Two New Schools Korfball Champions Crowned, One Still to be Decided
MKX Youth Korfball and the Bucks and Milton Keynes Sport Partnership recently held four tournaments for local schools. The two primary school and two secondary school events were all exciting and competitive yet very friendly and fair.
The primary school tournaments were always going to be hard to predict winners with more than 25 schools now playing the first paced mixed-sex team sport. The top primary school in Milton Keynes is still to be decided. Wavendon Gate and Meadfurlong won their qualifying tournaments with perfect records and will go head to head in January. There were strong performances from Drayton Park, Orchards, Newton Longville and former winners Langlands. A combined Milton Keynes team playing under the name of MKX will be competing in a tournament in Cambridgeshire in the New Year and the eventual schools winner will be invited to Kent to the national schools championships.
With the growth of korfball in Milton Keynes the secondary school tournament was split by age range. The hot favourites Oakgrove played true to form and won both the Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 tournaments defeating Shenley Brook End, Walton High and Leon School were a perfect record in each event. The Oakgrove teams contained several members of the MKX 14-18 team that competes in the local adult league, a league currently headed by Oakgrove Angels, a team comprising of Oakgrove teachers.
The tournaments were organized by MKX, the Youth Korfball Programme for Milton Keynes in conjunction with Bucks and Milton Keynes Sport Partnership and made possible by funding from the Milton Keynes Community Foundation.
Darren Gray Chair of MK City Korfball Club who run MKX said “The young players all had a great time and the standard of play keeps rising in the schools. Through MKX we have found young athletes that have now gone on to play for England across Europe and who are now taking their place in MK City teams. MKX is helping to build a strong future for korfball locally, but more than that all these young people are having fun, making friends and getting fit. I am delighted the schools are embracing korfball, the future is looking good for more success for Milton Keynes korfball.”
MKX trains every Thursday from 5-7pm at the Courtside sports hall on Milton Keynes College’s Bletchley Campus. Any young person aged 8-18 can attend. There are qualified CRB-cleared coaches to lead age specific sessions. MKX plays in tournaments across the country at different age ranges and the 14-18 year olds also compete in the South Midlands Korfball League.
MKX is looking for new players in the New Year and boys and girls of all ages and experience are welcome.
For more information call Darren on 07949411502 or go to www. www.mkx.korfballinmk.co.uk