Welcome back everyone! To kick start the new term, our President of the Week this week is the one and only....

Sophie Brigg - Women's Hockey

Sport has been a part of my life since before I can remember. I owe a huge amount to my parents, for instilling their own love of sport in me, and finding the time to drive me and my two sisters to training, matches, trials... tournaments. Thanks Mum!

From an early age I was competing in football, netball, cricket, athletics, gymnastics, sailing and swimming, but my main passion was always hockey. As I got older, hockey was the only sport I was able to dedicate my time to. I played for my school 1st XI, Havant Ladies 1st XI from aged 14, my county and South of England. Whilst my success in sport gave me confidence, I learnt other values through the tougher elements. Losing big games or not being successful in a trial gave me determination to keep pushing harder. I’m grateful for the values I learnt such as commitment, time-management and sportsmanship, and have carried these with me through my time at school and into university.

I joined Canterbury Ladies Hockey Club as soon as I arrived in Canterbury, and at Fresher’s Fayre last year I only had eyes for the hockey table. I loved my time with 'Whockey' in First Year and made most of my closest friends though sport. I knew I wanted to be on committee in my second year, and my love of the sport and slight OCD organisation tendencies pointed me towards President. I’ve worked to maintain the all-inclusiveness of the club, with 12 girls picking up a stick for the first time ever this year, as well as pushing forward in terms of being competitive within BUCS. Our 1st XI have their sights set on promotion to the BUCS Premier League, and the 2nd XI have enjoyed a home win, and are benefiting from an excellent new coach. Between us, myself and the Men’s hockey president have introduced a second training session each week, and after Christmas we’ll be having an extra fitness session to get us ready for Varsity, where we are hoping for 4 Team Christ Church victories!