2 minute read
HOCKEY
Mixed Hockey
Though traditionally a ‘winter’ sport, confined to Terms 1 and 2, this year, students have continued to dedicate to the hockey programme into spring and early summer, keen to drive for more success and to honour our inspirational late Head of Hockey in the best way we know how
Following a successful ‘regular season’ where the programme delivered three promotions across both clubs; the Men of UBMHC and Ladies of UBLHC came together as UBHC to deliver ‘Cup’ success in the England Hockey Mixed Championships (Tier 2).
Starting in November, the team dealt with a trio of challenges in round 1; the weather impacted our opportunities to play, they committed to yet more fixtures in an already strenuous hockey programme alongside their studies, and the sporting challenge of opposition came from far and wide.
Regional victories against University of Bath (B), Cheltenham (walkover) and Bridgewater, put UBHC into the ‘National rounds’ going on to face Sutton Coldfield in May in a storied and emotional match at Dingle, which followed the sad loss of the ‘King of Bristol Hockey’, Ben Dudley; the team came out 4-3 winners against strong opposition
A trip to Woking was next at the Quarter final stage in early June and. although right in the middle of our exam period, Bristol managed to secure a 3-1 win The team then drew a home semi-final facing Oxton from Liverpool, coming out 3-0 winners in an otherwise very close game This result secured us a grand final date at Lee Valley, in London’s Olympic Park
As a support match for both men’s and ladies' international fixtures, the 16 selected players (plus ‘entourage’) had a long but thoroughly enjoyable day in the sun ahead of the Final against Lichfield They met a number of people from across the West who were willing us to win.
‘Bringing it home’ for Ben was the only acceptable outcome for this group, a number of whom were playing their last match ever with UBHC. They gave it absolutely everything they had in a tense encounter which stayed goalless until 10 minutes from time, when Bristol broke through with a penalty corner scored by co-Captain Archie Sansome, aided by a heavy deflection from the traffic in front of the Lichfield goalkeeper
Archie added his second goal just 4 minutes later; this time firing a vicious drag flick past everyone outside the reach of the keeper. Lichfield were granted a penalty stroke 16 seconds from time, but this score proved only to be a consolation as UBHC celebrated an emotional success and remembered our beloved coach and friend
The Bristol team were:
Oliver Evans (GK), Sophie Stokes, Amy Salmon (Co-Captain), Archie Sansome (Co-Captain), Robbie Jackson, Anna Elson, Oliver Izzo, Phil Barnett, Charlotte Simmers, Jake Thompson, Lily Roberts, Ben Lamb, Amy Collier, Will Jones, Gwen Manley, Mark Walker.
Honourable mentions to all those who played their part along the way including Ed Marshall, Rosie Stranack, Sophie Raymond, Alex Smink, Hannah Lee, Harry Relph, Charlotte Hart, Elin Farragher, Kincaid Ingram, James Howitt.
Read the University press release about the Mixed Hockey Championships and how the team paid tribute to Ben Dudley.
Term 3 Review
Term 3 in rugby usual means one thing and that is: tour. But not this year; our Maroon 7s programme was in full swing, with the team playing in tournaments such as Bournemouth, Amsterdam and Hartpury The team performed well in all of these, making two finals and coming away with some silverware. This is a new concept in our rugby programme, where we push these 7s events in-calendar
In June, 52 UBRFC players did finally head on tour, and what a tour it was with a 21 hour journey to Madagascar! This tour had it all but of particular abundance were memories as the players got to experience a country that is classed as the third poorest in Africa.
The players coached in schools, donated more than 100kg of kit and met with locals, which all ended in a match verses the national side, in front of 5,000 spectatorsincluding the ambassador to the UK!
Read Olly's tour review blog