MIKE’S MUSINGS – 9 September 2014 : Magpies Hockey
JOHN SEAMAN
I am very sorry to record the death of John following a reaction to a bee sting he suffered while working in his garden the weekend before last. John was a popular member of the club in the 1980s when for several years he was captain of the 4ths as well as serving on the playing committee. The club extends its condolences to Janet, John’s wife, and to all members of the family on their great loss.
TIME TO LOOK BACK AND FORWARD
Musings is back for another season of league hockey but I’m sorry to say due to health issues (and age!) a replacement author will be needed for the 2015/16 season and hopefully another member will come forward over the coming months to grab the baton. But before then it is time to look back a little and time to look forward with our usual enthusiasm and optimism to the months ahead.
Looking back a lot of work has been carried out over the summer with the revamped website, the preparation of the handbook and the upkeep of the club’s grounds and clubhouse and I paid tribute to those involved in the August Musings. In addition, and as always, the following have needed attention over the summer – the accounts and pitch bookings by Jose Tibbenham, the club’s kit by Kirstin Cumming, youth issues by Nick McAllen and Kirstin, commercial issues by John Rowe (the club’s new commercial manager), the fixtures by Dawn-Wenda Harvey (Ladies) and Yvonne Long (Men), the latter having succeeded new grandmother Merna Merrett who did a splendid job with the men’s fixtures for six seasons. So it is a big ‘thank you’ to Jose, Kirstin, Nick, John, Dawn, Yvonne and Merna and to Tristan Baynes, the club’s new playing manager, who has worked his socks off over the summer finding members to fill the various positions not filled at the AGM in addition to working closely with Dawn and Yvonne over the fixtures. It is also a big ‘thank you’ to new club president Philippa Taylor (who has succeeded Tony Williams after his three very successful years in office) and to re-elected chairman Murray Graham (the first six years are the worst Murray!) for all their hard work over the summer. I’m mindful that the foregoing is not comprehensive so please forgive me if I have omitted your contribution especially if you have been coaching our teams over the past few weeks!
Looking forward I am pleased to say that the Ladies’ 1sts will be sponsored for a fourth season by Kilbourns.co.uk (The Ford Specialist), the Men’s 1sts will be sponsored (for a second season) by Dynamic Sports Clothing & Equipment Ltd and our other major sponsors continue to be accountants Lovewell Blake, IceniPost.com and accountants Larking Gowen. I am equally pleased to say that to our list of major sponsors has been added the name of M.R. King & Sons who own garages in Halesworth (Volvo), Lowestoft (Peugeot and Suzuki) and Saxmundham (Peugeot and Suzuki). I hope you enjoy drinking your tea or coffee in the clubhouse from the mugs kindly supplied by Mr Jason King as part of his company’s sponsorship. Our thanks are due to all our sponsors and advertisers and it is to be hoped you will kindly give them your support if you are able to do so. If you do please mention HMHC!
Preparations for the new league season continued last weekend with a series of practice matches and that will be the case for most of our teams again this coming Saturday. But not for the Ladies’ 1sts who start their sixteenth successive national league campaign (in this spell) away to newly-promoted South champions Maidenhead (1.00) who are led by player-coach Jane Smith the former Slough, England and GB star. Magpies are this season captained by Lucy Belsey with Debbie Francis making a very welcome return as vice-captain (following the birth of Ella) and coached and managed again by, respectively, Clyde Camburn and Nick McAllen. The squad also welcomes back Bryony Lund (from university), Katrina Sitch (following her year with the 2nds) and Cherry Seaborn (albeit only for three league matches) prior to Cherry taking up her appointment with Deloittes, the leading management services company, in New York. The squad will be further encouraged by their PLUM tournament wins over Bedford (2-0) and Oxford Hawks (1-0) last weekend. Best wishes to the squad for this coming weekend and for the rest of the season.
At this time of the year we bid farewell with our best wishes and a feeling of sadness (we will miss them) to members going off to the exciting unknown of university and this year the list is longer than I can ever remember. So it is all the very best (with our thanks for their services to the club) to Dominic Absolon, Holly Baker, Sarah Brook, Emily Brown, Lisa Dobson, Giles Flatt, Jemima Jacobs, Lizzie Jones, Matt Judge, Catriona Maciver, Fiona Mackenzie, Jenny Meyer, Jake Morton, Jonathan Payne, Katherine Ridley and Mitchell Tompkins. They know they will always be very welcome back at Weybread during their holidays or permanently in the future. Once a Magpie always a Magpie! Please let me know if there are any omissions from this list. Next week I plan to include other goings (and comings) since last season.
Congratulations and very best wishes to:
a) James Lane and Laura Hassan on their marriage on Saturday 23 August.
b) Emma Whipps and Dan Shingles on their marriage on Saturday 30 August.
c) Danny Kerry (ex-Norfolk and Pelicans HC) on his re-appointment as head coach of the England and Great Britain women’s squads through to the 2016 Olympics. In addition he will continue in his role as Performance Director of England and GB Hockey. Danny said: “I’m highly motivated about the challenge ahead, and I believe that with our athletes, staff and programme, we can continue to challenge the best in the World. At the same time, I’m confident that with the processes and structure that we’ve put around my role as Performance Director, I will still be able to maintain the strategic oversight needed to give effective direction to performance hockey in Great Britain”.
Online Shop
John Rowe (commercial manager) tells me that the new stock has arrived, the necessary printing has been carried out and stock levels have been updated on the website. It leaves some gilets to arrive leaving the club in a strong position to deliver members’ clothing needs. So John urges you to get ordering! He also thanks you for your patience during this transition. NB. If you order a shirt there is no need to ask Kirstin for a number as Dynamic will sort this out with Kirstin.
Great North Run
Club member James Graham and his friend Jack competed in this event last Sunday running in their goalkeeping kit (minus for some reason their helmets!) which explains why their time of 3 hours 4 minutes was a little slower than that of winner Mo Farah! James and Jack (who has diabetes) were running in aid of Diabetes UK and should you wish to support them and their cause please go to www.justgiving.com/JackPandJamesG
Message to parents/guardians
You are very welcome to come into the clubhouse (your clubhouse) to make hot drinks in the kitchen, to use the Wi-Fi etc. and to watch television.
Message to dogs
You do not need to leave a deposit to enjoy the club’s grounds!
Change of email address
Please note that Peter Dolton’s address is now [email protected]
Thank you for getting this far – assuming you started at the beginning! I meant this edition to be briefer.
IceniPost.com – sponsors of www.magpies-hockey.co.uk
With kind regards Mike Denham [email protected] 9/9/14
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Match Results – SATURDAY/SUNDAY 6/7 Sept 2014
Saturday 6 September
LADIES 1s – PLUM tournament (F) (A)
v Bedford 2-0 W, v Oxford Hawks 1-0 W
LADIES 2s – no game
LADIES 3s/4s v Norwich Dragons 3s (F) (A) 2.30 2-0 W
LADIES 5s v Norwich Dragons 4s (F) (H) 10.45 (S) 7-0 W
LADIES 6s – no game
LADIES 7s v Loddon 2s (F) (A) 10.30 OFF
GIRLS Dev. – no game
MENS 1s – no game
MENS 2s – no game
MENS 3s v Bury St Edmunds (F) (A) 11.30 5-3 W
MENS 4s v Norwich City 3s (F) (H) 12.00 (W) 2-3 L
MENS 5s v Norwich Dragons 4s (F) (H) 2.00 (W) 2-2 D
MENS 6s v Norwich City 6s (F) (H) 3.30 (W) 7-0 W
Sunday 7 September
MENS 1s – PLUM tournament (F) (A)
v Doncaster 6-1 W, v Wapping 2-1 W
BOYS Dev. – Dereham tournament (F) (A)
GIRLS Dev. – Dereham tournament (F) (A)
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