Ipswich 1 (Les Blues) and Ipswich 2 (The Netherlands) entered the Under 8 festival of hockey at Ipswich School Sports Centre on a sunny but very fresh Remembrance Sunday. Les Blues were made up of Bea, Idunn, Chloe, Frankie, Elias and Griff and the Ipswich Dutch were Stella, Amelia, Anya, Nico and Alex. Each team had 5 games of 10 minutes and competed really well, especially as this was the first time they have come against other clubs.

Both teams played some great hockey with lots of effort and endeavour and no little skill in freezing temperatures, all the while with great enthusiasm and a smile on their faces. Though a few goals were conceded by both teams, a few were scored and Ipswich continued to press and pose a threat, even in games where the score line had gone against them. There was some great defensive performances with Bea standing tall against at times a tide attackers alongside Idunn and Chloe for The Blues and Amelia and Anya also defending well for The Oranges, Griff growing in confidence having only taken up hockey a month ago and really getting stuck in, marauding runs from Frankie, Stella and Nico and great goals from Stella, Elias and Alex.

It was a great event and with many of Ipswich's opponents being 2 years older, Ipswich have real room to improve, both individually and as a team and this group will grow and go far. I would like to give a big thank Kate Wingar for coaching the Ipswich "Dutch" team and also to all the parents/supporters for braving the arctic temperatures, helping with substitutions and cheering on the teams.

We have several new initiatives planned but in the meantime we welcome your support and assistance and if anyone would like to help further, volunteer, help with coaching or has any ideas, we are very open to hear them as we are keen to make the junior section more inclusive and improve the sense of community within the section.