School News

U11 County Mini Hockey Champions for 2009

'The green shoots of progress' is how I would dub our U11 hockey girls!

On the warmest day of the year so far, with winter snow a distant memory, eight rays of sunshine arrived with beaming smiles to contest the honour of representing Bedfordshire at the Midlands Finals in April.

The message was clear - enjoy the occasion and give lots of perspiration and don't get weighed down by expectation. What followed was inspiration!

The first game was against a talented Bedford Modern side and proved to be the crucial game to the tournament as well as the closest. Ping-pong hockey followed with lots of youthful energy and enthusiasm and it was truly a moment of inspiration that settled the game. Emma Churchill-Coleman received the ball in the circle and swept an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net! There were gasps of admiration from the crowd - it was a real champagne moment!

Luton Hockey Club were our next opponents. Two goals from Alicia Leech and a super hat-trick from Leo Field-Foster, one a sublime piece of skill when she lifted the ball over a flat stick and angled her shot past the onrushing goalkeeper - Ronaldo would have been proud! The result - BHSG 5 Luton 0.

Next game was against the sky blues of Dame Alice. Harriet Ensor-Clinch showed her versatility by playing in 3 different positions and Fiona Ramsbotham and Holly Dabson tackled well at the back with Nancy May Thorne a vocal spectator in goal!. Rosie Davies got on the score sheet with a neat finish and Alicia scored an impressive hat-trick to record a great 4-0 win!

Our final game was against Bedford Hockey Club which boasted two High School girls, Ruth Pyall and Kate Axford who both played very well. A win would ensure our place at the Finals. Alicia got us off to the perfect start sneaking in on the far post. Rosie and Emma completed the scoring to make it a 3-0 win.

Bedford High School for Girls was crowned U11 COUNTY MINI HOCKEY CHAMPIONS FOR 2009 and Captain Alicia Leech proudly held the shield aloft.

The warm applause matched the day. The girls had given a wholehearted performance and shown a terrific attitude and did themselves, their parents and the school proud.

Good luck to them all on Sunday 26 April in Nottingham in the Regional Finals.

Team: N Thorne, A Leech(c), E Churchill-Coleman, F Ramsbotham, H Ensor-Clinch, R Davies, L Field-Foster, H Dabson.

Mrs Stedman