Over 200 children signed up and took part in the Polo Day Tournament on Sunday.  The weather was perfect for this end of season event for the Mini Section and there was some brilliant hockey on show from all the age groups.  They had obviously been listening during all those training sessions!

We were delighted to welcome our sponsors, St Edmund's School who very kindly handed out goodies to our little superstars.  It has been a great partnership and we thank them for their involvement and support.

A very big thank you to everyone that took part on the day and particularly all those 'grown ups' who did their bit and made sure that the children had a great time.

Although  the intention of Polo Day is to get everyone mixing, and players of all abilities taking part, this didn't detract from the competitive nature of the games. Chickens, Bats, Duckies and Monkeys battled until the final whistles to secure the winners medals in their age groups, and the champions in each age group were as follows:-

U8 Mixed - Funky Chickens
U10 Girls - Cheeky Monkeys
U10 Boys - Funky Chickens
U12 Girls - Cheeky Monkeys
U12 Boys - Batty Bats

With all the scores added the overall winners were the Cheeky Monkeys who were awarded the Polo Day Cup by Edward O'Connor, Head of St Edmunds School.

As is tradition, the Mini Section also takes this opportunity to award the annual prizes for those players who have developed, trained and performed particularly well.  These are difficult decisions to make and are not taken lightly.  Our roll of honour for this year is as follows:-

Indoor Player Awards

U12 Girls - Freya Sonnen (top left photo)
U12 Boys - Ollie Curtiss
U10 Girls - Tempe Simmons
U10 Boys - Noah Slater

Outdoor Player Awards

U12 Girls - Kate Boffey
U12 Boys - Freddie McMullan
U10 Girls - Lottie Singfield
U10 Boys - Freddie Post
U8 Girls - Eleanor Champion
U8 Boys - Jack Chapman-Falconer

Goal keeper Award

Jointly Awarded - Lara Mears & Ollie Triggs.

Mini Section - Club Person of the Season

Nigel Durban (photo top right) Doug Young presented  Nigel with his award

We look forward to seeing everyone back at Polo Farm in the Autumn, but for details of activities available through the Spring and Summer please watch for the newsletter, or email cjhcpolofar@outlook.com

Report; Annie Hare

 

There are no more general Sunday morning training sessions now for the minis - we have reached the end of the season, so emjoy the lie ins and we will back in action in early September. If you have further training for touranments etc your Managers will be in touch.

In glorious spring sunshine, the U14 Boys Development Team took on Brom Becks in what turned out to be the last match of the season.  It was a game of two halves, although not in the classic sense of the phrase, as we completely dominated both periods of play.  In the first half we created numerous chances and looked really dangerous going forward.  We huffed and we puffed, but we just couldn’t blow their house down.  The Brom Becks keeper was the epitome of the little piggy who had built his house out of bricks, and there was just no way passed.  The short corners routines (which had been devised pre-match by the boys) were creating good opportunities, but that final ball was eluding us. So 0-0 at half time, but the team talk was simple.  Keep playing as we were playing and as soon as we got one, we would get plenty more. 

So it proved in the second half.  After a couple of near misses, we were awarded a short corner.  One of the pre-devised routines was executed brilliantly to leave George C some 8 yards out from goal, with only the keeper to beat.  Inspite of the growing anxiety within the team, he kept a cool head and buried it into the goal.  As predicted at half time, this led to the flood gates being opened.  George got his second goal from another quick break into the D and clinical finsh, and this was quickly followed by a goal from Riley.  As the game went on, our fresher legs, thanks to the good squad of player available, started to really tell.  Riley scored his second, thanks in a large part to a superb piece of control in the D from Charlie.  Theo capped another excellent performance with a trademark volleyed goal, and the game finished with a well-deserved goal for the hardworking Charlie.  What a second half!!  The final score of 6-0 didn’t flatter the boys in the slightest.  It was a truly dominate performance on the day, with everyone playing their part. 
 
Throughout the team there were so many good performances to reflect on, from the likes Barney (who was so unlucky not to score) and Isaac up front, to Jonah, Angus, George M and Arthur in the middle.  The defensive unit of Will J, Will A, Thomas and Harvey were so good that Elliot didn’t have to make a save in the entire second half. 

However, in a match where  a lot of boys had their best game of the season, my star player was Luca Bywater for his all-round contribution over the whole pitch.   Well done boys on a really good season that just got better and better as the year went on.  Thanks to Andy Hurst for his excellent umpiring and all the parents for their support throughout the season.  

Team:  Will Jull, Angus Powell , Riley Holness, Elliot Spencer-Tanner, William Adams, Harvey Godden, Charlie Gotke, Theo Panteli, Arthur Fassum, Jonah Schreiber, George Coombs, Luca Bywater, Thomas Long-Castro, Isaac Culver, Barney Batchelor, George Meineck

 Report James Long

Left; Capain Hannah Harvey preparing to take the first flick. Right; the Champions of the Home Counties U16 League with Coach Jack Rolfe.