Friday - Video of the Week

This weeks video of the week:

S4 Inter-House Football Tournament

There will e a 7-aside S4 inter-house football league starting onThurs Nove 3rd. Each house can enter a team of 7 (which must include 2 girls) and should register their team and team name (e.g. Forbes Flyers) with Mr Macaulay ASAP. If any house wishes, and there is enough interest, they can enter more than one team.

There will be two games on every Thursday after school and will be 15 mins each way. Any teams not playing in any given week will provide the referees.

Once you have entered keep up to date with fixtures and league table on the PE notice board and sports blog.

For more information please Mr Macaulay or Mr Murray.

Lewis & Harris Cross Country Series Race 1

Follow this link for the first race of the Lewis and Harris Cross Country Series Race 1 which takes place on Saturday November 12th. The race is open to anyone of any ability and you do not have to be affiliated with a club to take part, see you there:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=297428033602154

Nicolson Institute U16’s 21 v 57 Kirkwall Academy U16’s - Report

Here is a link to the report on the boys rugby match against Kirkwall Academy which was published in the Stornoway Gazette. 

http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/sport/impressive_performance_despite_rugby_team_s_inexperience_1_1914975

Friday - Video of the Week

Okay so we missed posting a video last Friday so here are two clips for you this week:


Ellie Goulding - Music Runs Ellie from NikeRunningUK on Vimeo.

Inter School Sports Cross Country Championships

Calling all S1 and S2 pupils. On Wednesday 2nd November 2011 you have the opportunity to take part in the Inter School Sports Cross Country Championships. The race is being organised by sports development and will be held in the castle grounds. You can enter 10 people in your team, they must be from your year and your house as this race will count for house points. The teams can consist of boys and girls. The first 3 runners from your team will count for the scoring but the more runners you have entered the better as this will increase the chance of beating the other teams entered. The race will take place from 11am - 2pm. The closing date for entries is Monday 31st October.

For more information or a registration form please see Mr MacCorquodale in the P.E department

Running fixtures winter 2011 -12

Here are a list of races which will be run over the winter season. The ones held in the Western Isles are open to all ages and abilities. 

MONTH DATE EVENT LOCATION October 2nd Loch Ness Marathon/10k Inverness 8th North district XC relays Dornoch 8th Linda Norgrove Foundation 10k Uig, Isle of Lewis 13th/14th Mod charity relay Thurso to Stornoway 27th ‘Wacky Racers’ 4.1 mile time predictor Lews castle grounds November 4th Halloween lamplight run Lews castle grounds 6th Eddies Lochaber Half Marathon Fort William 12th Lewis + Harris XC race 1 Castle green 17th ‘Wacky Racers’ 5k Handicap race Astroturf changing rooms 26th North district XC Championships Forres December 3rd North Lewis 10k Lionel school, Ness 17th Christmas handicap Lews castle grounds 26th Boxing day trot Lews castle grounds 31st Flett Trek Maraig to Reinigeadal January 14th Lewis and Harris XC race 2 Castle green 26th ‘Wacky Racers’  5k Handicap race Astroturf changing rooms February 11th Lewis and Harris XC race 3 Castle green 18th Scottish national XC championships Falkirk 19th Kinloss to Lossiemouth Half Lossiemouth 23rd ‘Wacky Racers’ 5k Handicap race Astroturf changing rooms March 11th Inverness Half Marathon Bough Park, Inverness Western Isles XC championships Castle green Stornoway 29th ‘Wacky Racers’ 4.1 mile Handicap race Castle grounds April Scalpay 10k Isle of Harris 26th Pentland road 10k/5k Handicap Golf club car park

Sports Quiz - Week 1

Each week we will be posting a sports quiz on the blog. The quiz will be 5 questions. Any teacher, pupil or parent can take part for fun. Please post your answers on twitter, remember to put @nicolsonsports in your tweet. If you don't have an account, register and create one. Once you've done that click on the nicolson sports twitter page on the right hand side of the blog, and if you are signed in already click follow @nicolsonsports you'll then be able to keep up to date on all our sports action.

1. What was the score when Scotland played England in the rugby world cup 2011?
2. Who did Andy Murray beat in the final at the Japan Open 2011?
3. Liverpool play Manchester United this weekend, what was the score the last time these two sides met?
4. Who one the formula 1 drivers world champion 2011
5. The world's gymnastics championships are taking place from the 7-16/10/11 what country are these championships being held in?

Here is an example of tweet in response to the sports quiz week 1:  @nicolsonsports 1) 10-10 2) Agassi 3) 10-0 4) Schumacher 5) Scotland

U16 Rugby Squad vs Kirkwall Grammar

Joe O'Hagen
Alick Graham
Sean Smith
Peter Macdonald
Mitchell Thompson
Ian Murdo Macleod
David R Campbell
Ross Morrison
Andrew Hay
Calum Mackinnon
Colin Wood
Jack Dunlop
Allan Farrell
Gregor Forsyth
Jason Guilmartin
Scott Duncan
Ashley Collier
Coinnech Smith

U15 Girls - Report of Match against Websters High

Webster's High  0 - 10 Nicolson Institute

Three minutes into the first half, NI had already  fired 4 shots on target, a goal was definitely on the horizon. Ten minutes gone, NI's left midfielder Beth Macleod edged NI in front with a goal to make it 0-1 NI. Five minutes passed and NI showed no mercy for Webster High and it wasn't long till NI had a second goal rocketing into the back of the net. Goal number three happened just twelve minutes later with Lorna Latimer sending the ball flying in like a lightening bolt. A handball by Webster High's defender allowed Nicole Maclean to get on the score sheet with a well taken penalty. The ref then blew the whistle to signal halftime, with the score being Webster's High 0 - 4 Nicolson Institute.

The second half began and although NI had a clear lead the team showed no sign of easing up. Three minutes into the second half Beth Macleod scored her 2nd goal of the match to put NI five goals up. Moments later a dropped ball by Webster's goalie allowed Sophie Macaskill to smash the ball home. The last ten minutes NI had balls flying in to the back of the net from all angles. As the end of the match drew closer a quick escape by Webster's striker had everyone tracking back to make sure NI kept a clean sheet. Thankfully NI's excellent defence and captain Eleanor Smith worked to clear the ball out of danger. A last minute goal and the final whistle meant NI walked off the park victorious in the first round of the Scottish Cup. Final Score Webster's HS 0 - 10 Nicolson Institute.

Goal Scorers
Beth Macleod       3
Sophie Macaskill  2
Lorna Latimer       2
Isabelle Bain         1
Amanda Nicolson 1
Nicole Maclean    1

Report by Cirsty Gillies 

North of Scotland Select Football Squads

Congratulations to Dennis Macdonald S3, Jamie Sullivan S4, Alistair (Waaly) Maciver S4 (all U-15) and to Calum Macleod S5 (U-18) who have all been selected for the U-15 and U-18 travelling squads for the upcoming North of Scotland tie in the National Competition away to Angus after the October break.

We wish them all good luck.

Friday - Video of the Week

You can see different recorded view points of this amazing shot on youtube. 

Report from Webster's High School

Here is a copy of the match report that was sent to us by the manager of the Webster's High School junior girls football team.

Websters High School junior Girls 0 Nicolson's Institute, Stornoway  10
On Thursday morning the Webster's High School junior girls welcomed the Nicolson Institute junior girls at the Martin Park, Kirriemuir, their visitors having travelled all the way from Stornoway to play their 1st round tie of the Scottish School plate. The 170 mile journey by ferry and mini bus did nothing to prevent them playing an excellent game of football and running out comfortable and worthy winners.

A very young and inexperience the Webster's team took to the field and the Nicolson's looked, and proved to be, a much older, skillful and athletic team.

The Webster's girls were under extreme pressures from the kick off and it was only some fantastic goalkeeping from Hannah Dryden, and determined defending from Sophie Scott, Emily Thain, Morven McLean and Jade Whyte that prevented the visitors from scoring.

That all changed after 10 minutes when Nicolson's eventually broke the deadlock. These seemed to boost their confidence and they managed to score another 3 goals before half time in what had become a very one sided game.

The second half continued as the first half finished with Nicolson's managing to score another 6 goals despite the best efforts of Dryden.
To the great credit of the Webster's girls they never gave up and battled to the end. Webster's did have occasional flurries in the Nicolson's half but failed to create many real chances.

Nicolson's proved to be an excellent team and hopefully will go far in this competition. Their behaviour on and off the park was a great credit to their school. Fortunately for the Webster's girls they will not play against this standard of opposition again this season.

Not surprisingly the best performances for the Webster's girls were all in defence where 1st year girls, goalkeeper Hannah Dryden made a number of fantastic saves while Emily Thain and Jade Logan were always competitive and worked extremely hard.
Alish Hassett lead by example with a battling 2nd half performance.

Nicolson Senior Boys lose out on penalties

The Nicolson Institute senior boys played Inverurie Academy in the Scottish Cup 1st round. They started the game brightly and were rewarded with an opening goal from Sam Macsween who showed great composure one on one with the goalkeeper. They soon doubled their lead with good work from Innes Morrison on the left playing in Gordon MacLennan who was taken down in the box and this left Calum 'Caley' Macleod to calmly stroke in the penalty. On 25 minutes Inverurie number 10 took a thumping strike from 30 yards which left Ally Macleod in goals helpless. Just before half-time a one two between Caley and Gordon sent the Nicolson boys into a 3-1 lead. Senior manager Mr Rowlands had little to complain about in his team talk praising the solidity of Calum 'Caz' Macphee and Ian Welsh at the back along with the high work rate of James ‘Titch’ Morrison and Domhnall Bardon in the centre of the park.The game turned in the second half with a noticeable drop in performance from the Nicolson boys along with a new found desire from the opposing team. The slick passing seemed to stop and when an excellent free-kick went in from Inverurie’s number 5 to make it 3-2 the Nicolson knew they were back in a real game. The Aberdeenshire side started to pile on the pressure in search of an equalizer and despite resolute defending from Jake Rivett, Innes Macdonald, Caz and Ian, they leveled the scoring with 5 minutes to go. The game then went into extra time.The first minutes of extra time mirrored The Nicolson's performance in the second as they sloppily gave the ball away on the right and Inverurie left winger unleashed another 30 yard goal. 4-3 to Inverurie. However, this goal seemed to re-ignite the enthusiasm the Nicolson boys displayed in the first half of the game. Andrew Macmillan played a beautiful 40 yard diagonal ball allowing Gordon the chance to make it 4-4 with a looping header. Caz came up from centre half to scramble the ball in to make it 5-4 but was cancelled out with a controversial (as in it was about 5 yards offside) Inverurie equalizer. Dramatically after this the Nicolson boys did have a great chance to win the game but it wasn't to be their day.An extremely exciting but agonizing Scottish cup tie came down to penalties and unfortunately the Nicolson Senior Boys continued their disappointing track record of penalties with a 4-3 loss in the shoot-out. Plenty positives can be taken from such a good performance but now they will have to concentrate their efforts on the North of Scotland Cup.
Report by Gordon Maclennan S5

Mod 5km

Well done to all of you who ran the Mod 5km in difficult weather conditions. There was a healthy number of S1 to S6 pupils taking part. First boy home from the school was Connor Maclean S3 who had a great run finishing 4th just behind Donnie Macleod who won two medals at this years island games. Rebecca Munro (pictured) was not only first Nicolson female back but first female finisher in the race in a time of 22.40. There will be more race opportunities throughout the winter with cross country and road races so please check back for more information. 

A reminder to everyone that after school athletics is on Wednesdays from 345 - 445. Please see Mr MacCorquodale PE if you need any more information. All ages and abilities welcome and its an ideal club for keeping fit over the winter.