End of season wrap up

As we approach the end of April the league season is at last at an end. In various ways and overall the season has been a resounding success.

Uppermost in the achievements we have had the second XI winning their league and the reintroduction of the school match into the calendar, the latter being an extremely important part of our future. Following the difficulties the seconds experienced last season Rob Merry has done an exceptional job in leading his team to the league title with their snapping at the first XIs heels in the league below. Players coming into the club will now play a very good standard of hockey throughout the club ensuring keen competition for places.

Other than the legaue winning game on the 18th a Cranleigh "associates" school side helped open and christen the Westcott astro at the prep school on the 17th with the team comprising current school boys and girls, female and male OCs of various ages. The spread of ages and talents was a first and we rose to the occasion defeating a strong assembled opposition.

The summer leagues will be shortly underway with mens, ladies and mixed leagues all fully subscribed.

As we therefore break off for what I hope is a relaxed summer for all of you we as a club can be proud of our achievements both on and off the field with there being a perceptable buzz taking us towards our aim of becoming an all embracing and friendly club.

The work does not stop here though as we all need to encourage friends and fellow hockey players to join and to convince anyone we hear who may be thinking of leaving to think again.

Thank you all for making the 2008/9 season one to remember

Knappy.

Family day - 18th April

Happy Easter one and all

One last weekend coming up on the 18th April at TD with the 2s playing a league deciding game against Surbiton 6ths at 10.00 - win the game and they win the league - followed by the 1s v UCL and then a ladies or mixed against UCL. Along side this there are 2 rugby games against a New Zealand touring side and a BBQ.

So, come along and bring your children so we can say good bye in a fitting style to what has in the main a very successful season.

Knappy.

Apologies

Firstly and most importantly of all I must aoplogise if I offended anyone at last Saturday's dinner when appearing not to give anyone else the chance to speak. This was not an intentional affront with my assuming that anyone wishing to speak would step up and grab the microphone as in previous years. My whole aim when taking over the post of captain was to try and engender a real club spirit with that being the prime intention rather than success on the pitch. A thriving social club however will translate into better pitch performances.

On the field we approach what should have been the first weekend of the season break but as it is there are games to be played. The 1s and 2s can both secure promotion this weekend with the 2s having one more game after Easter with a win possibly winning them the title - a remarkable change around in fortunes from 12 months ago. This was one of the reasons for Rob Merry being awarded the club captain's award for 2009 with Eds winning the inauagural Loveland club member of the year award for his unstinting work through thick and thin over the last 6 years.

One season ends and another will shortly start as the summer leagues are being finalised - more details to follow.

For those of you who have now finished your hockey until September have a good summer and see you in 6 months time.

Knappy

Must keep it going to the end

Always easy to keep the interest going until the end of the season when things are going well but not so when it has been a tough campaign. For the 3rds it has been a really tough 6 months and the interest in playing has waned considerably to such an extent that Nigel is left with 7 players for this week's game at mid afternoon Friday. When the going gets tough the tough get going so come on everyone let's rally round and as a club support the 3rds.

Both the one's and two's have a very good chance of promotion and if the 2s win their league and the 1s finish second - the latter looking likely - we could end up in the same league - bizarre.

Dinner next week at the club so please make sure we have a good trun out.

Knappy

Reality check

The last couple of weeks have provided good illustrations of the reasons we play sport and how sport at our level fits into the order of things.

Nick's shocking accident was followed by HAC feeling embarrassed at turning up with 8, losing one of their better players to a nasty facial injury ( fractured cheek bone) but still putting up a doughty performance. No matter how well or badly we play eventually it all comes down to enjoyment and the need to relax after a stressful week - even if selling kitchens in Homebase.

On occasions sport has a tendency to ask the question " are you sure it is enjoyable" and HAC could well have felt that after the game on Saturday. Hopefully for their sake, and in particular Tim, that the knocks they took last week were not in vain.

Sport is important but not the be all and end all so as we are all lucky enough to play or take part in the sport of hockey lets enjoy it to the max whilst we can.

Knappy

Careful of disaster zone Lewis

Worst news of the last couple of weeks was Nick Lewis's home disaster number 2. Setting fire to the family home clearly did not evoke sufficient attention so he decided to go one better by trying to cut his arm off, blaming his brother in the process. All emergency services now have his name as do the local hospitals. I have heard some excuses for avoiding training but...

In all seriousness Nick, good job it was not your right arm and so can still hold a pint and open your wallet. Chin up and await your return to hockey playing duties.

A good set of results last week, the one's keep the pressure on at the top as do the seconds. We even have 2 players in the firsts deciding to ditch social events in favour of playing hockey - a real sign of renewed commitment to the cause and something that augurs well for the future. A crucial win for our ladies.

The dinner dance is now going ahead on the 28th March at TD so please make every effort to attend.

Knappy

A second break through

For a change Sunday evening was the highlight of my week as at 21.00 I had a call from Mike Wilson asking if the OCs could put a team together to play in Cranleigh Prep school's pitch opening on the 17th April. Having only 6 weeks ago had the inaugural Roger Loveland vase match against the school to now have the chance to play in the match on the 17th is excellent. Thank you Mike for asking us to play. Mike is the new head of the prep school.

We are pitched against a Westcott XI which is likely to include a number of the 1984 and 88 Olympic medal winners - some of whom are even older than me...

This really is a great opportunity to further strengthen the links between the school and the club with Mike having played for the OCs for a number of seasons when at the senior school as a master. He has always been and clearly continues to be very loyal to the club and an advocate of the OC society as a whole.

On the pitch life line for the firsts, disappointemnt for the 2s and a couple of humdingers for the 3s and 4s. The 3s first half performance was outstanding and their loss was just a matter of lack of belief.

Vets and ladies had no games due to half term - ladies because they have a half term break for home duties and the Vets...perhaps the grandads have home duties too...

Knappy.