Loreto hosts successful 'Hockey for all Blitz'

[singlepic id=258 w=320 h=240 float=right]There was a buzz of great excitement last Sunday afternoon when over ninety schoolchildren from 5th & 6th class of Loreto Primary School, Grange Road took part in a “Hockey for all” Blitz hosted by Loreto Hockey Club in Rathfarnham.

All nine teams played a series of Round Robin matches that eventually lead to the Pink Team (Captained by Sara Rogers ) and Red Team (Captained by Cliodna Mac Greevy) making it to the Final.
The Final turned out to be a superb advertisement for Junior Hockey with both teams really giving their all. The Red Team scored early in the final but a very determined Pink Team fought back to win the match 2-1. Carly Blackburn who played outstanding in the final, won the “Player of the Tournament Award”.
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Another great highlight on the day, was the arrival of Loreto’s Irish Hockey International Player Nikki Symmoms. Nikki who has won over 160 Irish caps, happily spent hours doing a “Meet and Greet” session with all the children, answering a range of questions and signing endless autographs on hockey sticks, hockeybags and even the players tee-shirts. Nikki also presented medals to all finalist

Loreto Hockey Club was founded in 1926 and is one of the largest and most successful ladies hockey clubs in Ireland. Loreto also has a thriving Junior Hockey Section which caters for over 250 schoolgirls. In the recent past the club has been very successful at All-Ireland level winning the Irish Senior cup in 2002, 2003, 2008 and the Irish Senior League 2009.

Bronwyn O’Donnell, President of Loreto Hockey Club, confirmed to About Magazines that as this “Hockey for all” Blitz proved so successful, that the Hockey Club planned to run another such event in early 2012 for another 100 local children.

Pictured is Sr Maria Hyland (Principal of Loreto Primary School) with Irish International Hockey player Nikki Symmons