In a massive feat for Parkes, Ryan Dunford is the only primary school male hockey player from the Western Region to be on his way to the Pacific School Games at the end of the year.
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The Year 6 student from Parkes Public School has been selected for the NSW Primary Boys State Hockey Team.
He’s also just one of a handful of Parkes Public students who have been selected to play in the state side in the last decade or so.
Dunford’s selection follows his performance at the NSW Primary Schools Hockey Championships in Wyong between August 29-31.
He was a member of the Western team at the carnival, playing centre half and inner for the side.
As part of the NSW team, Dunford will travel with his family to Adelaide to compete at the Pacific School Games in the Australian Championships in December.
In its 10th year, the Pacific School Games will see teams competing in 11 different sports across both primary school and high school aged divisions.
The championships will begin with an opening ceremony on December 3 and conclude on December 8.
Life for the aspiring athlete couldn’t get much sweeter right now.
Dunford already has a state title under his belt.
He was the centre half of the winning Parkes Public School boys hockey team, who took out this year’s NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) Boys Hockey Knockout in Narellan last month.
After coming third in 2015 and runners-up to Westlawn from Grafton in 2016, 2017 was their year.
It was unfinished business with Westlawn when they re-met in the knockout’s final on September 12, where Parkes this time claimed a 1-0 victory.
Parkes Public School boys hockey team manager Judy Elliott knew Dunford’s talent would be taking him places.
“I was not surprised Ryan made the state side,” she said.
“But his mother tells me he was somewhat overwhelmed with his selection, especially as he was the only player from the Western team to be selected.
“He is a very good hockey player who listens well to his coaches.
“He plays a team game and can make excellent decisions of the run to pass the ball where it is needed.”
Elliott said Parkes Public was extremely proud of Dunford’s achievement.
“He conducts himself in a very responsible manner at school and is an excellent student,” she said.
Parkes Public has had a number of players selected to play in the state side in recent times – those being Jack Elliott in 2006, Mitchell Townsend (year unknown), Kyle Thompson (2014) and now Ryan Dunford (2017).
Dunford would like to thank his coaches Graeme Tanswell and Adam Gill (Western) for their time, effort and support.
