Our first Sportshall Athletics event since 2020 took place at the atmospheric hall centre of Canons Leisure on Friday 20th January 2023. Indoor restrictions had prevented the MSSP team from hosting this event on the past 2 annual occasions, however, 23 teams made the return a worthwhile and much anticipated event.
The competition was split over 2 sessions, morning and afternoon, in order to facilitate so many teams and the day was crucially supported by 35 sports leadership teams from Rutlish and Raynes Park High School. A big thanks must go to Steve and Claire – the PE staff from these schools, respectively, for enabling the leaders to support the day. Thanks to them all for their focus and organisation throughout, you are all a credit to your schools.
Sportshall Athletics is a fast-paced yet structurally-formatted event, with track and field events taking place simultaneously over 2 sides of the hall space. Whilst the girls teams are running on the track over 18 races, the boys teams are trying their best on the 6 field events in rounds of 3, and vice versa.
For both morning and afternoon events, the school crowds created such tremendous atmosphere in the arena, supporting and cheering for all races and making the event very much one to remember.
MSSP would like to say thank you to all schools and PE cos for enabling their teams to take part. Congratulations to all participants too – your effort and endeavour is inspiring to witness.
The finals results for the morning and afternoon sessions are as follows:
| AM | PM |
| 1. Poplar | 1. Bishop Gilpin |
| 2. St Teresa | 2. Hillcross |
| 3. SS Peter Paul | 3. Holy Trinity |
| 4. West Wimbledon | 4. Pelham |
| 5. Liberty | 5. Wimbledon Chase |
| 6. Park | 6. St John Fisher |
| 7. Haslemere | 7. Dundonald |
| 8. Aragon | 8. Malmesbury |
| 9. Wimbledon Park | 9. Garfield |
| 10. St Thomas | 10. Joseph Hood |
| 11. Lonesome | 11. Merton Abbey |
| 12. William Morris |
Congratulations to Poplar and Bishop Gilpin for winning their respective competitions and we will soon tally up our overall placings and announce these results to see who will go on to represent Merton at the London Youth Games later this year.
Well done to our double, joint REFSPECT winners SS Peter and Paul and St Teresa for the morning as well as Holy Trinity and Garfield for the afternoon. This is a wonderful achievement to you all to be voted for by other schools for displaying such outstanding determination, fair play and respect to others during your event. Well done.
Thanks to Canons for the use of their facility and thanks again to all schools, leaders and teachers for their contribution towards making this event a special day. We look forward to more in 2024!