DAUNTING – OLD AND NEW

The Men’s 1sts face some potentially daunting opponents, old and new, when they make their return to the national league next season via Conference East. While Bromley & Beckenham (as Bromley only), Chelmsford and Indian Gymkhana come into the first category most fall into the latter, namely Canterbury, Holcombe, Old Loughtonians (albeit old East opponents), Oxted, Sevenoaks and Southgate.

Meantime the opponents of the Ladies’ 1sts are also known and with the loss from Conference East of Reading (promoted to the Premier League), Barnes & HE and Staines (both transferred to Conference West) and Maidstone (relegated) the team will be heading to Cambridge City (promoted as East champions), Chelmsford and Ipswich (both relegated from the Premier League) and Northampton (Midlands Champions) sometime during the 2009/10 season. So while the travelling will be less demanding for our team the same cannot be said about the likely standard of their opponents!

While the dates of the fixtures are awaited England Hockey have deliberated on the results of the extensive consultation undertaken concerning the desirability of moving Men’s national league matches from Sunday to Saturday and the following is an extract from the statement issued yesterday with the approval of EH’s Board.

“Three men’s EHL dates will move to Saturdays for the 2009/10 season to free up players and coaches for JRPC (Junior Regional Performance Centres). They are the 26th September, 10th October and 24th October. Clubs may switch these games to the relevant Sundays of those weekends if both teams agree. However, player and coach priority will be with the JRPC activity. The only other Saturdays to be used for Men’s EHL games allow for Cup and Performance activity on the Sundays of those weekends. A further review will take place at the end of the 2009/10 season.

EHL Clubs will be encouraged to trial Friday and Saturday evening games where they have appropriate floodlight lux levels, if required, in agreement with England Hockey.

England Hockey will undertake further scoping work on how it could be planned to ensure there were sufficient umpires IF a complete move to Saturdays was introduced in the future, for example in 3 years. This work will be undertaken with the EH Umpiring Committee and the NPUA (National Programme Umpiring Association). England Hockey will scope the investment require.”

As a club we will need to study the implications for us of the above. The full statement can be found on England Hockey’s website.

Congratulations and best wishes to:

· Tristan Baynes and Rachel Suckling on their wedding last Saturday.

· Philip Cobbald who has been selected to play for the England Veterans (Over 45s) team in Germany this weekend when their opponents will be Germany A, Germany B, Austria and a team representing the former German Democratic Republic.

· Ros Marsh from Essex who has been honoured for her outstanding services to hockey with the first Lifetime Achievement Award given by England Hockey.

You are cordially invited to the following:

· Sunday 21 June – Strawberry Luncheon, Ivy House Alburgh (by kind permission of Malcolm and Sue Blackham). Tickets are £10 (adults), £5 (children 7 to 12) – with children under 7 free – and are obtainable from Daphne Beckett (Tel: 07850 709297) or David Alexander (Tel: 01508 530237).

· Sunday 5 July in the Ball marquee – Jazz On A Summer’s Afternoon. Bring your picnic and relax to the cool sounds of the Dixie Jazz Bandits. Gates open 3.00pm. Tickets £10, accompanied U18s free – please contact Mike the Mender (Withinshaw) on 01379 852002. This event is being organised jointly by Harleston Lions, Scouts and Magpies HC.

Time to vacate the chair

I hope you will allow me to finish this ‘Chat’ on a personal note. After six years as club chairman (following two years of close involvement with other members in the funding/planning for the building of the water-based pitch) I have decided not to seek re-election at the AGM to be held on 18 June. My enthusiasm for the club is undiminished but with the advancing of the years (and following twelve months of health niggles) I want my club involvement to be less intense while not wishing to slip into full hockey retirement!

With kind regards and many thanks to all HMHC members and supporters.

Mike Denham Tel: 01603 506925 E-mail: [email protected] 29/5/09