Maia Lumsden and Andy Murray it certainly shows that tennis in Scotland is doing well.”
Tennis Scotland’s Talent & Performance Manager, Karen Ross, added: “Anastasia has had a great start to the year and it is rewarding to see her hard work on court paying off. I’d like to congratulate her and all of her coaching team on this excellent victory.”
Merchistonian Inducted to London Scottish Hall of Fame
Cameron Boyle was born on 11 November 1937 and was educated at Merchiston Castle School and Cambridge University. Boyle was a prop forward and in the early 1960s was a key member of the great London Scottish team, at both 15 and 7 a side. As part of the Sevens team that dominated the circuit, the Merchistonian won medals at both Middlesex and Melrose. Boyle played with great distinction and earned three caps for Scotland, the first coming in 1963 against France. The 5 Nations match at Colombes is remembered by many as one of Scotland’s most dramatic victories with a last minute Scottish try securing the win.
After Cameron Boyle hung up his playing boots, he continued to serve rugby and was appointed to the committee of the Scottish Rugby Union where he served for six years between 1979 and 1985.
He was also president of London Scottish from 1990 to 1997. Not forgetting his roots, Boyle was also a governor of Merchiston Castle School and President of the Merchistonian Club.
He died after a short battle with cancer on 19 March 2004 and was officially inducted into the London Scottish Hall of Fame at a Sportsman’s Dinner held in London on 12 March 2011. The School’s rugby team attended the dinner, after competing in the inaugural Powder Byrne Schools’ Six Nations event in which they were delighted to win the Plate competition.
Merchiston Pupil Takes Silver Medal at the 6 Nations Table Tennis Tournament,
Fourteen-year-old Ying Jin was part of a team that won silver in a Junior Six Nations International on 11-13 March in Ireland. Ying is part of the Cadet boys’ team who took the sliver medal, finishing ahead of Wales, Ireland, Guernsey and the Isle of Man and losing only one match to England who took the gold medal. Ying’s success demonstrates the breadth of talent that exists amongst Merchiston young athletes, even in the minority sports.
Upcoming Events
Information Morning
-
- The next Information Morning will take place on Saturday 7 May at 10am. The event will give families the chance to look around the School, meet the Headmaster, teaching staff and some pupils. There will also be entertainment and activities for younger visitors, and the opportunity for families to take a tour of the School with a current pupil.
