Queen Anne's School Crowned National Schools Lacrosse Champions 2025!

QUEEN ANNE’S SCHOOL CROWNED NATIONAL SCHOOLS LACROSSE CHAMPIONS 2025

Queen Anne’s School, a leading girls’ day and boarding school in Caversham, Reading, is celebrating a dazzling sporting triumph after its U19A lacrosse team was crowned National Champions at the National Schools Lacrosse Tournament on Sunday 9 March.

In a weekend of thrilling competition hosted at the Aldershot Garrison Sports Fields, Queen Anne’s fought through a fiercely contested two-days of competition to secure the title for the first time in nearly thirty years, etching their name into the history books of the competition once again. Their path to victory was marked by resilience, determination, and outstanding teamwork, culminating in a hard-fought 3-2 victory over St Catherine’s, Bramley in the final.

The tournament began on Saturday with a strong showing in the pool stages, where Queen Anne’s secured four wins out of five to qualify for the Championship round as one of the top 16 schools nationally. They went into the Sunday morning with excitement and high hopes but faced setbacks with two narrow defeats against Godolphin and Guildford High in the seeding groups for the Championship Knock-Out; the later stages of the competition proved how tricky this group was, with 3 of the 4 Semi-finalists coming from this seeding group!

Their journey gained momentum with a thrilling 3-2 victory over St Albans in the Last 16, followed by an exhilarating 5-4 quarter-final win against Withington. In the semi-final, they displayed remarkable composure to avenge their earlier loss against Guildford High, emerging 2-1 victors.

The final against St Catherine’s, Bramley was a showcase of skill and tenacity. Queen Anne’s struck first, only for their opponents to equalise. Undeterred, the team responded immediately to regain the lead before extending it to two goals in the closing minutes. St Catherine’s fought back to set up a tense finale, but Queen Anne’s resolute defence saw them through to a momentous victory as the final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations. 

Head of Queen Anne’s School, Elaine Purves, said: “Our A and B teams both fought so hard and were absolute superstars. There was unwavering support from parents, staff and students, whose encouragement provided an invaluable boost throughout the tournament - it was a very emotional day. The atmosphere was amazing and the U19A team’s win reflects their hard work and dedication.”

1st team Coach, Nick Blackwell, said “It’s unbelievable. The girls dug deep and prepared really well. They took the competition in their stride and just got better and better.”

Captains Mary and Lara demonstrated exceptional leadership, guiding their squad through the highs and lows of the competition with remarkable poise. Mary reflected on the tournament, “It was a roller coaster of a tournament. We lost three matches throughout the weekend, but I truly believe that we learned and adapted from our mistakes in those matches which lead us to victory overall! The girls are such amazing individuals on and off the pitch, the work ethic in this group is insane. We are so excited to come back to school to celebrate with the rest of the QAS community after showing the lacrosse world what Queen Anne's is all about!” Lara, in her final year at Queen Anne’s, added: “Captaining this team to a national championship in my final year is an indescribable feeling. Every ounce of hard work, sacrifice and trust we put into each other paid off in the best way possible. This team truly deserved it- our resilience, grit and commitment to one another set us apart. We couldn't have asked for a better coach, Mr Blackwell, for continually driving us to be the best we can be all throughout the season. Leading this team has been an honour, and there's no better way to close this chapter than as national champions.”

Queen Anne’s School is immensely proud of the U19A team’s achievement, which reflects not only their talent but also their commitment, perseverance, and team spirit. This historic victory serves as an inspiration to the school’s aspiring athletes, reinforcing Queen Anne’s position as a powerhouse in school sport.