Team Rydal Penrhos managed to secure the Welsh Schools Ski Championships once again after a fabulous performance at the national competition.

Rydal Penrhos has a rich and proud history of skiing success over the years, which is another unique element to the thriving extra-curricular provision provided by the school and is available for pupils from an early age.

Many of our talented skiers have gone on to achieve individual and team achievements for the school at regional and national competitions across the country. Our skiers are also supported away from the slopes by the Rydal Penrhos’ athletic development programme which assists in critical areas such as conditioning.

Now that competitions are resuming up and down the country thanks to reduced COVID-19 restrictions, pupils are busy working hard to boost their respective reputations against some of the brightest young skiers nationwide.

The latest big challenge for the group was at the Welsh Schools Skiing Championships in Llangranog, which is always one of the more eagerly-anticipated events on the sporting calendar and this year proved to be no different.

It proved to be another successful outing for the Rydal Penrhos team (Years 7-13) at the event, with Chay Bonnington, Cameron Pye, Louis Hollingsworth and Jack Dougherty digging deep to eventually emerge with the Secondary School Boys title as a result of their exceptional efforts.

Chay is a vastly experienced performer at high-profile events and produced another fine performance to come away with second place in the Registered U18 Boys category and the fastest non-Welsh squad racer at the championships.

The Year 12 pupil was unable to try out for the Welsh squad after injuring his arm during the selection process.

There was further cause for celebration with Louis finishing as the first U16 non-registered racer category, which was an incredible achievement from a pupil that has progressed considerably on the slopes in recent months.