Page 40 - link magazine

Prospect Hospice Fete Hockey students thriving on ice and at West school
Saturday 7 September The first year of the partnership between Okanagan Ice Hockey Academy at Link Centre and Lydiard Park
Traditional garden party, with stalls, Academy - the unique educational project between a sports club and a school - has been a huge success
entertainment and refreshments from
12noon to 4pm.
The afternoon of family fun takes
place at the hospice, Moormead Road,
Wroughton. Because of very limited
parking there is a free Thamesdown
Transport park and ride bus service
from Nationwide House, Pipers Way.
Saturday 21 September
4th Marlborough Night Hike
15km off road trek through the Wilt-
shire countryside after dark, starting Players with coaches and teachers at the end of year presentation in July. Photo: Richard Wintle www.calypix.com
at 8pm from the town hall. In September last year fifteen gym sessions, yoga and pilates. headteacher Clive Zimmerman said:
Sturdy footwear and a good torch students aged 13 to 16 started at Head coach Pete Russell, said: “The year went remarkably smoothly.
required. Register for the event, £15, Lydiard Park Academy (LPA). Some “There were lots of doubters in the The players worked very hard to fit in;
at www.prospect-hospice.net were from Swindon, others, who came ice hockey world; everybody said you they’re all leaders with a clear vision of
Could you be a Prospect Hospice from across the UK and EU countries, had to go to Canada for top flight their future. The example they set was
fundraising ambassador? lived with local families. hockey education, but the high level a major asset to the school.”
Information evening on Wednesday They trained on ice every morning, of skill and commitment by the team Hungarian teenager Istovin Drag-
9 October. Call Andrew Thompson arriving at school at 10am for a full has impressed people. omir came to Lydiard Park with
on 01793 813355 for details day that went on to 4.15pm before “It’s been one of the most satisfy- no English, but with extra lessons
ing years in my career. I’m incredibly and help from his peers, he quickly
proud to coach this first group and I became a top student, particularly in
admit I underestimated the maturing physics. “It took me about six months
process. They quickly became young to feel comfortable speaking English
men who bonded as a team with great although I could understand a lot
camaraderie, and an incredibly high earlier,” he said.
work rate and pride. Simon Kunin from Berlin and
“With the intense hockey training Daniel Stattersfield from Newcastle
every day the lads worked harder than lived with the Llewellyn family in
some professional teams.” Lydiard Millicent.
The squad covered over 20,000 Simon had been attending an
miles travelling to matches and tour- English school in Germany so the
naments in UK, Austria, France and transfer was straightforward. Daniel
Belgium, playing 60 games between said he had gained a great deal: “Living
September and June. Despite com- with another player in the academy
peting against teams with a higher has helped me a lot. Simon and I are
average age, the squad came fourth in both in the defence so we’ve built a
the English Ice Hockey Association very good understanding. I’m a year
southern league. younger than him and he would help
In September players who have left me with school work if I got stuck.
LPA will attend college and progress Also, Simon is Jewish and I’ve learnt
to the new Prospects Programme, a great deal about his heritage.”
training with adults and playing in the Mac Howlett, 13, the youngest
Under 18s English National League. and smallest in the squad said: “It’s
At the same time 27 youngsters all worked out well. My school work
will return or join the ice hockey pro- improved a lot and I hit my targets.
gramme and Lydiard Park Academy. My ice hockey is much better; I don’t
Expressing his satisfaction with bounce off the larger players any more,
the first year of the partnership, LPA and I had a strong team around me.”

Hockey girls fly the flag for Wiltshire

The newly formed Swindon Under 10’s girls hockey team won the 2013
county competition to represent Wiltshire at a tournament at Millfield
School in Somerset, eventually finishing fourth out of 16 county teams.
Swindon Hockey Club offers a healthy and thriving junior hockey scene,
providing high quality coaching in a safe and encouraging atmosphere, with
an equal emphasis on developing new skills and having fun.
The new school term will see training schemes for primary and secondary
pupils where all are welcome. There’s an open day on Sunday 8 September at
Isambard School. For details mail: [email protected]
www.pitchero.com/clubs/swindonhockey
40 swindonlink.com • September 2013

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