Two hundred children took part in a Festival of hockey which was held over two days at Chelmsford Hockey Club's headquarters in Chelmer Park, Galleywood.

The festival, organised by Mrs Janet Sutton and Mrs Sue Waspe, saw members of the E.H.L. club Chelmsford again team up with Nat West Bank to organise the Chelmsford Junior Schools Festival.

Since September last year, local primary schools have taken part in this scheme and approximately 1,000 children have benefited from qualified hockey coaches taking sessions in their schools.

International players have also guest coached in several of the schools.

Day one saw the nine to 11 age group participate in matches officiated over by young umpires. The standard of play was exceptional and was a credit to the coaching staff.

Teams consisted of six-a-side boys, girls or mixed and divided into two groups with trophies and medals, generously sponsored by Nat West Bank, Chelmsford, going to the winners and runners-up of each group.

Competition, at such a young age, was fierce and it went to a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner of group 'A' between Boreham School and Cathedral School, the latter taking the prize on strokes.

In group 'B', Barnes Farm School won the title with St John's School just behind on points in second place.

The "fair-play" award for sportsmanship was won by St John's School.

Day two was the chance for the younger children to show their talents. Seven to nine year olds competed in two groups for the coveted prize.

Urged on by many proud parents, this was for many of the children the first time playing as a hockey team, and although the weather threatened to put the dampener on proceedings, it held off for the completion of the festival.

The final positions put Cathedral School 'A' team in first place in group A with St Cedds School a near second place.

The winners of group 'B' were the Mildmay School, by one point from Cathedral School 'B' team. St Cedds School won the 'Fair Play' award.

All children taking part in the two day festival received certificates and the presentation of trophies and medals was made by Mrs Jane Moulding, personal banking manager for NatWest Bank, Chelmsford, and Miss Marie Arber Vice Captain of England U18 squad and a member of Chelmsford L.H.C.

Schools taking part were: Boreham, St Cedds, Cathedral, St Phillips, Mildmay, Westlands, Nabbotts, Barnes Farm, Elm Green, St Annes and St Johns.

The umpires were: Rachel Buckmaster, Martin King, Ben Wallace, Trevor Waspe, Marie Arber and Robert Wallbank.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.