An Exceptional Autumn for Westholme Hockey

The Autumn Term has been an outstanding and highly productive period for hockey at Westholme, marked by significant development, strong competitive performances and notable individual achievements across all age groups.

Across the term, pupils participated in 21 competitive hockey matches, gaining valuable experience and demonstrating clear progression in skill, tactical understanding and teamwork. This extensive match programme was supported by weekly training, with a total of 26 hours of mid-week coaching, reflecting excellent commitment from all involved.

A standout moment of the term was the specialist Lancashire training session held on Saturday 28th November, where pupils had the privilege of being coached by Lancashire professionals. Their expertise offered valuable insight into high-performance hockey and enriched the players’ technical and tactical understanding. Additionally, players took part in two weekends of training matches, providing further opportunities to consolidate their learning and prepare for competitive fixtures.

The term also brought exceptional individual success, with 13 students selected to represent Lancashire—a significant honour and a testament to their dedication and talent. Congratulations to Toby in Prep 6 , Hugo and Edward in Year 7, George, Toby, Tilly and Imi in Year 8, Rose in year 9, Lola, Tillie, Eleanor and Sophie in Year 10 and Harriet in Year 12.

Team achievements have been equally impressive. The U15s enjoyed a strong run in the Independent National Schools Cup, narrowly missing out on a place in the last 16 in the National Plate competition. The U13s have secured a place in the last 16 of the ​National Independent Schools Plate competition and in the New Year will play Sedbergh College, aiming to continue their Cup run to reach the quarter finals. Demonstrating resilience and quality throughout, and a standout moment of the season was the U14s being crowned National Tier 2 County Champions, a remarkable accomplishment and a proud milestone for the school. They went on to represent Lancashire in the Regional Finals and reached the semi-finals of this prestigious tournament, finishing overall in 3rd place.

Looking ahead, the new year promises further exciting opportunities, including the U13 and U15 Sisters in Sport competitions, the U13 Boys’ entry into the Independent Schools Hockey Competition, and the participation of both U13 Girls and U13 Boys in the Mini National Championships. Plus, the Lisbon hockey tour taking place next October half term.

This term has been a huge success for hockey at Westholme. Congratulations to all pupils for their outstanding hard work, determination and achievements. We look forward to building on this strong foundation in the year ahead.