North Wales Schools Competitions 2009/10

North Wales runs Schoolboy competitions at U12, U14, U16 and U18 each year. One of the WHU's aims is to grow schoolboy hockey and provide a link from schools to clubs. Primary schools hockey is very successful thanks to the Dragons Sport initiative but boys hockey at Secondary school level needs to be bolstered.

Northop Hall Schoolboy Tournament - Alun School 21st October 2009

On Wed, 21 October 2009, seven teams from five schools took part in an U14 schoolboy tournament at the Alun School, Mold as part of the North Wales Region's desire to strengthen schoolboy hockey at secondary level. Schools came from across North Wales with schools from Tywyn, Colwyn Bay (Eirias HS) and Denbigh through to two Flintshire secondary schools in the hosts, the Alun, and Argoed from nearby Mynydd Isa.

Both Eirias and Alun put in two teams in what proved to be an enjoyable afternoon's hockey superbly organized by Lee Ible, HDO for NE Wales. While Eirias HS won the tournament, proving further evidence of the strength of junior hockey in the Colwyn Bay area, the most important aspect was the sheer enjoyment of the youngsters taking part.

The tournament was sponsored by Flintshire's local club, Northop Hall, with the Chairman, Hugh Williams, and Youth Chairman, Matt Pritchard in attendance. Hugh commented "It is really important that clubs are active within the schools in the area and we are delighted to sponsor this tournament. Hopefully, some of the local youngsters taking part will want to give hockey a try and come to our weekly sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays".

Lee Ible was delighted with the turnout, commenting "these tournaments build on the success of primary school hockey through Dragon sports and gives youngsters between 11 and 14 the opportunity to carry on with hockey and hopefully they will want to pursue it further at club level. Already, other schools are expressing an interest in taking part and I would like to thank all the teaching staff for their efforts in enabling hockey to be played".

There are two more schoolboy tournaments planned for the current academic year, one of which will be a qualifying tournament for the National schoolboy finals. In addition, games are planned at U16 and U18 level and Chairman of the Men's Region, Jon Upton, who teaches at the Alun School was delighted with the success of Wednesday's tournament and commented "Within Flintshire, we are already seeing other secondary schools expressing an interest in U16 games which is a weak area at the moment. If these can come on board alongside schools who already play a lot of hockey, then the future of the game is looking promising so long as clubs continue to develop their links with these schools. I would like to thank Hugh and Matt from Northop Hall for coming down today and helping out with the event. It is much appreciated".

The Region would like to thank everyone who helped make the tournament a success and in particular, Alun School, who once again provided an excellent venue and were extremely helpful in putting on the

Schedule 2009/10

Following the success of a trial secondary schools' tournament last December at the Alun School, Mold, there will be three schoolboy tournaments run for U14s next year. The dates are as follows:

Secondary School (All U14: Years 7,8,9)

Wed, 21st October 2009 - Alun School (1.30 to 4.00)
Wed 10th December 2009 - venue TBA
Wed 17th March 2010 - venue TBA (national finals qualifier)

Dragon Sports (Primary School)

The following dates are for the schools within Flintshire County Council. Other authority dates will be announced shortly.

Tue 9th March: Hawarden HS
Wed 10th March: Alun School
Thu 11th March: Connah's Quay HS
Fri 12th March: Holywell HS

For further information, please contact Lee Ible, Hockey Development Officer, NE Wales

Schools Tournaments 2009/10

The RAF Careers Schools Tournaments will be held as follows:

For further information, contact Wyn Pritchard on 07737835575.

The following schools/Colleges took part in schools' tournaments last year:

Flintshire

Alun School, Mold

Connahs Quay High School

Elfed School, Buckley

Denbighshire

Rhyl High School

Conwy

Ysgol Creuddyn

Ysgol John Bright, Llandudno

Erias High School, Colwyn Bay

Rydal Penrhos School, Colwyn Bay

Gwynedd

Ysgol Tywyn

Wrexham

Yale College