Double triumph for Epsom at 2025/2026 National Schools Championships

Epsom College won both boys' and girls' Key Stage 5 titles on Thursday to complete an action-packed week at the 2025/26 National Schools Squash Championships at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham.

England U19 no.2 Ronnie Hickling hit the winning shot for Epsom in his last appearance for the college to settle a nail-biting boys' KS5 final against defending champions Wycliffe College.

Wycliffe had twice gone ahead through victories from Casper Honegger and George Barker, only for Epsom to draw level via Zac Woolven and England U17 champion Luke McBride, before Hickling applied the coup de grace.

Earlier, Epsom were also victorious in the girls' KS5 final, defeating Kenilworth School 4-1 thanks to wins for Freya Gokani, India Smith, Isabella Hutton and Maja Maziuk.

A delighted Michael Johnson, Director of Sport at Epsom College, said:

"The quality of squash across both finals was magnificent. I've seen some high level squash before but this was truly outstanding.

"Ronnie Hickling has been at the college since Year 7 and to see him claim the decisive victory in his last match for us was an amazing moment."

On Wednesday, Gosforth Academy continued their strong performances of recent years by winning the girls' KS4 championship. They won a tense final with Kenilworth 6-4 to claim their seventh girls' title since 2017.

Playing on home turf, King Edward's from Birmingham dethroned defending champions St Aidan's CofE High School from Harrogate with a 4-1 victory in the boys' KS4 final.

Sevenoaks in Kent won their first ever National Schools title in the KS3 girls' event, overcoming Gosforth Academy 3-2 in Tuesday's final.

James Emmitt, Head of Squash at Sevenoaks, said:

"We've had kids come into Year 7 who've never held a squash racket before and our coach Zeb Young has put on lessons at lunchtime and after school. They've absolutely loved it and want to get on our three courts as much as they possibly can.

"We've been entering the National Schools Championships for four years now. We've been close a few times but this is the first time we've got over the line. The girls are over the moon. All of them have performed brilliantly through the entire season."

Elizabeth College in Guernsey also added their name to the National Schools roll of honour for the first time after a 3-2 victory against Gosforth Academy in the KS3 boys' final.

Coach Martin Watts said:

"What a match! It went down to the last tie and the quality of the squash from the boys was amazing. It has been a brilliant event and we're buzzing."

In Monday's Mixed Championship events, Portsmouth Grammar - spearheaded by recent English Junior Championship semi-finalist Harriet Broadbridge - added the KS5 crown to last year's KS4 victory. They beat Allerton High of Leeds and Rainford High from Merseyside in a round-robin final phase.

North Leamington from Warwickshire won a tight Mixed KS4 final 6-5 on games countback after the final with South Hunsley finished 2-2 in matches.

Silverdale School in Sheffield won the KS3 Mixed Championship courtesy of a clean sweep of three round-robin victories, with Alia Gharib, Quartley Grazelbrook and Sasha Broughton all unbeaten. Bennett Memorial and Lewes Old Grammar School took the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Entries for the 2026/27 championships will open in the summer. For more information on the event, visit the Schools page.