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Junior Success For Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club
Anna Pigney23 May 2017 - 10:08
Juniors shine through
It has been another successful season for the 110 young hockey players at Kirkby Stephen Hockey club helping to secure club, school and regional honours.
The u10 and u12 squads regularly attend friendly festivals in Cumbria throughout the season and work towards attending the County in2 Hockey competition in February. This year three teams qualified as champions from the Cumbria round and went on to attend the North East and Borders competition at Durham.
The u10 girls and u12 boys played 3 games at Durham beating Tynedale, Durham and Windermere to qualify for the North Competition in Leeds, with the u10 boys team playing some good hockey, but narrowly missing out on qualification.
At the following competition in Leeds the u10 girls were undefeated in their pool beating Wakefield (the eventual tournament winners), Alderley Edge and Preston. They then progressed to the semi finals as pool winners where they played Timperley. Kirkby dominated play but failed to capitalise on their chances and at full time penalty flicks ensued, with a nail biting finally Kirkby lost narrowly to Timperley 2-1.
The u12 boys also put up a good show, convincingly winning two out of their 4 games only loosing to Ben Rhydding and Deeside who were the eventual finalists.
In addition teacher and club coach Janette McWhirter guided the U13 boys team from Kirkby Stephen Grammar School to regional success, with all bar one player having come through the clubs’ junior system. Winning the Cumbria schools competition and then qualifying to attend the North of England round after being finalists in the Cumbria and Lancashire tournament at Rossall school.
In the next round at Leeds the u13 boys played some quality hockey against well drilled high class teams from all over Yorkshire, Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire and the North East. Many of these u13 boys also represent the club in the u14 mixed team alongside other young players from Kirkby Stephen and Appleby Grammar Schools.
Kirkby hockey club is also channelling players into the England Hockey Single System through county and regional representation and this season had twelve children represent the club, with 5 of them going on to win major honours at the recent Cumbria county presentation evening held at Windermere School. There have also been opportunities for improving juniors to play regularly for Kirkby Stephen in the ladies Cumbria league and Netherwood teams. With continued support from parents, local schools, the community and club coaches the future of Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club looks promising.
The u10 and u12 squads regularly attend friendly festivals in Cumbria throughout the season and work towards attending the County in2 Hockey competition in February. This year three teams qualified as champions from the Cumbria round and went on to attend the North East and Borders competition at Durham.
The u10 girls and u12 boys played 3 games at Durham beating Tynedale, Durham and Windermere to qualify for the North Competition in Leeds, with the u10 boys team playing some good hockey, but narrowly missing out on qualification.
At the following competition in Leeds the u10 girls were undefeated in their pool beating Wakefield (the eventual tournament winners), Alderley Edge and Preston. They then progressed to the semi finals as pool winners where they played Timperley. Kirkby dominated play but failed to capitalise on their chances and at full time penalty flicks ensued, with a nail biting finally Kirkby lost narrowly to Timperley 2-1.
The u12 boys also put up a good show, convincingly winning two out of their 4 games only loosing to Ben Rhydding and Deeside who were the eventual finalists.
In addition teacher and club coach Janette McWhirter guided the U13 boys team from Kirkby Stephen Grammar School to regional success, with all bar one player having come through the clubs’ junior system. Winning the Cumbria schools competition and then qualifying to attend the North of England round after being finalists in the Cumbria and Lancashire tournament at Rossall school.
In the next round at Leeds the u13 boys played some quality hockey against well drilled high class teams from all over Yorkshire, Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire and the North East. Many of these u13 boys also represent the club in the u14 mixed team alongside other young players from Kirkby Stephen and Appleby Grammar Schools.
Kirkby hockey club is also channelling players into the England Hockey Single System through county and regional representation and this season had twelve children represent the club, with 5 of them going on to win major honours at the recent Cumbria county presentation evening held at Windermere School. There have also been opportunities for improving juniors to play regularly for Kirkby Stephen in the ladies Cumbria league and Netherwood teams. With continued support from parents, local schools, the community and club coaches the future of Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club looks promising.
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