Boys’ Hockey

The start of the term always proves to be challenging for the boys’ hockey season with the weather playing its part in disrupting games, after school practise and weekend fixtures. Despite these challenges, the pupils have demonstrated exceptional commitment, especially in the Junior School, and produced some brilliant displays in this extremely truncated half term.

One of the highlights to date has been the Junior GK Workshop. Nine pupils took part in a specialist session led by a specialist level 3 England Hockey keeper coach, learning everything from the highly skilled actions required in goal, to organising your defence at penalty corners. The morning proved to be a huge success and a similar session for the Senior School will also take place after half term. Also in the Junior School, the U13s have had an excellent start to the season with fixtures going ahead against Haberdashers and John Lyon, whilst also performing at an exceptional level at the IAPS tournament hosted at Culford School. The U12s set down a marker by finishing runners-up at the Essex School Hockey Tournament despite not conceding a goal on the day. This was the first time Chigwell has hosted the competition and the boys certainly made the most of the opportunity. The U12s now qualify for the regional rounds on 16th March at Redbridge Sport Centre. At the lower end of the Junior School, in KS2 every pupil in Lower Two and Upper Two has had the opportunity to represent the school in competitive fixtures and after school on a Thursday night remains the best attended session of the week.

In the Senior School, hockey remains at a very competitive standard but has faced the challenges of a stop start season, making it difficult for teams to achieve consistency on the pitch. Nevertheless the teams from U14 – 1XI continue to make good progress allowing them to prepare for the majority of their tournaments which come later in the term.