CHILDREN, staff and parents at Mowden Hall School celebrated the opening of their new astroturf pitch at the weekend after months of hard work came to fruition.
The artificial all-weather sports pitch at Mowden Hall School was officially opened on Sunday.
Charlotte Childs from the Great Britain Hockey Elite Development Programme attended the celebrations to cut the ribbon to officially open the astroturf.
Simon Lee, Durham University Hockey coach, also attended the event and the pair held an hour-long masterclass for Mowden Hall pupils.
Work began on the pitch at the end of last year after a group of parents began a fund-raising campaign to introduce an artificial pitch, when matches were being cancelled because of waterlogged pitches.
As well as having the opportunity to receive the special masterclass on the new pitch on Sunday, pupils joined staff and parents for a celebratory hog roast and drinks reception.
Mowden Hall's marketing assistant Debbie Freeman-Griffith said: "Everyone shared the sentiment that pupils at Mowden, both current and future, are incredibly fortunate to use such a formidable facility.
"Huge thanks are due to the generous group pf parents who initially started a fund-raising campaign, as well as to the Cothill Educational Trust who brought the project to fruition."
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