Inter-Region Junior Hockey and Football

2 Cadets from Beccles were chosen to go and represent Central and East Region at our Annual Junior Hockey and Football Competitions. Cdt Anya Clarke got picked to go and play for the Junior Girls Hockey team and Cdt Sinead Butcher got picked as a Non-Travelling Reserve, but unfortunately never got called up. Cdt Alfie Goldspink got picked to go and play for the Junior Boys Football Team, and Cdt Lewis Mathews would have probably got through as well if he hadn't have broken his collarbone in the previous Wing Competition.

"On Saturday the 19th of November, sixteen cadets from Central and East region took part in the junior boys inter-region football competition.  Seven of those cadets came from Norfolk and Suffolk Wing.

 The competition included traveling up to RAF Cranwell, where it was hosted, on the Friday night and sleeping over in the accommodation provided.  We had to share a room with another cadet from our Region in rooms of two and march up to breakfast in the morning.  Come 09:00 hrs, all six teams from across the Nation, including Wales and west region, Northern Ireland and Scotland, North of England, South West of England, London and South East, and ourselves, we were ready for kick-off.  

 There were three teams in two groups and there would then be a first placed play off match, third place match and fifth place match to determine the medals and positions of each team.  The games were 15 minutes a half and it became clear that when we started playing, luck was not on our side as we dominated our first game against south-west only to come away with a goal-less draw.  We were then on next against London and we could all tell it was not going to be an easy game, we had our chances but were mainly on the back foot, resulting in a 1-0 defeat.  Thankfully we were given the chance to play in the third place match and took it well, beating Scotland and Northern Ireland 1-0 to clinch a prestigious bronze medal.

 Overall, It was a very rewarding and exciting two days which resulted in me making new friends and achieving great things.  I would definitely encourage more cadets to go for the trials in the future because you never know how far you'll go."

- Cadet Alfie Goldspink

"After a cooked breakfast we headed over to the hockey pitches and started our warm ups. The first match was delayed and we had to play on half the pitch shooting width ways because the other half was in the shade and was still frozen so it was agreed on that it would be too dangerous to play on. In Central and East Regions first match we drew 1-1. One of our players got injured and had to be taken to a&e in this first match too. This meant that we only had two subs for the rest of the competition. After a few matches it was decided that we could play full pitch again because it had thawed out enough not to be dangerous. We played a few more matches and drew all but two which we lost but only by one goal in each of these both times. Out of 6 teams we were fifth and had some really strong competition but we all put as much as we could into this and are all proud of the whole team and efforts.

This being my first year in the ATC and in the hockey team I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and I look forward to trying out for the team next year."  
- Cadet Anya Clarke

Well done to both of these cadets, an amazing effort for such young cadets. Anya had now been in the Corps about 8-10 months and this is now how 3rd Regional Representation, something incredible and she should be extremely proud of herself. We can see some amazing sporting achievement coming for Beccles this season!