The girls' 1st XI hockey team won the Christ's Hospital Pre-Season Tournament for the third year running

Hockey girls' hat trick at Christ's Hospital

In their first outing on Saturday, the College girls' 1^st XI hockey team put in a strong performance to win the prestigious Christ's Hospital Pre-Season Tournament for the third year in succession.

Fresh from their tour to Australia and Singapore, the girls played some skilful hockey and their fitness levels and the understanding they developed on tour were evident on the pitch.

The Christ's Hospital Tournament is in its 19^th year and is played as a round robin competition with matches lasting 20 minutes. Despite having a bare 11 players, which meant that every girl had to play 80 minutes of virtually non-stop hockey, Epsom did not concede a single goal and won the tournament with victories over St John's (3-0), Brighton College (2-0), Tormead (1-0) and Christ's Hospital (1-0).

On receiving the trophy, 1^st XI captain Tash Nichols expressed her delight at winning the competition and thanked the players, umpires (including the College's Mike Oliver) and staff. "We were able to put together a lot of what we learnt on tour," she said.

"Its super to begin the season so positively, with a good win at the start of the new campaign for the 1st XI," said Director of Sport Fi Drinkall.