Left: Toby Collins in action in Hobart last week at the Schools Sports Nationals. Right: Toby with his gold medal and the trophy.
It was a glittering weekend for Parkes hockey with gold and silver medals for two players who shined on the national and international stage.
Sixteen-year-old Parkes High student Toby Collins came home with gold from Hobart where he was vice-captain of the NSW All Schools Team winning the national title. NSW beat Queensland 2 – 1.
Toby’s team won six from six round games and fought hard for the gold medal. Queensland went into the lead 1 – 0, but NSW equalised with a great field goal, and then took the lead with a successful penalty stroke. Toby played a brilliant game feeding the ball for attacking opportunities and some amazing defence moves, which caught the eye of the Australian selectors.
To cap off a massive week for Toby, he was selected in the U/16 Australian All Schools team with several of his teammates.
“I felt excited and proud of myself and our team that we had continued to work hard to achieve our ultimate goal of the gold medal,” said Toby, who started playing hockey when he was four years old.
He did not expect to be selected for the Australian side and said being named was a huge achievement. He has certainly taken a step closer to the honour of playing for Australia one day.
When he is not playing for the Central West Premier League Competition for Parkes United, and in the local A grade for the Crows, the Year 11 student will be preparing for the All Australian team’s European tour next year. “We will be playing in Holland, Germany and Belgium against other national teams in a four nations tournament.”
Toby said he was able to catch up with another Parkes hockey legend and ex-Olympian player Stephen Davies in Hobart last week. “He inspires me to strive to do my best.”
He was also following the Australian teams at the Commonwealth Games with the Kookaburras winning their seventh straight gold medal, and Parkes Hockeyroos star Mariah Williams claiming the silver medal with her team.