CHESHIRE SCHOOLS AND YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Report on activities 2006-2007

We are pleased to report another year, full of activity and competitive youth hockey at a high standard.

Having won a scholarship to Millfield, David Bell progressed to the England Under 18 squad, while Peter Jackson and Tom Marshall won bronze medals with the England Under 16 team in their Tournament against Germany, Holland and Spain.

Peter was captain of the squad and Tom the goalkeeper.

Once again the County provided the majority of players for the North West  Under 17 and Under 15 squads in the Regional Tournament last October.

In the North County Championships the Under 17 team came a disappointing third but the Under 16’s won the North title.

The Under 15 County side came joint first with Lancashire but failed in their attempt to reach the National Finals for the fourth consecutive year by losing 1-3 in a penalty

shoot out.

The Under 14 team were pre-tournament favourites but were handicapped on the second day of the competition when a number of their players were unavailable due to a clash with the National Schools quarter finals for which King’s School, Chester, had qualified from previous County and Regional rounds

The major success though this season has been the Under 13 Boys Development  squad which David Hardern has run at Timperley Hockey Club throughout the year. David now has over 42 boys attending from all corners of the County and with the help of two other coaches is providing a magnificent base for the future of Junior County hockey.

As mentioned before, King’s School, Chester, won the County Schools cup and went all the way to the National Semi-finals where they lost to the eventual winners of the Under 14 competition.

Birkenhead School Under 16’s won the County and North West titles but lost in the NW / NE play off for the North title on penalty strokes. The School’s Under 18 team went one stage further losing in the National quarter finals of the competition.

The County Mini Hockey was again held at Chester Hockey Club.

Alderley Edge won the Under 11 event with Timperley as runners-up, while Deeside Ramblers won the Under 13 competition with Chester as runners-up.

Once again the Association are indebted to all the volunteers who give up their time to organise, coach and help with the County teams and as usual we are always keen to hear from anyone willing to help us in any way they can.

Reg Price

Hon. Secretary