• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Councils ask for planned mayoral election to be postponed

    Councils ask for planned mayoral election to be postponed

    Leo Group owner completes epic cycling challenge for MND research

    Leo Group owner completes epic cycling challenge for MND research

    Support for Penrith Mountain Rescue Team after charity box stolen

    Support for Penrith Mountain Rescue Team after charity box stolen

    Inspiring Penrith teacher Dawn Coates retires after 26 years

    Inspiring Penrith teacher Dawn Coates retires after 26 years

    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Nurturing Eden school praised by Ofsted

    Nurturing Eden school praised by Ofsted

    Inflation and the impact on savings

    Inflation and the impact on savings

    Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

    Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

  • Sport
    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Councils ask for planned mayoral election to be postponed

    Councils ask for planned mayoral election to be postponed

    Leo Group owner completes epic cycling challenge for MND research

    Leo Group owner completes epic cycling challenge for MND research

    Support for Penrith Mountain Rescue Team after charity box stolen

    Support for Penrith Mountain Rescue Team after charity box stolen

    Inspiring Penrith teacher Dawn Coates retires after 26 years

    Inspiring Penrith teacher Dawn Coates retires after 26 years

    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Use it or lose it: Urgent appeal for people to get on the bus

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

    Nurturing Eden school praised by Ofsted

    Nurturing Eden school praised by Ofsted

    Inflation and the impact on savings

    Inflation and the impact on savings

    Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

    Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

  • Sport
    Success for fighting squad

    Success for fighting squad

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    £100,000 target for new changing rooms extension

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Medal success for Upper Eden tug-of-war team

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Eden man competes in Hyrox World Games

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Kirkby Stephen hockey girls beat the odds in ‘fairytale’ national title win

by CWH
13 February 2023
in Latest, Sport
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Left to right are Phoebe Pickersgill, Jessica Sansom, Lilia Hutchinson,Tilly Rose, Martha Bainbridge, Neve Ivinson, Rosalyn Civil, Lucy Capper, Emma Pedley, Jodie Graham, Liberty Bainbridge and PE teacher Helen Paul, with captain Erin Treece at the front.

“A David and Goliath story” is how Kirkby Stephen Grammar School under-16 hockey team’s victory in the national schools finals at Nottingham was described.

A hockey team comprises 11 players, and Kirkby’s whole squad numbered just 12, as there are only 12 girls playing hockey in that year group at the 360-pupil school. And, of the eight schools in the finals, only three were state schools.

“This just shouldn’t have happened!” said PE teacher Helen Paul. “It was all a bit surreal. We were an unknown school — even the organisers were enthralled by what was happening, saying ‘who are Kirkby Stephen?’ It was like David and Goliath or Cool Runnings (the story of the Jamaican bobsleigh team) — a fairytale.”

The story is all the more remarkable as the Kirkby Stephen team almost did not go to Nottingham last Monday due to the costs involved.

“We really struggled. The entry fee alone is hundreds of pounds and then there is the transport cost,” said Helen.

Kirkby Stephen qualified for the finals by winning the North Cumbria and Cumbria finals, before being unbeaten in the regional finals in Cheshire.

At the Nottingham Hockey Centre, the Tier 3 under-16 teams were split into two pools of four. Kirkby finished top of their pool and played Tiffin Girls’ School, from Kingston-upon-Thames — another state school — in the final, which they won 2-0.

“It was 0-0 at half-time, but I told them ‘you’ve got this’. Everything was lined up,” said Helen.

And so it proved, as two goals from England player Martha Bainbridge sealed the victory. Martha was the tournament’s top goal scorer with six — netting all her team’s goals and making them the competition’s top scoring team.

“As a PE teacher I will never do this again,” said Helen. “You never imagine having success like this with a school so small.”

Helen saluted her “amazing players” and also paid tribute to Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club, where most of them play the majority of their hockey.

“Most of them play week in, week out with Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club first or second senior team and they know each other really well.

“I am very much aware of the effort these girls put in. The day was a pleasure from start to finish. We went to enjoy it and not be overwhelmed, and before they played I said ‘You are in a national final. If we win it will be amazing; if you are second, that is also amazing’.

“We should not have been anywhere near these private, massive schools. I don’t think I will ever have a year like this again — we will never forget it,” added Helen.

Related Posts

Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape
Latest

Penrith’s Enterprise Hub plans start to take shape

11 July 2025
Success for fighting squad
Sport

Success for fighting squad

11 July 2025
Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme
Latest

Long-awaited go-ahead for A66 dualling scheme

8 July 2025
Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers
Latest

Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

7 July 2025
Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone
Latest

Lake District mountain rescue volunteers called for missing man searching for lost phone

7 July 2025
Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning
Sport

Penrith skipper Nicky Burns calls on team to keep winning

4 July 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Inspiring Penrith teacher Dawn Coates retires after 26 years

Inspiring Penrith teacher Dawn Coates retires after 26 years

11 July 2025
Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

Extinction Rebellion protest outside insurance brokers

7 July 2025
Inflation and the impact on savings

Inflation and the impact on savings

11 July 2025
Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

Man arrested after assault in Penrith town centre

11 July 2025
Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

Celebrating Alston’s heritage heroes

11 July 2025
Councils ask for planned mayoral election to be postponed

Councils ask for planned mayoral election to be postponed

11 July 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald