Hockey Umpiring Success and Water Polo Update

In a thrilling hockey match between Tulse Hill & Dulwich M3s and London Academicals M2, Year 11 pupil Carla shone through as she passed her Level 1 Hockey Umpiring Assessments with flying colours. The match was packed with incidents and the final scoreline was 3-6 in favor of London Academicals M2. Carla's assessor was impressed with her performance and commented that she and Alison her counterpart from Kingsdale school was so capable and efficient in umpiring, collaborating together, and communicating with the players that he was sure they had passed by half-time.

This achievement was part of a new initiative by London Hockey to hold a club umpire assessment day, where a group watched the top Men's and Ladies' matches and their appointed neutral umpires, and then carried out assessments and coaching on the other club matches of the day. Tulse Hill & Dulwich HC volunteered to host this event, which was the very first of its kind.

The day's schedule was brought to a successful close under the lights on the Alleyn's Astro by Alison and Carla. This initiative by London Hockey aims to encourage teenage girls to become qualified umpires and add umpiring to their hockey skill set and activity, as it is difficult to find and retain female umpires.

Further good news in the world of Alleyn's Sport was had this week as many of the national water polo competitions got underway. In a friendly, preparation tournament with City of London and Eltham College, our U13 mixed team came away victorious, beating both schools by a few goals. It was an excellent tournament for our mixed team, dealing well with two very physical all-boys teams, and prepares them well for their respective mixed and girls tournaments over the next fortnight.

Our U18 girls also qualified for their national championship finals on Tuesday, beating Colfe’s, Old Palace and Queen Elizabeth’s School (narrowly losing out to Trinity in their final game by one goal), meaning they qualify in first place, on goal difference! Their new additional weekly session during their Senior Games afternoon with Mr Green, on top of their other normal training sessions most definitely set them up well as a team and they look forward to their finals in Northampton later this month.