(It was meant to be a Mini Musings this week and it has turned out to be a Maxi plus – but reading it is optional!)

SPONSORSHIP OF THE CLUB

As we have almost reached the end of the season (the Mixed are at home to Burton in the quarter-finals of the EH Trophy on Sunday 17 May at 1.00pm) I would like to thank on behalf of the club all our sponsors and advertisers for their much appreciated support once again.

Our sponsors and advertisers are listed on page 4 of the club’s handbook and on the club’s website and it is hoped that members and supporters will kindly consider giving their support to these friends of the club and in doing so would you please mention Harleston Magpies HC.

I remind you that our main sponsors are Dynamic Sports, Kilbourns.co.uk (The Ford Specialist), M.R. King & Sons, Larking Gowen, Lovewell Blake and IceniPost.com.

Kilbourns.co.uk have come to the end of their 4-year sponsorship of the Ladies’ 1sts and the club is very grateful to Mark and Debbie Kilbourn for their invaluable support during that time.

The club is therefore looking for a new sponsor for the Ladies’ 1sts but I am pleased to say that Dynamic Sports will once again be sponsoring the Men’s 1sts next season during their exciting return to the national league.

With the continued growth of the indoor game and with the distinct possibility of a local league next season the club is also seeking sponsorship for our indoor teams.

There are many other ways to support the club and I am currently looking to extend the range of opportunities available to businesses to help the club while at the same time promoting their businesses to the wider community. The current list of opportunities can be found on the club’s website under ‘WELCOME’ followed by ‘Advertising Through HMHC’.

If you would like to discuss any of these opportunities or know of any business that might be interested in sponsorship of the club I would be delighted to hear from you.

Finally, my personal thanks to all our sponsors and advertisers for their support during the past twelve months.

John Rowe, Commercial Manager
07798 517454   [email protected]

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WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO?

With their defeat in the England Hockey Men’s Over 50’s Masters Final last Sunday the Magpies’ squad must be wondering what they have to do to win the event after their third disappointment at this stage of the event in the past four years.

Well over 60 Magpies’ supporters had congregated at the Lee Valley Sports Centre, hockey’s legacy venue following the 2012 London Olympics, in Stratford to cheer on the squad and cheer they did as the names of the squad were read out after the two teams had walked out together. This was in contrast to the almost silence that greeted the Reading team from their much smaller contingent of fans.

But the Reading fans had more to cheer about in the opening minutes of the game as their team looked for the vital opening goal. But thanks to some skilful defensive play, with Jerry Blackmore in outstanding form, Magpies were able to keep the talented Reading team at bay and as the half drew on Magpies began to look more dangerous. With the game still scoreless at half time the Magpies’ fans had cause to think that this might be our year. But early in the second half former England centre forward Rob Thompson put Reading ahead with a fierce shot into the top left and shortly afterwards they were two ahead with a similar goal.

Magpies responded well to these setbacks although they overdid the long ball from defence. After deserving a penalty stroke when skipper Jon Aldridge was impeded in the circle Magpies were awarded one soon afterwards. Player-manager Peter Dolton bravely stepped up to take the stroke only to see his effort saved by the Reading keeper. Magpies continued to take the game to their opponents without reward only to go 3-0 down with two minutes remaining. The Magpies’ players not surprisingly found this defeat hard to take but they had done themselves, the club and their fans proud once again against surely one of the best ever Over 50’s club teams. Their fans showed their appreciation at the final whistle and in turn the players responded by thanking them for their enthusiastic support.

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DAFFODIL DAY CRAFT AND COUNTRY FAYRE
SUNDAY 10 MAY 2015
INVITATION FROM LANGLEY SCHOOL

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Are your family at a loose end this coming Sunday? Not any more!! A live music stage; kids Attractions Area (with unlimited access to bungee trampolines, water zorbers, bouncy castles, assault courses and rodeo bull, etc.); tea tent; BBQ & bar; over 70 tempting craft, small business and market stalls; dog agility; corporate and local charities stands; dancers; model boats and planes; our bluebell woodland walk and much, much more is on offer at the Daffodil Day Craft and Country Fayre, Langley School, Langley Park, Loddon, NR14 6BJ between 10am – 4pm.

Buy your entrance ticket on the gate – £5 Adult, £3 Children (under 18). Attractions Area Wristbands – £7 youth, £2 toddler /small child when purchased with entrance ticket or £10 and £5 respectively if purchased later in the day.

Proceeds will be in aid of the Quidenham Children’s Hospice (EACH) and the Big C.

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MAGPIES MAY DAY WEEKEND FESTIVAL

It is a big ‘thank you’ to James Smith and Kirstin Cumming for once again masterminding this event with the invaluable help over the two days of Helen Barber (on the PA system etc.) and a host of members and parents. The following is James’ account of the weekend.

Another great weekend of hockey took place with 36 teams competing in Mixed, Ladies’ and Men’s tournaments and seeing the return or for some their first experience of the origins of the game – grass hockey pitches.

Needless to say it takes a huge amount of effort from across the club to host such an event from as simple as nipping to Budgens for fresh salad supplies to umpiring all day Saturday and Monday – the list of helpers is considerable. Thank you to everyone who has helped in any way, small or large and particularly those who were new to the event this year. Many times I visited the kitchen to find faces I did not recognise serving excellent bacon rolls and a selection of homemade cakes.

Back to the hockey, we did have some fun…….on Saturday we played mixed hockey and welcomed 17 teams to the club including a group of teenage ninja mutant turtles who took to the field distracting their oppositions with flailing turtle shells. The minions arrived and needed considerable and regular liquid refreshment to wear their outfits in full but it was Tie Dye Pies who led the Magpies charge reaching the cup final with an unblemished record winning the cup final on flicks. Holly Riches, Tie Dyes goalkeeper, was named player of the final.

In the plate Norwich City reached the final where they faced an improving NR1 HC but their improvements were too little too late with Norwich City securing the Plate Trophy with a 2 – 0 win. Rising City star Ethan Merchant being named player of the final.

Having had a respite from hockey on Sunday the Ladies’ and Men’s Club days took over on Monday. A last minute call off in the men’s section led to a degree of panic first thing as the format of the day was rewritten to adjust to the new number of teams. However with matches underway it soon became clear that teams were taking the event seriously with some committed tackling, hard running and high scoring matches. In the men’s section there soon became a top and bottom end to the table with Norfolk Pies and Mixed bag of Nuts moving away from the pack and entering the Cup final. Norfolk Pies won 3 – 1 with Tom Cooke of Norfolk Pies being named man of the match. In the plate it was Bury St Edmund pitting their wits against Thetford. With Bury having to borrow a number of Thetford players over the day to make up their squad it was fitting that Thetford ran out winners to claim the Plate trophy. Matthew Kyle, Thetford’s opening goal scorer of the final, was named player of the final reflecting the 8 matches he played for Thetford, 6 for Bury and a full day of mixed hockey on Saturday…..apparently his feet are now a bit sore!

The Ladies’ day saw 5 teams get narrowed to 4 on the result of a match between two of the teams when points earned, goals scored and goal difference were tied. The beneficiary of this technical approach was Harleston Magpies who scrapped into the cup by the finest of margins. This was all they needed navigating the semis to meet Christchurch in the final. With the scores one a piece at full time it needed flicks to settle the result. After the initial barrage of 5 the scores where still level and sudden death flicks were needed. The 8th round of flicks finally settling the result with Treacle scoring and Lucie saving resulting in a well-deserved home win. Lucie Gooch, Magpies’ goalkeeper picked up the player of the final award for her penalty flick heroics.

In the plate Loddon took on Grasshoppers who had narrowly missed out on entry to the cup and it was therefore no surprise to see them make the final of the plate where they narrowly overcame Loddon. The Player of the Final was Olivia Lockerbie from Grasshoppers.

With the hockey all finished for another year yet more thanks are needed…..marquees, goals, rubbish bins and the grounds generally were tidied up in record time (thanks in no small part to the tidiness of the teams) enabling me to find time for a quick pint at the bar before 7.00pm. I think that is a record! It has just taken 19 years of practice.

So onto our 20th year. I want to improve the tournament for all and see the event continue for many more years. However to do this we need more helpers and new ideas. If you would like to help or just have some suggestions do let me [email protected]  or Kirstin  [email protected]  know and next season we can start to plan another successful event.

James Smith

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STRAWBERRY LUNCHEON
SUNDAY 28 JUNE 2015 12 NOON
at Julin, Withersdale Road, Mendham
by kind permission of Mrs June Ridley

You are cordially invited to this ticket only event which is always one of the most enjoyable in the club’s social calendar

For tickets £12.50 (Adults), £5 (Children 7 to 12), Free (U7s)
please phone Jackie Ridley (01379 854697), Frances Taylor (07717 531269) or Jose Tibbenham (07881 811259)

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With kind regards

Mike Denham

[email protected]

6/5/15

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