Category: Sport
Myles King (Woodbridge 1st team vice-captain) and Ben Kilburn (Woodbridge 1st team captain) competed at the U18 National Indoor “Super 6’s” Finals for their club, Harleston Magpies on 21-22 January. This was Myles’ second trip to the U18 finals weekend, winning the title last year. This year Myles captained the team who made it all the way to the semi-final stage of this prestigious competition. Magpies represented the East of England after qualifying through the county and regional rounds. The team showed great discipline in the pool matches in the way they played, winning three games on the way to qualifying for the semi-final. In the semi-final they came up against the experienced team from Canterbury and had to settle for a tightly contested 2-4 defeat. Some amazing indoor hockey was played and superb goals scored. This was a great experience and achievement for Myles and Ben, testing themselves against the best U18 indoor players in the country and placing their team amongst the top four indoor teams in England. Well done! We are very proud of you.
At 9.15am on Tuesday 17 January 44 athletes boarded the coach for Lincroft school for the annual Bedfordia Cross Country Competition.
Over 30 schools from all around the midlands took part and this created an excellent atmosphere amongst all competitors, especially the year 5 students who had never competed in such a vast event before.
Following a walk of the course the athletes changed and then it was race time.
Year 5 girls were first to race in a field over 300 runners, and they were superb.
Sophia Waterer had a storming run (83) and crossed the line in front of the rest of The Abbey students with Georgina Phillips (93), Charlie Hattan (96) and Havannah Vincent (106) not far behind. Mihi Forbes Ballard (227), Polly Scoggins (220) and Milly Johnson (221) decided it was best to run together to navigate the number of competitors and to stay safe during the run, all three completing the run with smiles on faces and keen to race again. The team finished a creditable 22nd out of 34 teams.
Year 5 boys were even more nervous after they had watched the ‘stampede’ of the girls’ race, as one of the runners called it!! Solid performances all round with Luca di Paola (33) leading the way, closely followed by Jonjo Walker (74)and then a throng of Abbey athletes with John Hall (132), Arthur Na Nakhorn (133) Henry Shaw (134) all pushing each other along throughout the race. James Hattan (150) did well to push his way through the crowd following a slow start and Edward Carter (206) and Jack Palmer (207) finished strongly to ensure that the team finished 16th out of 33 teams.
Year 7 Girls warmed up with a purpose, knowing that they had run several times before, and with the training were in excellent condition to do well.
The start was fast and furious and after the first 500yards the field settled into their running. Amy Goddard gradually made her way through the field, finishing in a fantastic 3rd position, Anna Jackson fought her way around the course and eventually finished 19th with Ella Pitt (40) and Lucy Clare(66) close behind, Annie Nicholass (102) and Iris Morton(105) completed the team effort and ensure that the Year 7 girls finished a creditable 7th in the competition.
The Gauntlet was thrown down to the Year 7 boys to finish higher still, and try they did with some excellent running from Ed Rufford (7) , Tom Martin (36) and Sam Bolus (44). The wait was on for the rest of the team mates to see if they could better the girls’ seventh place!! There was then a frenzy of finishers with James Holliday (107), Archie Sjoberg (121), Archie Bacon (122), Tom Childs (134) and Archie Cartwright (143) to make for a team placing of eleventh: the Year 7 Girls were still the best team of the day.
Year 8 girls were next to step up to the challenge and they were confident , with the experience of competing in events like this before. They were happy to let the front runners sprint off and then slowly pick them off around the course and that’s exactly what they did!! Bea Thomas (2) sat and waited as the main pack sprinted away, but an excellent run and strong finish saw her home with Molly Marshall (3), Cecily Royal-Dawson (6), Jess Elmer (7) and Emily Whyte(9). The team were in an excellent position, and when Ella Walker ran the final corner and sprinted to the finish line to finish (28) the team were reunited and just needed to wait on the result.
Year 8 boys had just witnessed an incredible run by the girls and knew that they had to match the outcome. Charlie Turner and George Wharam looked relaxed and chilled as the pack set off at a great pace, but the boys after numerous races were confident that they could win the race and do that they did! Charlie and George crossed the line hand in hand to finish joint first!… But the team had to back them up and finish strongly… and with Kit Evans Lombe (4), Tom Harper (10), Will Franklin (11) and Tom Turner (28) the team did just that. Mauricio Corfe (31), John Hendry (45) and Ruben Kill (80) who are all expert over shorter distances offered excellent support.
The Year 8 girls and boys did remarkably well, both finishing 1st in their competitions.
It was a great day, especially for the Year 5 students who have never competed in an event like this before.
A fast paced game that produced some end to end hockey. The first half was all Framlingham. They showed good pace and stick skills to spend a majority of the time in the Woodbridge half of the pitch. Woodbridge stood up to the challenge and defended amazingly. Saif Toubasey and Hugo Thomas in the middle of the defence were like a brick wall not allowing Framlingham to pass. On the odd occasion when they did find a gap Alfie Franklin was an imposing figure in goal making impressive save after impressive save to keep the score level. Woodbridge had to mainly counter attack and this paid off in the dying minutes of the half with repeat offences at a penalty corner resulted in a penalty flick. Hugo Thomas stepped up and converted the ball into the roof of the net, the travelling fans went wild. The second half was one of the best you may ever see at this age group. Fast paced attack and continued solid defence. Both sides having chances to get on the scoresheet but both unable to score. With the minutes ticking down Woodbridge held strong and ran out 1-0 winners at the final whistle. The effort and determination but all the players was incredible and the win was deserved in a very tight entertaining game.
This was a fantastic displays of some great netball by a large squad of players in the U13s. There were some great passages of play and we were always in control of the game. Olivia Buchanan, Emily Whyte, Ella Walker and Cordelia Griffiths shot well in the circle and they were well supported by some great defensive play by Issy Eaton, Ariane Bilgen, Molly Marshall, and Eleanor Wright. We looked after our turnover ball quite well but held it together in the centre of the court with Clara Simpson, who made some great interceptions, Rebecca Yardy who was cool under pressure and Jess Elmer who moved up and down the court effortlessly.
A great start to the season. Well done!
The U13As, despite some players down due to illness, still put out four (victorious!) teams v RHS, and played brilliantly! They were always in control of the game and I didn’t doubt their ability to win for a second. Olivia Buchanan controlled the attacking third of the court brilliantly and shot consistently to put us up 7-3 at quarter time. Eleanor Wright, as WD played a solid game and made some great interceptions and Issy Eaton and Ariane Bilgen worked tirelessly in the defending circle, with some great turnover balls used to our advantage. Ella Walker was a controlling influence in the centre of the court and linked beautifully with the defence and attack of Rebecca Yardy who played very well. Cordelia Griffiths and Emily Whyte who both played shooter attacked out of the circle and created brilliant space and won some important rebounds. We were up 13-5 at half time and gave ourselves some breathing space for the second half. We were then joined by Molly Marshall and Clara Simpson who had played fantastically for the B team in the first half. Both girls made their mark on the team and we stretched our lead to 18-9 with 10 mins to go. A great quarter to see out the match from all the players meant that we had our second victory of the season under our belt – good skills! Bring on Ipswich School at the weekend.
This setback propelled Woodbridge into action and they continued to dominate big phases of the game again. After peppering the RHS circle Woodbridge’s first breakthrough came when Ben Kilburn finished well from a rebound following a series of saves from the RHS keeper. Ben Spence took the score to 2-1 before half time when he also finished well from another rebound.
The second half saw RHS have two big chances. Miles Budden, making his debut in goal, made sure nothing came of the first chance when he made a great 1-on-1 save winning the ball clearly before the RHS player collided with him. The second scary moment came for Woodbridge at a penalty corner. Ben Kilburn and Tom Innes reacted well to the variation at the top of the D and the ball was cleared to safety. Myles King put the game out of reach when he scored Woodbridge’s third goal ten minutes from the end of the match. Myles kept getting close to scoring throughout the match so it was fitting that he got his name on the score sheet, rewarding 70 minutes of hard work.
Woodbridge can be very satisfied with this win, knowing they did some things very well and taking note of what needs to be improved. Again a number of players contented for the player of the match award – indeed everyone played well. However the honours went to Ben Kilburn for a very consistent, composed and dominant performance: his decision making, work rate and patience in the defensive press was instrumental in the number of turnovers won; and in attack his experience was also telling, so often being in the best place at the right time to build pressure and create chances.
Thank you to everyone who supported the game so well. Woodbridge’s next opponents will be Norwich School in the U18 Cup competition.
Wow – what a Christmas Holidays.
My Ski training started on Saturday 10 December and I had the run up to Christmas training in Austria with Ambition Racing – my ski Team.
Training weeks mean early starts – normally 5am then breakfast at 5.30am, to be on the Mountain and ready to practice from 7am until 1pm. Then back to our team base for a pasta lunch and then off to the local Austrian school 2.30pm – 6.30pm with our tutors to keep up to date with school work and homework, then back to base for supper and ski preparation ready for the next morning. Not exactly a holiday but good fun as well as being hard work.
This routine continued after Christmas – I felt like I was the only person in school on 28 December, as it is not possible to fit in school work on days where we are racing, all non-racing week days are school days.
My first competitions as a fully fledged member of the team were VERY exciting. I couldn’t wait to see if all the training I have done since last May was going to make a difference.
On 6-8 January the Ambition Championships took place in in Hinterreit, about 15 minutes from our training base. I won three silver medals and a bronze – I was thrilled, especially as I was the fastest English girl. On 10-11 January the first Evolution Speed Championships took place. The location, Reiteralm, was about an hour and a half away from base, so very early starts. I was thrilled to win first place in the British Giant Slalom U12, and second in the International competition.
I am back in England until Saturday 21 January I have to work on my fitness, training every morning before school to keep my legs and knees strong and keep improving my core and cardio fitness. Then back to the slopes in Switzerland for three days of training before the next races.
Press coverage of the Suffolk Schools’ Series B Cross Country Championships, hosted by Woodbridge School.
The boys 1st team faced their first big challenge of the season less than a week into term when they faced Felsted in the National U18 Cup. Preparation started with some training and selection sessions prior to Christmas and the start of the new term and competition for places was fierce.
The Woodbridge U18 team travelled to Felsted with seven debutants. A young team, including two year 10 pupils (Alex Weir-Simmons & Oliver Juszt), relied on senior players to lead the way and steady the ship and the talent and enthusiasm of new recruits to adapt quickly to a faster pace and increased pressure of senior school boy hockey. All involved passed this test and it made for a very exciting, end-to-end afternoon of hockey.
Woodbridge started the stronger team, forcing 3 penalty corners early on. Over-excitement perhaps led to less than clinical execution of the first few routines. Continued pressure and another penalty corner in the 7th minute saw Myles King open the scoring with a drag flick at a too awkward height for the Felsted goalkeeper to deal with. Woodbridge continued to build play up well but gave possession away too cheaply in the final third of the pitch by attempting long balls at the wrong time or running into flat sticks. Good defensive structure and discipline in tracking back ensured that Woodbridge was nearly always on hand to stop Felsted advancing. When they did break through Oliver Juszt in goal was on hand, making great saves to keep a clean sheet going into half time. 1-0 to Woodbridge.
In the second half, Woodbridge was more patient in their play and started to use the whole width of the pitch better. They played attractive passing hockey out the back and through the midfield, which resulted in good scoring chances. However, halfway through the second half momentum shifted in Felsted’s favour and despite heroics from Oliver Juszt in goal they equalised with 13 minutes to go. This seemed to negate any complacency the Woodbridge boys may have had and it was back to business. Slick passing and good decision making became the order of the day again. A few tired errors in defence gave Felsted a couple more good scoring chances but Oliver Juszt again denied them certain goals and kept Woodbridge in the game. As the Woodbridge bench started to prepare for the pending penalty strokes in the event of a draw, a very quick and clinical counter attack resulted in the perfect ending. Captain Ben Kilburn gained possession and moved the ball wide. It went back into the centre midfield where Myles King timed the perfect through ball to Alex Weir-Simmons in the D… two touches… GOAL! Woodbridge played clever, slow hockey for the remaining two minutes of the game to secure a most satisfying and deserved 2-1 victory.
There were many good performances, especially by players on debut (Oliver Bacon, Jakob Hatfield, James Phelan and Dom Ellis-Freeman). Ben Kilburn did not miss a tackle all game. Myles King was influential and ran Myles in midfield. Alex Weir-Simmons showed composure and quality. But ultimately player of the match went to Oliver Juszt – a brilliant performance in goal and showing why England Hockey have their eyes on him.
Woodbridge now wait to hear who they will face in the next round of this National Competition.