Caz Gray 6 a side Hockey tournament 2016 – press release

Record entry at memorial hockey festival

There was a big turnout from the local community to play hockey at Ballard School in New Milton, Hampshire in memory of Mrs Caroline (Caz) Gray, the Headmaster’s PA, who passed away in office two years ago. Caz had been a keen promoter of the Saturday parents’ hockey at Ballard and her husband, Stuart, and daughter, Sophie (a Year 11 student), were on hand to give out the prizes.

Hockey teams from far and wide

A record entry this year saw sixteen 6-a-side mixed hockey teams from across Hampshire, Dorset and even Gloucestershire (Dean Close Parents’ Hockey) including hockey clubs and local schools. There were also some family groups including Al’s Pals, mostly the Ballard Head’s children and their spouses! In the course of the morning over £300 was raised for the local charities supported by Ballard.

Most of the teams at the 6-a-side hockey tournament in April 2016

The winners and special prizes announced

The hockey itself was extremely exciting and every team had at least 6 matches with the overall winners managing 8 games – an exhausting but enjoyable morning played in bright, crisp, sunshine. Being a festival, special prizes were awarded for umpiring, the best dressed team, the ‘champagne moment’ and for the comedy moment as well as to the winners of the cup (a team of family and friends called Santa’s Little Helpers captained by Ballard Alumnus Richard Bloomfield) and the plate (the Ballard Alumni team). The runners-up were from The Arnewood School and New Forest Hockey Club.

Ballard School Alumni winning team for the Plate competition

The winning team – Santa’s Little Helpers

Ballard School and community

This was a community event at its best with players coming together from all walks of life and all ages, for men and women, boys and girls, for spectators and family supporters – all in memory of a special person, Caz Gray, and also an opportunity to raise money for good causes.

For more photos, comments and information do visit our Twitter page @BallardSchool.

 

Excellent start to our #hockey tournament at Ballard this morning pic.twitter.com/pKI4v0xfIb

— Ballard School (@BallardSchool) April 23, 2016

 

Ballard School is an independent, private co-educational school in New Milton, Hampshire, providing an outstanding level of education for nursery to GCSE. With small class sizes and proven academic excellence, we strive to nurture the academic potential of all students. Learn more about our academic programmes, pastoral care, facilities and school ethos by visiting our website or by requesting a prospectus here.