Headlines
The men's hockey team
Students earn their way to National Championships
18th December 2011
All sportsmen and women dream of competing at the highest level and a select group from Hereford Sixth Form College (HSFC) took one step closer to that dream. On November 30th, HSFC’s most promising athletes headed to Lilleshall Sports Centre, the training ground of England’s elite. They faced a gruelling day of competition against the region’s most promising sporting prospects. Good results today would place them at the National Championships and give them a crack at the best of the best.
Hereford’s first competitor was Matthew Lees, the only squash player selected. Unfortunately, Matt’s first game was against the UK’s No.1. Matt battled well but couldn’t find his rhythm. Great wins in his second and third games saw Matt placed runner-up in his group, a fantastic result for Matt’s first prominent College competition.
Just a few hundred metres away the girls’ hockey team was also experiencing some tough opposition. The girls played matches against Warwickshire & Worcester but were unable to retain their regional title.
Meanwhile in the men’s hockey, Hereford looked very strong against a renowned BMET side. The boys opening 25 minutes were exceptional and the score was tied at half time. The second half saw HSFC defending well in their own third, with some fantastic work by Dave Thomas and Chris Hill, but still falling to a barrage of shots. In their second and final game, they faced a much reviled Worcester Sixth Form College side. Hereford built on previous performance and took the game to them, hitting Worcester on the counter attack at every given chance. Great teamwork and continued battling won the game for Hereford.
Elsewhere Hereford cross country runners limbered up to take on Lilleshall’s picturesque course. For Clara Evans, Tilly Jewell, Jade Williams and Jess Blake a daunting 4.5km run was their obstacle. It was a good return for the Hereford team, with Clara finishing third and Tilly placed sixth, both earning their places at the National Championships. Jade & Jess ran in very respectable times, just missing out on qualifying.
Other sports not hosted at Lilleshall were the badminton and golf trials. Seven HSFC students competed in the badminton tournament held at near by TCAT College. Alison Freeland partnered Issy Wilkes, the pair putting in blistering performances in their ladies doubles games. They progressed to the finals where they were defeated by a very strong Staffordshire county pairing. Lee Hackett and Simon Watkins teamed up to play in the men’s doubles and progressed to the semi-finals. Sam King held his own in the men’s singles competition while Alex Farmer and Carrie Hartland played well together in the mixed competition.
Jamie Price faced a very tough challenge at the prominent Astbury Hall Golf Course against the region’s top golfers. Jamie did fantastically well completing the course in 97 shots.
All 39 students had a great day, with Clara and Tilly qualifying as West Midland representatives at the National Championships to be held at Bath University in April. They will be joined by Pat Blake and Lucy Stokes from HSFC who have been selected to compete in swimming. The College will also be sending trampolinists Jordan Bolton and Emily Harding to Bath. We wish them all the best.
Click here to see a couple of photos from the day:
http://www.review.hereford.ac.uk/albums/2011/12/16/students-earn-their-way-to-national-championships