Churcher’s College Hockey National Champions awarded ‘School Team of the Year’

Churcher’s College U15 boys hockey team has won the ‘School Team of the Year’ Award in the East Hampshire Sports Awards 2020. The award is in recognition of winning the U15 National Hockey Champions title at the Independent Schools Hockey Cup National Finals in Birmingham in March 2019.

The 20 students in the winning team now form part of Churcher’s College senior hockey squad who are looking forward to reuniting once restrictions are lifted to follow on their successful cup run at U18 age group. One member of the team, Will Porter, is currently in the final 50 of the England Hockey selection for the U18 squad.

"We are delighted to have this national achievement recognised closer to home as well, it was an exceptional year and the team achieved a first for Churcher's hockey," explains Louisa Taylor, Director of Sport at Churcher’s College. "The boys’ attitude, application and team spirit through every round were exemplary, highlighted by their performance in two penalty shootouts and victory against the favourites in the final.

"I would like to thank the team coaches; Churcher’s College teacher, Jeremy Harris, and Dr Andy Cairns, a former parent whose two sons represented England Hockey in the U18 and U16 teams and were Churcher’s 1XI hockey captains during their time at school with us.

"The pupils and staff cannot wait to get back out on the pitch, playing team sport together once again."

The East Hampshire Sports Awards, held in late December 2020, were a little different this year as the event had to be held virtually, but still successfully celebrating Hampshire’s amazing sportsmen and women. The host of the event, British athletics legend Roger Black, and EHDC Deputy Leader Cllr Julie Butler, both made virtual appearances by introducing the event and addressing the nominees through videos.

Cllr Julie Butler said: "Congratulations to all of our winners and nominees. We would have loved to have celebrated you in person, but in these circumstances, we had to get creative!

"It was still an intense and exciting evening, and I really enjoyed seeing people getting involved and sending congratulations to each other. Thank you to everyone who was a part of it."