Schools skiing: Grantown ski team carves a win in style

SKIING: Grantown Grammar School is in the heart of skiing country – and the team of Rebecca Shepherd and brothers Marcus and Jacob Sellars triumphed in style at the Scottish Schools Freestyle Championships at Snow Factor, Braehaed, Glasgow.

Rebecca, a third year pupil, won the girls’ board event, while Marcus, who is just in his first year, was runner-up to Trinity High School’s Jacob Robertson in the boys’ board. Jacob, in third year, was third in the same class.

Lorna Crane is the outdoor education teacher at the Speyside School that runs an expansive programme of sporting pursuits.

Deputy head, Claire McGonigal said: “All our senior one and two pupils take part in the John Muir Award (an environmental award scheme) and outdoor education is very strong at the school.

“Every pupil gets the chance to try skiing and the school also has its own equipment for mountain biking, and canoeing.

“Sport plays a big part at Grantown Grammar. We had a girls’ squad competing at the Glasgow Rugby Sevens and the swimming team trains at the Craig MacLean Leisure Centre, which is attached to the school. It was great to win the team event at the Freestyle Skiing Championships. Everyone at the school was very proud.”

In the primary school category, Battlefield won the team trophy and the school’s Jackson Peek won the boys’ board title.

Abbie Dorward (Inverbervie) won the girls’ board, and the skiing titles went to Kirsty Muir (Kingswells Primary) and Ronan McLaren (St Andrew’s Primary, Bearsden).

SCOTTISH SCHOOLS’ FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS:

Secondary Team: 1. Grantown Grammmar School 2. Inverness Royal Academy 3. Lochaber High School. Individual: Girls’ Board: Rebecca Shepherd. Girls’ Skiing: Mackenzie Serpell (Lomond School). Boys’ Board: Jacob Robertson (Trinity High School). Boys’ Skiing: Kyle Jenkins (Dunfermline High School).

Primary Team: 1. Battlefield Primary 2, Arduthie Primary 3. St Andrew’s Primary, Bearsden. Individual: Girls’ Board: Abbie Dorward (Inverbervie Primary). Girls’ Skiing: Kirsty Muir (Kingswells Primary). Boys’ Board: Jackson Peek (Battlefield Primary). Boys’ Skiing: Ronan McLaren (St Andrew’s Primary, Bearsden).