Hallsy's Weekly Look Around the Academy - British Colleges Call Ups

The Worthing College Sports Performance Programme have been celebrating individual successes after six of its members have made it through to the final British Colleges' squads in their respective sports. Hooker Dec Peake, lock Charlie Watts and scrum half Brad Parker made it into the final 25 man Rugby squad after being successful at their final trial in Gloucester. The trio will be taking on a Leicester as well as two away fixtures against Portugal. Parker was extremely happy with his call up saying "I felt the trials went well, even though I had a couple of niggling injuries. I'm really looking forward to gaining great experiences from this programme, especially playing the sides we will be taking on in 2012." Parker also praised his team mates as well as Performance Programme Coach Ben Coulson. "I'm so pleased for Dec and Charlie as they have worked extremely hard and performed well over the trials that we went through. I would also like to thank Ben for giving us this opportunity as well as the time and dedication he gives to the whole programme. I'm also looking forward to the rest of the season with the College and hope we progress far in the BCS National League and Cup as well as the County Cup."

The Women's Football Performance Programmes Lucy Somes made it through to her final squad, with the unfortunate Darcey James and Danielle Lane missing out. Performance Coach Mike Bridges was full of praise for all the girls saying "I'm delighted for Lucy as she has performed consistently for us over the last 18 months and this will be an experience that can only make her an even better player. I felt that Darcey also performed excellently in her trial, so I feel for her that she didn't quite make it along with Danielle, who had to pull out of the final trial through injury. Despite only Lucy being successful it shows that the programme has come a long way in such a short space of time and this should be something that the whole women's squad should be proud of." Somes will be attending a February half term training camp at West Brom before moving onto their 2012 fixture programme.

Mele Jackson of the Netball Performance Programme also made it through to the final British Colleges Squad. Jackson was delighted, yet surprised with her selection. "I'm really please to have made the squad as the final trial was so tough. All the girls were extremely talented, so it was a nice surprise when I got in." Performance Programme Coach Tina Price wasn't surprised by Jackson's reaction. "Mele is a really down to earth and is not one of these people who shout about their successes. Mele has performed to an extremely high standard whilst being with us at the college and this is a reward for all her dedication as well as consistency, especially this season." At the end of this month Jackson will be travelling with the squad to Scotland, where she will be taking on the Scottish Under 19's as well as the Scottish Universities sides.

Also in her role of Performance Programme Co-ordinator Price congratulated Worthing 1st Team Hockey player and Worthing College student Ellis Woolley on being the sixth student to gain National Representative honours this season. "As well as our success as teams these individual highlights show how far the Programme has come in just five years. We are now playing at some of the highest College levels for sport in the country, which can only develop the performance of all programme members. The individual success of these six students have been celebrated by all squads and will motivate all to work hard and make sure that 2012 can be a successful year." In addition to this Worthing College student Elliot Storey has tasted success in the recent qualification round of the British Colleges Trampolining Competition. Storey showed good form during his high tariff voluntary routine, which eventually gave him the scores to not only progress, but to win the qualifier. Storey will now compete in the regional heat and will be looking to book a place in the National competition later on in 2012.

Happy New Year to ALL players and staff and here is to a successful 2012,

Hallsy