NORTHERN Inland Academy of Sport ran a final session of the year for its Wests girls’ and boys’ squads with a special guest – Olympian Kate Jenner – joining in a fun day at the Tamworth Hockey complex on Saturday.
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Head coaches Greg Doolan and Andrew Farmilo ran a final session in the morning before a player versus coaches game wrapped up 2012.
Guest coach was London Olympian Kate Jenner and she also joined in for a quick hit.
A NIAS hockey squad member for three years herself she was home for a short break from her national hockeyroo duties.
“I’m back until January 6,” Kate told said on Saturday.
“Just home for Christmas and a little break. No training until next week.”
She said “a little coaching” and a “little hit” at the NIAS session was a nice way to finish the year and help out a hockey organisation that helped her make it all the way to the Olympics.
Andrew Farmilo wasn’t so sure about the fun game of hockey though and believed the white coaching shirts worn by all the NIAS coaches was something of a target for the young players to “belt a few balls at”.
It was all in good fun though although Farmilo wasn’t too impressed with the fitness of his girls’ squad.
“I wasn’t really happy with them,” he said.
“None of the girls improved their time from the set run.”
The set run is a five lap run the players are timed and with no one improving their times, it wasn’t a good sign entering Christmas.
“They will have to all improve on that,” he said.
He has 16 girls in his squad while Greg Doolan has 17 boys.
“Great having Kate here helping out today,” Doolan said.
“We have a pretty good squad this year, very strong and fit.
“We have another three or four sessions in February and then go to the Academy Games in Wollongong in April. We have changed the program a fair bit though. The sessions are now a lot shorter.”
NIAS’ Scott Campbell said Kate Jenner’s second visit to Tamworth in two months (she was home for the Academy Awards) was a bonus.
“She offered to come and spend a day with the NIAS athletes when she was in Tamworth recently,” Campbell said.
“She was looking forward to sharing her experiences and knowledge with the current NIAS athletes.”
He also said Andrew Farmilo and Greg Doolan were ensuing all the athletes left the weekends session with a clear understanding of their training program over the next month or so.
