PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS//
freestyle snowboarding (which involves
tricks) aged eight when he attended a
freestyle club at Snozone in Castleford.
Snozone’s coaches were quick to spot
his talent and have helped him develop
his skills.
He is also part of the Snozone Freestyle
Team, which competes in a national
league, and already has the support
of sponsors. Last year he was selected
for Team GBX, part of the Team GB
Snowboard Cross feeder group, and has
now been invited to apply for the Team
GB Park & Pipe Academy, feeder group
to the main GB Team for freestyle
snowboarding.
Charlie also plays rugby for Pocklington
RUFC and tennis at Sutton Upon
Derwent Tennis Club, where last
year he was awarded The Kimberley
Trophy, presented to the most
promising junior player in the club each
year. But snowboarding remains his
passion.
He said: “I love the danger. The risk is
great but making the landing feels awesome. I
also love the snowboard community and have
made a lot of friends all over the world from
snowboarding. Even though we are competing
against each other we are all good friends and
enjoy riding together and pushing each other to
do a bigger, more difficult trick.
“My next aim is to be selected for the Team
GB Park & Pipe Academy. That would be
amazing and help me move forward with my
snowboarding. I am currently trying to perfect
my 540s [540 degree rotations] which I am
landing successfully but not every time yet -
and I hope to be front flipping successfully by
the end of this season. In the future I would
love to represent Team GB in competitions
overseas, maybe the Olympics.”
Jessica McDowell
Fourth Year pupil Jessica McDowell
has been selected for the U15 North
Yorkshire Netball Squad after competing
against more than 100 other girls in two
trials.
Jessica now joins weekly training sessions
with fellow squad members and benefits
from the support of athletic coaches
as well as netball coaches. County
representation will follow as her team
takes part in matches and tournaments.
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THE POCKLINGTONIAN
She said: “There was a lot of competition,
particularly for my preferred position of Goal
Attack, but it’s been a great experience where
I am already learning new skills.”
Jessica, who also plays at Centre or Wing
Attack, is a key member of Pocklington
School’s U15 A team. In addition, she
represents York City Netball Club,
where she has played for a number of
teams from her age group upwards. She
has also begun supporting coaching of
the U12 squad at York City as part of
her Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award,
and recently umpired at a local U12
tournament.
Lucy Hornby, Teacher i/c Girls
Hockey and Netball, said: “Jessica is a
talented all- round sportswoman but with
netball as her real passion, her selection for
the North Yorkshire Netball squad is hugely
deserved and a great achievement.
“Jessica’s dedication to the sport is
outstanding and with continued commitment
to her netball, I feel this is only the start of
her further success. All of us at Pocklington
School are very proud of Jessica and we
wish her all the best as part of the North
Yorkshire Squad.”