The weather may have been bitter, but the atmosphere was warm at the opening of our refurbished Astro pitch at the Gordon Field on Saturday 19 January.
Parents, Old Bedfordians, trustees and former hockey staff gathered for a hockey-filled day to celebrate the official opening of this refurbished facility, which culminated with a win for the 1st XI against local rivals Oundle. To kick the day off, Bedford Girls’ School joined our Prep boys for several games of mixed hockey. This was followed by a special lunch in the Café Bar in the Dining Halls, hosted by Head Master, James Hodgson and Director of Hockey, Samuel Mee, who were joined by some of the school’s foremost hockey figureheads such as Richard Walker, Tim Machin and Jerome Watson. Boys from the 1st XI, fresh from their national indoor success, were also able to dine with the guests, and it was wonderful to see the generations of hockey enthusiasts mingling and sharing fond memories. After lunch, Mr Hodgson shared some old school hockey anecdotes before everyone headed up to Gordon Field.
A block fixture against Oundle was already underway which made for a fitting timing of the cutting of the ribbon. Tim Machin, Jerome Watson and Captain of the 1st XI, Tom Blythman, were delighted to do the honours and herald the start of the hockey season and the first official fixture on the new pitch.
Tim told us afterwards, “It was wonderful to see so many old friends, including fathers who I taught at school. Jerome and I worked it out that we have coached hockey at the school for over 80 years between us! The 1st XI put on a great display to beat Oundle 8-2 and the hockey, like the school, is in a very good place. It was also good to be at such an event for four to five hours and to hear nothing of Brexit!”
The boys were certainly not put off by the added pressure of a big audience, coming away with four wins at home and four wins away.
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1st XI won 8-2 (H) |
U15A lost 0-1 (A) |
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2nd XI won 4-1 (H) |
U15B won 3-1 (A) |
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3rd XI lost 1-3 (H) |
U15C won 4-0 (A) |
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4th XI lost 2-4 (H) |
U14A won 3-1 (A) |
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U16A won 3-2 (H) |
U14B lost 0-2 (A) |
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U16B won 4-1 (H) |
U14C won 3-0 (A) |
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U14D lost 2-4 (A) |
