ABBEY Gate College returned from events on mainland Europe with an impressive array of results and trophies.

With five of the English Schools Ski Association squad in their ranks, it was no surprise to see pupils fare so well against opposition from home and abroad at the British Schoolgirls and Schoolboys International races in France and Switzerland.

At the girls’ meeting at Elaine in the French Alps, pride of place went to Zoe Karavasili from Year 9.

A non-registered skier, she lifted the Junior Cup as slalom winner and was third in her age group for giant slalom. These results earned her the Elaine Cup as winner of the combined competition in her category.

Year 10’s Sophie Caldwell, a registered racer on the national circuit, finished sixth in her age group over the same two disciplines and 16th overall.

The Abbey Gate ‘A’ team, whose final member was Year 8’s Ellie Parker, finished eighth overall – sixth not counting non British-based schools.

A ‘B’ team, comprising Year 10’s Christina Bell, sister Sophie Bell and Emily Muir, both from Year 7, were runners-up in their event.

Christina Bell finished third in the slalom for non-registered skiers.

Team manager and Abbey Gate teacher Sarah Campbell-Woodward said: “I was really pleased with all the pupils who took part. It was the first year that Abbey Gate has been allowed to enter a ‘B’ team and to come away with a silver medal was fantastic.

“The ‘A’ team is the sixth fastest British-based school team on snow and the top team in the North of England.”

The British Schoolboys races took place in Meiringen, Switzerland, where Ben Shaw (Year 8) clinched a combined silver medal over his four events for unregistered racers.

Leo Karavasili (Year 6) and Digby Brereton (Year 8) made the top 10.

Ben Goodwin (Year 9), Ben White (Year 8), and Year 7 trio Charlie Dearling, Rory Goodridge and Josh Buchanan completed a two-team squad.

Sarah Campbell-Woodward said: “Some of the boys improved their times by 10 seconds in comparison to last year, which bodes really well for the future.”

The college’s skiing potential was further underlined by performances in the minis events, also at Meiringen.

Abbey Gate dominated the giant slalom with five in the top 11 – Sam Staden finishing sixth, sister Harriet Staden seventh, James Thompson ninth, Louis Dearling 10th and Gabriella Parker 11th.