Merry Christmas and Happy 2009!

Hi All,

There have been a few changes in December, I returned to the Green kit of Chelmsford HC for the National Indoor League at Croydon where we had a slow start but a successful second day of results which still gives us the opportunity to qualify for the National Finals at the NIA in January which is our aim at the moment. We beat Ipswich 8-4 and Olton 4-2.

I have also been fortunate to become a Team Essex Ambassador towards London 2012 Olympics which offers a chance for me to promote sport across Essex and help give an insight to youngsters about what it takes to be an elite athlete and reach the Olympics. It also gives me some more support to enable me to train more and focus my attentions on hockey.

This week I was invited to Gosfield Golf Club to meet and see how the Juniors are developing at the golf club. I played many golf fixtures at Gosfield GC and was lucky enough to captain the Essex Girls Team to Regional winners of County Week, so it was a nice visit back to the club in Essex.

I would like to thank all my sponsors and supporters for 2008. It has been a successful year in reaching the Olympic Games and I hope 2009 can be just as good and hopefully in future times we will be challenging for medals!

Happy Christmas All.

Chloe 12
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Below are pictures of the flowers presented by Gosfield GC...

Essex Legacy Wesbite

Essex County Council have launched a new website highlighting London 2012 Olympics news.. Well worth a look for the latest developments...

http://www.essexlegacy.org/

Indoor Hockey Pictures of Chelmsford

For pictures from the first weekend of indoor hockey in Croydon check out Nick Robinson's flickr site

He's got plenty of shots of Chelmsford ladies in action, along with Ipswich, Olton, Clifton, and Bowdon Hightown.

Here's a taster:


Top shot: Chloe in action and below with Chelmsford's Lynn Bollington.

Newspaper Report

From the Dunmow Broadcast

Dunmow's sporting stars Chloe Rogers and Dan Bentley have been selected by Essex County Council as recipients of the Team Essex Ambassador's Awards, a funding programme which will help support potential Olympians across the county.

Twelve athletes identified as having the potential to compete at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be awarded a £6500 bursary to help with the cost of training and competing at the highest level.

Dan Bentley, 24, won Paralympic gold in the team Boccia competition in Beijing in September.

The victory brought Great Britain's first ever gold medal in the event which is similar to indoor bowls but designed for people with cerebral palsy, and he has received the backing he needs as he chases further success in 2012.

Twenty three-year-old Chloe, alongside fellow former Helena Romanes School pupil Lisa Wooding, did the town proud as they helped Great Britain to their highest Olympic finish since 1996 in Beijing.Team GB finished three places above their world ranking in sixth and Chloe is now dreaming of a medal in London.

The athletes selected come from all across the county and cover a wide spectrum of sports from hockey to 100m hurdles and disability swimming to sailing. In return for the bursary the athletes will become sporting ambassadors, expected to dedicate time to inspiring young people across the county to become involved in sport.

Cllr Stephen Castle, Essex County Council cabinet member for Economic Development, Regeneration and the 2012 Games said: "In our Essex Sporting Ambassadors we have 12 great athletes and it gives me enormous pleasure to know that Essex County Council funding could contribute to their success in London 2012.

"As equally important as the funding is the commitment the athletes are making to work with the young people in our county - to encourage them in sport and teach them about commitment and discipline."The athletes will be formally presented with their awards at a reception at The House of Lords in January.

First Weekend of Indoor Hockey

Chloe's been playing for Chelmsford in the indoor hockey league last weekend... Check out Peter Savage's report and excellent photo of Chloe, Lynn Bollington and Ipswich's Emma Lee-Smith...

Talk Hockey Radio Blog

Newspaper Report

From the Southend Evening Echo

Essex County Council announced the recipients of the Team Essex Ambassador’s Awards, a funding programme which will help support potential Olympians across the county, yesterday.
Twelve athletes identified as having the potential to compete at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be awarded a £6,500 bursary to help with the costs of training and competing at the highest level.

The athletes come from all across the county and cover a wide spectrum of sports from hockey to 100m hurdles and disability swimming to sailing.

In return for the bursary the athletes will become sporting ambassadors, expected to dedicate time to inspiring young people across the county to become involved in sport.

“In our Essex Sporting Ambassadors we have 12 great athletes and it gives me enormous pleasure to know that Essex County Council funding could contribute to their success in London 2012,” said Cllr Stephen Castle, Essex County Council cabinet member for economic development, regeneration and the 2012 Games.

“As equally important as the funding is the commitment the athletes are making to work with the young people in our county, to encourage them in sport and teach them about commitment and discipline.”

The athletes will be formally presented with their awards at a reception at the House of Lords in January.

The other nine recipients are: Anne Wafula Strike, 39, from Harlow, athletics (wheelchair racing); Chloe Rogers, 23, Barnston, Gt Dunmow, hockey; Sarah Claxton, 29, Colchester, athletics (100m hurdles); Alexander O’Connell, 20, Brentwood, fencing (men’s sabre), Daniel King, 25, Colchester, athletics (race walking); Ryan Crouch, 14, Colchester, disability swimming; Dominic King, 25, Colchester, athletics (race walking); Martin Evans, 16, West Mersea, sailing; Daniel Bentley, 24, Great Dunmow, boccia.

Film

BBC Essex film about a visit to Helena Romanes School in Great Dunmow. Click here to view...