Magpies’ Tournament – with my thanks!

Another excellent weekend enjoyed at the club. Following on from the East Minis it was the turn of the annual Magpies’ Tournament last Saturday and Monday and I thank all the teams (16 on Saturday and 24 on Monday) for their vital support. Saturday was warm for the Open Mixed Challenge and Monday overcast and cooler for the Ladies’ and Men’s Club XIs day.

As Phil Appleyard, the late President of the old Hockey Association, used to say events don’t just happen – they need organising. In that respect there are a lot of people to thank which I did over the weekend and I am very pleased to do so again although there are far too many members and supporters involved to name individually here.

But I’m sure that everyone who attended the two days of friendly rivalry would expect me to single out a few members for their hard work. I have in mind James Smith and Kirstin Cumming, for their overall management of the event, Daphne Beckett and her splendid team in the kitchen, Robert Stimpson and Katy Osborn behind the bar, Lawrence Baynes as Monday’s Master of Ceremonies, David and Philip Cobbald for all their much appreciated work on the pitches and Drs Graham Clark (Saturday) and Jenny Blyth (Monday) for looking after the First Aid. For no particular reason Jenny was far busier than Graham – but both get the same fee (our thanks!). I also thank members (and non-members) who umpired over the weekend under Kirstin’s management and all members who helped with the car parking and those who stayed behind on the Monday to assist with the speedy dismantling of the marquee and the general tidying up.

As for the hockey there was much for players and spectators to enjoy including seeing the HMHC Below Par men wearing their fetching pink tutus! These did not stop them and the similarly attired ladies going on to beat Loddon 4-0 in the Cup Final on Saturday in which Barney King of Loddon was the POTF (Player Of The Final). In the Plate final another HMHC side beat the UEA Elite 1-0 with Tim Barker of the UEA the POTF.

On a particularly busy Monday (and with our thanks to Mr Robert Wharton for the use of his car park) Beccles won the Ladies’ Cup Final on penalty stokes over Bury with Lorraine Greenwood, the Beccles GK, the POTF. Loddon beat Thetford in the Plate Final with Wendy Jennice of Loddon being chosen as the POTF.

In the Men’s Cup Final Thurrock (paying a very welcome first visit to the tournament) beat Ipswich 1-0 with Robert Sebon of Ipswich receiving the POTF award and in the Plate Final Trent Old Gits beat Norwich Dragons by the same score. And who should be called up as the POTF – the Old Git himself, James Smith!

Congratulations to:

· Cherry Seaborn who has been selected for the England U18 squad who are playing three matches this weekend (Friday to Sunday) against Germany in Cologne. Best wishes Cherry!

· Rachel Clifford who will be presented next week with her award as the Martin & Acock Norfolk League Division 2 leading scorer of the season with 23 goals.

You are cordially invited to the following:

· Sun/Mon 24/25 May – Topcroft Open Gardens (10 in all), 11am-5pm. Refreshments, Cake Stall, Raffle – £3 entry with proceeds to St. Margaret’s Church, Topcroft.

· Thursday 18 June – Annual General Meeting (8.00pm).

· 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).

· Saturday 4 July – Summer Ball. Tables are going quickly. Please contact Jose Tibbenham (Tel: 01379 854160).

· 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.

· Thursday 13 August – HMHC Golf Day at Bungay GC: playing in teams of four in men’s, ladies’ and mixed categories – £100 per team. Please contact me (01603 506925) for more details.

With kind regards to all HMHC members and supporters.

Mike Denham Tel: 01603 506925 E-mail: [email protected] 6/5/09