THIRSK Hockey Club’s Under-16s girls’ team were crowned English champions after triumphing in the final of England Hockey’s National Cup competition at Nottingham Hockey Centre at the weekend.

The knockout competition was staged at the end of a Covid-hit season, and started with the opening rounds in May. Thirsk’s U16s started their campaign with resounding 17-0 and 23-0 wins over Stokesley and Wigton, before seeing off Wakefield with a 4-0 home success.

They then beat Alderley Edge (9-0) and Repton (3-2), before triumphing 3-2 at Bournemouth to set up a final against Kent-based side HC Knole Park.

The final was played over two 35-minute periods, and Thirsk took the lead after a tight opening period from an overhead hit from a well-drilled short corner.

Knole Park struck back with two goals in quick succession at the start of the second half, but with head coach James Pollock watching on, Thirsk equalised after a dribble from another short corner.

The North Yorkshire side struck from a third short corner to claim a 3-2 lead with seven minutes to go, and held on for a notable win.

Thirsk’s success makes them the first North Yorkshire side to be crowned national champions, and comes at the end of a difficult season which has seen Covid restrictions make it hard for the team to train together.