Olympian Ben Marsden returned to his roots in Cheltenham when he presented the Awards at the Cheltenham Junior Hockey Club presentation evening. “If you have a dream, don’t be afraid to follow it,” he told the 300 strong audience at the event, held at Lillybrook Golf Club. “I was lucky enough to play for the County, the West, England and Great Britain, culminating in the Beijing Olympics,” he said, “and the message to all you talented players is, listen to your coaches.”

Ben was amongst the first to join the club which is a registered charity. It was formed in 1991 at a time when there was no junior hockey available for local youngsters who did not go to hockey playing schools. Now, with 250 members from under 9 to under 16 and waiting lists at many age groups, it is recognised as one of the biggest junior hockey organisations in the Country. With sessions on Friday evenings held at the Balcarras School Astroturf facility, it continues to produce high quality players with representative honours at County, West and national levels and many more who enjoy the pleasure and social nature of the sport.

During the course of the evening over 200 awards were made covering umpiring, technical ability, leadership, boys and girls most improved and coach’s best player awards in all age groups plus the top Award, the Alice Glenister Award for service to the Club.

This year this top award went to 18 year old Corrie Farrel who has gained her level 1 coaching award. Corrie, has run the Friday night goal keeping sessions for the club for the last three years. Her skill and enthusiasm are infectious. Corrie is at Cirencester Sports College and hoping to go to Bath University. She is the former Cheltenham Ladies First Team goal keeper and is now at National League Firebrands at Bristol.