Hockey Talent from Cundall Manor Plays for England U16s

Young Hockey Talent from Cundall Manor Represents England U16s

Cundall, North Yorkshire – Cundall Manor School is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of pupil Alistair, whose passion and dedication to hockey have seen him excel both nationally and locally over the Easter break.

Alistair, aged 14, recently represented England U16S at the prestigious 6 Nations Tournament, facing elite teams from across Europe including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Scotland, and Ireland. Demonstrating exceptional skill and composure, Alistair  helped England secure an impressive 3rd place finish, culminating in a 3-1 victory over Austria in the final match.

In addition to his international success, Alistair was named Young Player of the Season at the City of York Hockey Club’s Senior Awards Dinner – a recognition of his outstanding season playing with the club’s Men’s 1st team.

Alistair’s hockey journey began at Thirsk Hockey Club aged 7, where he continued to play until just a few months ago. During the same season, Alistair started playing hockey at Cundall Manor in Year 3.

His natural talent was evident from an early age, as he regularly competed above his age group and consistently demonstrated a drive to develop his skills. Beyond school fixtures, Alistair has dedicated countless hours to training and development — independently practising, attending holiday camps, and taking part in club and representative training and matches, starting at the age of nine with North Yorkshire U12s.

Alistair’s family see Cundall as a fantastic school environment that nurtures well-rounded and ambitious individuals, and one which has enabled Alistair to excel in his chosen sport. They highlight that, alongside Alistair’s self-motivated dedication, Cundall’s small class sizes and efficient use of lesson time help him to successfully balance his academic studies and extracurricular Cundall fun with a demanding daily training schedule and weekend hockey commitments. Alistair is also a keen tennis player and continues to play weekly for Thirsk Tennis Club

Mr. Couttie, Head of Boys’ Games at Cundall Manor, reflected on Alistair’s growth:
“We saw the potential in Alistair from a very young age. His commitment to the sport and determination to get better have been extraordinary. It’s fantastic to see that hard work and love for the game pay off at such a high level.”

Headmaster Simon Weale added:
“Alistair is a wonderful role model. Hockey is a major sport at Cundall and all of the pupils receive top-class coaching. Our teams are always competitive. Hopefully Alistair’s journey has only just begun and he will continue to inspire our school community.”

Everyone at Cundall Manor School extends their heartfelt congratulations to Alistair on his incredible accomplishments and looks forward to supporting him on the next steps of his hockey journey.