A Year of Sporting Triumphs at Pangbourne College

As the final whistle blows on another remarkable academic year, Pangbourne College has every reason to celebrate a great season of sporting success, record participation and inspiring individual performances.

Hockey

It has been a historic year for Pangbourne hockey. Our girls’ U16 team were crowned Berkshire champions after a nail-biting final decided by penalty flicks, and the 1st XI reached the national quarter-finals — the best season on record for our girls’ hockey club, which achieved an unprecedented 50%+ win rate across the board. Among many standout players, Sixth Form pupil Mia exemplified Pangbournian dedication and excellence, earning selection for the England U21 team and winning the Premier League with Reading Hockey Club.

Rugby

Pangbourne’s rugby sides fought with tenacity and pride. The 1st XV made it to the semi-finals of the Bristol Grammar School 7s and battled fiercely at Rosslyn Park, while the U16 team ended their 15-a-side season with two clean sheets and went unbeaten at Rosslyn Park 7s, narrowly missing out on top spot by points difference. Individual honours went to Oli, who secured a prestigious Brunel and Ealing Trailfinders Academy bursary, Fred, selected for the Independent Schools Lambs, and Ed, called up for the Scottish Exiles U16s, achievements that speak to the depth of talent within our squads.

Rowing

Our crews competed at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, the world’s largest three-day rowing event, while domestically they delivered the College’s strongest medal haul yet at the Avon Regatta.

The National Schools Regatta saw Pangbourne field crews from J14s to Seniors, with highlights including the J14 girls’ Octuple’s second-place finish in the C Final, the Senior boys Coxed Four’s determined silver medal after a dramatic bowball-to-bowball finish, and multiple crews qualifying for finals in fiercely competitive fields.

A landmark moment came when our girls’ eight qualified for Henley Royal Regatta for the first time ever,  a trailblazing achievement cheered on by the entire Pangbourne community lining the riverbank. This year also saw multiple GB trialists, including Eve and Henry, cementing Pangbourne’s reputation among the country’s elite rowing schools.

Finally the J15 girls’ coxed four represented Thames Upriver at the interregional championships taking Gold! 

Equestrian

Pangbourne’s equestrian team delivered a year to remember, with historic performances on some of the sport’s biggest stages. At the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Olivia (Y11), Sophie (Y10), and Maisie (Y10) rode brilliantly to place first after the opening round of the Services 1.05m showjumping — ahead of elite teams like the Household Cavalry and the RAF — and finished overall second, an incredible achievement witnessed by King Charles at Windsor Castle. Olivia also won the Under-25 Junior Rider category.

The momentum continued at Hickstead, the ‘home of British showjumping’, where Pangbourne triumphed in the 1m team competition, beating 23 other schools including Millfield and Wellington. Lottie added to the success with an individual sixth place in the hotly contested 1.10m Elite class. This season firmly establishes Pangbourne as a rising force in school equestrian sport - testament to the riders’ talent and the expert guidance of Director of Equestrian, Stacey Donnison.

Cricket

On the cricket square, George made history, scoring Pangbourne’s first century since 2017 — a proud milestone for the team.

Football

This year also saw the exciting launch of girls’ football at Pangbourne, with the U15 team enjoying an unbeaten run in their debut season - a promising start to what will surely be a growing part of College sport.

Participation and Partnerships

Perhaps most inspiring of all is the breadth of involvement. This year, a record 92.8% of pupils represented Pangbourne in competitive sport -  far above the sector average of 60% - with an impressive 86% of senior pupils taking part, compared to a national average of just 40%. The College’s overall win percentage rose to 37.1%, the best since 2016/17.

This success is no accident. Our new partnerships with Ealing Trailfinders and Reading Hockey Club, combined with the launch of our ambitious five-year sports strategy, promise to build on this momentum and ensure every pupil continues to thrive, compete and grow through sport.

Individual Achievements - Motorsport

Beyond the pitch and paddock, Pangbournians made waves on the track too. Year 11’s Leo secured podiums in Portugal and Spain in the Formula 4 Winter Series, finishing second overall going into the final rounds — an outstanding feat at such a young age.

Looking Ahead

Congratulations to all our pupils, coaches and supporters for making 2024–25 a sporting year to remember. We now look forward with excitement and ambition as we announce next year’s Sports Captains:
Captain of Rugby: Cam
Captain of Hockey: Tabby
Captains of Boats: Ed & Izzy

With this next generation of leaders at the helm, the future of Pangbourne sport looks brighter than ever.