U12 BOYS AND U10 GIRLS – EAST CHAMPIONS!

Our four teams competing in the East Club Minis, hosted over the weekend for the eighth successive year by the club, all did the club proud and it is special congratulations to our U12 Boys’ and U10 Girls’ teams for winning their events on what turned out to be Super Saturday.

EAST CHAMPIONS The U12 Boys came second in their pool and in the semis they twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Blue Hornets going on to win the penalty stroke decider 2-1 after their first stroke was saved. In the final against Old Loughtonians they scored with the last hit of the game to draw 1-1 before triumphing 2-0 on strokes. The team now represents the East, together with Old Loughts, in the national finals at Beeston HC on Saturday 14 May.

EAST CHAMPIONS The U10 Girls did not sail so close to the wind winning all their five pool games quite comfortably. In the final they came up against their old rivals Norwich City who now stood between them and their ultimate prize at the end of their quite outstanding season. They had to work hard for their two-goal lead against opponents who like them had not conceded a goal so far in the tournament. City pulled a goal back two minutes from time but Magpies (surely one of the club’s best ever age-group teams) were soon celebrating their well-deserved victory.

The U12 Girls made an excellent start in their event on Sunday winning their first four games before coming up against Sevenoaks in their last pool game. Sevenoaks went into a surprise two-goal lead before Magpies pulled a goal back but they couldn’t find the equaliser they needed to avoid Canterbury in the semis. Canterbury went ahead in the semis before Magpies equalised. Unfortunately the hard running Kent team fired in an unstoppable shot to clinch their place in the final where they beat Sevenoaks, the conquerors of Ipswich in the other semi, by two goals to one.

The U10 Boys came a very creditable 4thin their pool after one win, one draw and two defeats. One of their defeats was at the hands of a very impressive Old Loughtonians’ side which beat Blueharts 3-1 in the final.

Please see the website for full reports of all four events.

Thanks are due to the coaches and managers of our four teams for all their hard work over the season. It is also thanks to all the club members and parents who helped with the successful staging of the four competitions over the weekend. I have in mind the erecting of the marquees in the pouring rain on Friday evening, the car parking duties (despite one prominent playing member saying the job was completely superfluous!), the catering and the public address announcements, etc. Once again it was good fun if a little tiring for some of us.

STATEMENT FROM CLUB CHAIRMAN (1)
I am delighted to record the following.

Emma Lee-Smith has been voted by her peers as the Investec East Conference Player of the Season 2015-16. Emma has had another excellent season and thoroughly deserves this recognition. Emma also received the award in the 2012/13 season.

Charlotte (Tosh) Lee-Smith, following her outstanding season in goal, and her sister Emma have been voted by their peers into the Investec East Conference ‘team of the year 2015-16’. This is the first time that Tosh has received this honour and the fourth year running for Emma. What a family double!

Mike Denham has been shortlisted by England Hockey for their Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his devotion to our sport at national, regional, county and club levels over many years. Presentations to the winners in each of the categories (as listed on the England Hockey website) will be made at the EH Awards Dinner at the Madejski Stadium in Reading on Saturday 21 May.

Murray Graham

CONGRATULATIONS TO
Lizzie and Mark Wheelhouse on the birth of Henry on Tuesday 22 March. Henry is a brother for 2-year old Noah.

STATEMENT FROM CLUB CHAIRMAN (2)
Men’s 2nd XI
I’m sorry to have to inform you that Harleston Magpies have been adjudged by the East League to have unfairly strengthened the Men’s 2nd XI through the use of 1st XI players. The penalty imposed has been the docking of the points won by the 2nd XI in the matches investigated, leading to the relegation of the team. Harleston Magpies appealed unsuccessfully against this decision and is currently seeking further clarification from the East League as to the process followed and considerations made.

We appreciate how disappointing this will be to those who played for the 2nds in particular and who did so well to avoid relegation.

Murray Graham

OTHER NEWS AND COMMENT
At the end (or almost) of yet another season I thank Nigel Bedingfield of IceniPost.com for all the help and guidance he has given me with the distribution of Musings each week and for all the other help he gives the club with the website which he manages so successfully despite what seems the almost daily attempts by hackers to penetrate the security measures protecting the website.

Thanks are also due to everyone who has umpired for the club over the past few months. This applies whether they be club or pool umpires or club members who kindly umpire in the Norfolk and Suffolk pools. Players and spectators are indebted to them for the running of our sport. In turn umpires always know that they can rely on the guidance of the ignorant on the other side of the fencing!

If you wish to attend a Level 1 Umpire Course please see the Latest News page of the website.

In the quarter-finals of the England Mixed Trophy the club, who are defending champions, are at home to Khalsa (Warwicks) on Sunday 15 or 22 May. Please see the website for further details when known.

 

With kind regards
Mike Denham
[email protected]

19/4/16