Ashford School’s Prep and Senior hockey teams have excelled on the AstroTurf this season, after playing 308 competitive fixtures and going undefeated in 214 of these.
The success of the teams comes following the build of a new AstroTurf at the Prep School site in September 2016. The pupils now benefit from two AstroTurfs, as well as fully trained and qualified hockey coaches. The School’s ‘sports for all’ philosophy has also contributed to the players successes, in which majority of all pupils have been able to play at least one competitive fixture this season.
The Prep School’s U9 girls’ team were winners at the Junior Kings Canterbury tournament earlier this year, whilst the U10 girls’ team won successfully at the tournament hosted at Ashford Prep School. The U11 girls’ team saw similar successes, placing runner-up in three tournaments, including the IAPS regional qualifiers, which secured them a place at the IAPS National Finals. The team went on to place fifth in the Country at the tournament hosted in Rugby earlier this year.
The Prep School’s U11 boys’ team have performed equally as impressively, winning the IAPS regional qualifiers, which also gained them entry into the IAPS National Finals. The boys played fantastically at the tournament and left having placed 17th in the Country.
At U13 age, the U13C team recorded a perfect season, winning every one of their games against tough competition. The U13A team also reached the semi-finals in the County tournament, where they placed 4th in Kent. The U15 team reached the plate final in their age category of the same tournament, and went undefeated in their first 8 fixtures of the season.
Whilst the XI team suffered a loss in their first four games of the season, the team recovered over their half term and returned to go unbeaten for 11 matches, with notable wins against King’s Canterbury and Sir Joseph Williamsons Mathematical School.
The School has also had three players selected to represent Kent at U16 and U18 level, whilst five players play in the Junior Development Centre.
