Free taster sessions in hockey are being offered by the Matlock Baileans Hockey Club (Derbyshire) on two dates. The first is on 8th September and the other on 12th September. The sessions are to encourage people to take up the Olympic sport of hockey, backed by the Olympic success of Team GB in Rio. Great Britain’s women’s hockey team struck gold for the first time, in the final on Friday night, with the BBC revealing that over 9 million viewers watching the match.
Ellie Watton was one of the reserves for the hockey squad to Brazil. She started to play in the junior section of Matlock club, the Matlock Monkeys, at a young age, just old enough to hold a stick, following her mother’s footsteps. She followed the sport right through college, to when she became a PE teacher in Oakham School. Ellie made her first appearance at the Investec Challenge Cup, for England, against South Africa, in February of 2013. From then on she has worn half a century of caps. The recent success of the the Olympic team over defending champions Netherlands, the club hopes, will motivate more players to take up the hockey stick.
The free sessions are separated into two age categories, with the session for players aged 5 to 12 years being held on 8th September, from 6pm in Wirksworth. The other session for players of 13 year and above, will be on 12th September, from 6pm to 8pm, at Wirksworth. Sticks are being provided. Those interested in the free sessions can contact the Matlock Baileans Hockey Club by email to sue.hickmore@hotmail.co, or go the their website- matlockhockey.co.uk
