Hockey

Girls Hockey

Before this season started 17 students and three members of staff went on a tour of Malasia starting off in the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur making their way up through Ipoh to the beach resort of Penang over 12 days.

In Kulau Lumpur the girls played two fixtures, one of which was in the National Stadium, visited Batu Caves, had dinner in the revolving restaurant of KL Tower and attended an OC function at the Royal Selangor Golf Club. They also experienced white water rafting, visited an orangutan sanctuary, and managed to play a match in the Azlan Shah Stadium. For the final few days they relaxed somewhat, took in the night markets and played one final game. The girls really engaged with everything about the tour and experienced so much of this great country in terms of its food, culture and love of hockey.

After the tour there was a great sense of excitement within the Club as the teams returned for their pre-season training camps. The Club was able to expand to include a 5th XI at seniors’ level, giving a total of 15 teams. Of the 116 fixtures completed, College managed a win or draw in 61% of them, scoring 241 goals in total which averages at two per game.

The 1st XI was led by Min Fletcher and they had a tremendous season securing 10 wins and a draw in their 14 fixtures with wins secured over Clifton College, Bromsgrove School, Bradfield College, Bristol Grammar School, Kingswood School and Cheltenham Ladies’ College to once again retain the Emily Sumaria Memorial Trophy. In the cup competitions the 1sts managed to get to the third round of the National Plate and the U16s also reached the third round in the National Cup. Unfortunately, both teams went out on penalty shoot-outs. In the indoor competitions, the U16s managed to get to the West of England semi-finals. Every girl represented their House in House Pots with the senior title going to Westal and the junior title to Queen’s.

The fixture blocks remained very competitive and within them there were some notable performances from the teams. In the opening block against Bromsgrove there were nine wins and one draw in the 13 fixtures. Against Rugby School College had eight wins and two draws out of the 14 matches and in the Bristol Grammar School matches, it was a record of six wins and two draws in nine games. The final fixture of the term against Kingswood brought eight wins and a draw from the 10 matches. A special mention goes to the Colts’ B who only lost one game out of seven throughout the season.

There were also individual achievements for players with Maddie Archer, Izzy Birks and Matilda Makin all being selected for England Hockey’s Talent Academy Centre at Stourport.

Full Colours: Min Fletcher, Erin Darbin, Rosa Hanbury, Maddie Archer
Half Colours: Melissa Watson, Sky Jamieson, Tilda Barter, Matilda Makin, Alice Dawson
Player of the Year: Maddie Archer
Players’ Player: Alice Dawson
Club Player of the Year: Sky Jamieson

Boys Hockey

The Club had 12 boys’ teams representing College in hockey fixtures. There were 81 matches played in total including cup competitions, and in these College either won or drew 57% of them. In senior House Pots Newick House came out as winners and Southwood were junior Pots winners.

Under the captaincy of Hugo Cornwell, the 1st XI managed to get the furthest they had previously in the Tier 2 National U18 Cup, only losing out in round three. Their season produced some good performances resulting in wins over The King’s School, Gloucester and Collegiate School and draws with Rugby School and an epic 5-5 with Bromsgrove School.

Within the local club environment and representation, there are several Cheltonians out playing who have gained regional and national honours. In addition, Max Davidson achieved an individual highlight in being selected for the Wales U18 squad for their test series with Ulster and the Four Nations tournament.

In terms of the block fixtures College managed some superb results to match their performances. Of the 10 matches with Abingdon School, College managed to win six and draw two games, with all junior teams unbeaten on that day. Against Bromsgrove School it was the same split with six wins and two draws across the board and in the Marlborough College block, three wins and three draws were secured of the 11 matches.

Things look very bright for the juniors as they move through their College years. A special mention goes to the Yearlings’ A who reached the National U14 quarter-finals after victories over The King’s School, Gloucester, Dean Close School and Clifton College. Their only defeat this term was in the cup match and their term produced 42 goals in eight fixtures. Not to be outdone the other Yearlings’ teams played some superb hockey and were rewarded with unbeaten seasons for the Yearlings’ B and C. The Ds nearly matched them but lost in two matches of their six. In total the Yearlings as a group played 24 matches losing only three and scored 83 goals.

Full Colours: Hugo Cornwell, Max Davidson
Half Colours: George Trafford, Thomas Hill, Jude Richardson, Max Hughes, Bryn Evans, Tor Allan, Jack Savage
Player of the Year: Tor Allan
Players’ Player: Max Davidson
Club Players of the Year: George Trafford, Max Hughes

Mr Gwyn Williams