Primary school hockey final

Over 340 youngsters in Pembrokeshire have participated in a new sort of hockey festival this year.

Launched by Hockey Wales, the ‘4689 festivals’ are based on a new way of introducing youngsters to hockey, called 4689.

Children are first introduced to playing 4v4 on smaller pitches, before moving to 6v6, 8v8 and finally 9v9 on progressively bigger pitches.

In this way, the number in a team and the size of the playing area gradually increases as the children’s ability improves.

The 4689 route is aimed at children aged between seven and 13.

Some players take part in competitions involving teams of 8, while others are introduced to the sport via more fun, flexible activities.

The 8s hockey final was recently held at Sir Thomas Picton school and pupils from six primary schools in Pembrokeshire took part.

They were from Mary Immaculate, Prendergast, Wdig, St Teilo, Milford Junior, and Bro Dewi.

Round robin games were played and the matches were umpired by silver hockey ambassador Ffion Price.

The winners were Ysgol Wdig and the runners up were Milford Haven Junior School. Both will now represent Pembrokeshire at the ‘West is Best’ 8s final in Carmarthen on 9th June.

Angela Miles, hockey agent for Sport Pembrokeshire, the sports development team at Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “The standard of play was very high and many of the players are now in local hockey clubs.”