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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: juniors.swindonhockeyclub@hotmail.co.uk
                                                                            www.pitchero.com/clubs/swindonhockey
           40 swindonlink.com • September 2013



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