JUNIOR members of Abergavenny Hockey Club were given the chance to gain some additional coaching and inspiration from Great Britain and Welsh player Sarah Thomas.

The event was run by Hockey Wales as part of an Easter coaching camp aimed at children between the ages of nine and 12.

The Olympic themed event was held at Cyfartha High School on Monday, April 2 and lasted all day. Abergavenny players Archie and Fred Brock attended the eight hour event.

Hockey Wales hosted the event and provided several exiting activities such as their 'Speed Cage' which tested the speed that players can hit a hockey ball, with Archie and Fred being ranked in the top two most powerful hits throughout the day.

There was also a chance to try out the 'Smurf Turf '- (an inflatable fun sized hockey pitch) which seemed to be the favourite activity of the day.

Other activities included mini-games, small training drills and circuits and an inspirational talk from the GB star.

Sarah Thomas originally from Merthyr Tydfil has been capped 53 times for Wales and 39 times for great Britain. She scored for Great Britain most recently in the Champions Trophy quarter final versus Germany with the GB side eventually getting through to their first ever final and picking up a Silver medal against Argentina.

The Abergavenny boys had chance to speak with Sarah who was impressed with the skills that they were learning and clearly able to demonstrate. She signed sticks and presented the boys with a photograph of her scoring versus Argentina during the Beijing Olympics.

Sarah also signed an Abergavenny shirt and posed with the group for photos.

The day started bright and early at 9.30am and over 100 junior players from across schools and clubs turned out to be part of the occasion.

Other young players from Monmouthshire also attended and are now keen to become new Abergavenny players. The club looks forward to welcoming George, Mary, Niamh and Victoria after the Easter Break.