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Sport HistoryHockey Read moreHockey CloseHockey at Pocklington School 1989-2018 In 1989, the 475th year of the school’s history, co-education was fully introduced into Pocklington School! These were exciting times and my challenge was to introduce and develop a passion for girls’ sport within the school. Initially, due to numbers, we were only able to field hockey and netball teams at Senior, U15 and U12 age groups. However, the seeds were sown and as more girls joined the school, girls’ sport started to develop at pace. Fixtures were played against other schools and tournaments were entered in both hockey and netball. The following are some of the early successes achieved: 1990-1991 U12 and U13 hockey teams were undefeated. 1991-1992 U14, U15 and U16 hockey teams were East Riding champions. 1993-1994 five girls were chosen to represent Humberside Hockey. 1994-1995 the U15 hockey team was in the last 16 of the National Schools Competition. 1995-1996 a player was selected for the England U18 hockey team. 1997-1998 the U14 netball team were East Riding champions. 1999-2000 there were netball county honours for several girls. 2002-2003 the senior netball team were unbeaten, also winning two local tournaments. At the same time several girls represented the East Riding of Yorkshire. Pocklington School had certainly made its mark in the world of girls’ sport! In the last twelve years there have been numerous girls who have received honours over the years and represented their area, county and country – far too many to mention! There have been teams that have reached finals of national competitions and other amazing performances at a very high level. The development of the astro pitches in 2005 allowed hockey to go from strength to strength, also becoming an established centre for many tournaments and competitions. The girls are now preparing to embark on their tour to South Africa. The first hockey tour for the girls was in 1995 to the eastern side of Canada, twenty years ago! I am sure that everyone who went on this first tour and the ones in between will remember them being one of the best experiences of their lives. As I look back over the last 26 years, I am incredibly proud to have been a part of the development and growth of girls sport within the school. A tradition of touring is now established and all the girls and staff should embrace this latest opportunity and be proud to represent or coach the school teams in a new and, hopefully, unforgettable environment.
Mrs M Newhouse Rugby Union Read moreRugby Union CloseRugby at Pocklington School Pocklington has a long and proud tradition that grew out of the medieval mob football game played for centuries in the town. It was from this early game that England’s public school developed organised codes of football – rugby and association. Those schools without proper playing fields chose association that did not allow tackling, while those like Pocklington with ample nearby fields, opted for the rugby code. The first official fame of rugby between school and town in 1879 was organised by Canon WHA Walters, who had been one of the leading players in Wales and Cambridge University in the 1870s. Pocklington was one of only 30 school affiliated to the RFU at the time, making it one of the North of England’s oldest rugby schools. Pocklington had much early success including an unbeaten season in 1880-81 (team pictured below), but pupil numbers dropped to less than 50 boys and forced a switch to soccer in 1884. For a few years’ boys still played rugby for the town’s club, and in 1899 Pocklington old boy, William Judkins played three tests for the British Lions. The Lions had been due to tour South Africa but the Boer War forced a late change to Australia where the Lions won the series 3-1. Pocklington started playing rugby again in 1911, when the school grew in size and England international GH Keeton became headmaster. The first fixture was a 15-0 defeat by Yorkshire Wanderers - several of the boys who played in the game later fought in World War 1 and did not return. The 1920s and 30s saw several Pocklington old boys star in Country and Top club sides, and a number of outstanding school XVs produced. Some stars were tipped for top honours but again did not survive the coming conflicts. For example: EG Petrie (who scored 11 tries for the school in a 97-0 victory over Ripon when a touchdown was only worth three points) being killed in the Spanish Civil War in 1937. The 1940s and 50s saw more notable teams and individuals. In the 1960s three Pocklington old boys were England trialists or non-playing reserves. Rugby did not allow replacements until 1969. Pat Briggs had four final England trials, captaining the Midlands against the 1969 South Africa tourists, before becoming a successful England Under 23 coach. The school celebrated its rugby playing centenary in the 1979-80 season and since then there have been a number of unbeaten sides and a dozen boys have won England Schoolboy honours. School teams also started touring over seas, since 1980 Pocklington sides have toured France, Holland, Canada, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In recent times several Pocklington old boys have played in the Premiership: in 1994 Diccon Edwards represented Wales A at rugby union, and in 1995 he toured South Africa with the North of England. In 1996 he was capped by Wales in rugby league and became the England U20 coach. Jon Stuart played for Scotland A, was on standby for the full Scotland side to tour South Africa in 1999, and is now a rugby agent. Although the school had produced so many international trialist, schoolboy and youth caps, A international, and a British Lion, a full international cap remained elusive until Rob Webber, who had played for every England age group side, at last made the final step up in 2012. |