Witham Hockey
Club 
NEWS.
| 26/08/08 | Hi everyone, For those of you not already into training for the new season a quick rundown on how the season looks so far (apologies if I am repeating this but some of you may not have had this) and it also has changed a bit. If anyone sees a glaring error let me know quickly please: Adults.
Ladies
Men
Juniors
Players will be contacted by captains if required for the friendlies and cup games. All male players are requested to make very effort to attend the Club/Trials day on Sunday 7th as we have a number of new players this season and we need to gauge where to fit them in. Umpires - Umpires will be required for all friendlies - I now believe they are being provided for the Cup games (captains please double check that), so if you are available to umpire any of the pre league games please let me know and I will pass on to captains. Clubhouse. - IMPORTANT We take back the clubhouse from the cricket club on 13th September and will need to freshen it up etc in that week before using it on 20th. On the morning of Saturday 20th we will also be working on the car parks and driveway filling in the potholes etc so anyone not playing that day please email me if you can come down and help for the morning. (bring shovels etc). Anyone who can give me any time in the week from 13th - 20th for a spot of cleaning and decorating please email me. It is your clubhouse so please lets have a good 'volunteer' turn out - most of you can do something to help. A great season is on the cards for all teams with everything to play for - so lets be having you! Regards as ever Chairman Wardy. |
| 21/08/08 | If you were not at the Club today (Sunday) you missed a cracking game of cricket. Match report by an unbiased reporter. The result saw Hadgrafts Hotshots beat the Suett Smashers in the last over of a 30 over classic. Ian Gibbs and Steve Hill cracking the required runs in an exciting finish that had all the spectators on their feet. The Hadgrafts cheerleader struggled with the 'G' for Gibbs but that may have been over indulgence with London Pride. A lovely sunny afternoon at the Park was a perfect setting for an exciting match with the Smashers initially in the form of Paul Field and John Wilson who both retired 'not out'. Field was joined initially by James Belsham and living up to their name of the Smashers had the fielders stopping (or not) boundaries . Wickets were hard to come by for the Hotshots although Belsham was caught on the boundary going for another big six, Dave Grainger came to the crease to follow the cause with some more big hitting. When he too perished to over indulgence with the big hit, young Josh Maleary surprised us all by some really good batting, scoring briskly to move the total along. Sam Taylor made a short but effective cameo appearance along with captain James Suett, before he too was caught hitting out. Paul Bellehewe was then out trying to mimic Kevin Peterson's reverse sweep, unfortunately hitting his own wicket! Kate Golding and Sue Field then put on a good partnership before falling to the deadly bowling of spin king Wardy. However with the score at 230 it was time for tea the required 30 overs having been completed. The Hotshots set about their task with some aplomb with openers Hadgraft and Wilsher in cracking form and they looked like winning the game by themselves.However some demon bowling by Belsham and Grainger had them back in the pavilion with the score on 73. Young Alex Piccolo made a short but effective partnership with Brett Parker who nearly matched Belsham with his boundary bashing of the bowlers. When Piccolo departed Dave Falp came to the crease and with Parker pushed the score along. In between times Gibbo had come on, scored a quick 30, and retired. April Pendleton and Wardy then made brief appearances before Steve Hill and Ian Gibbs in a last wicket stand (Metin unable to bat due to injury) secured a victory in the last over. All combatants then retired to the Clubhouse for well earned refreshments and a BBQ. A wonderful day - well done to Paul Bellehewe for organising the event and the for Claire and the ladies for doing the tea and for all the players and supporters who turned out. If you missed this year, don't next year - its going to be an annual event. Well done Witham Hockey Club. |
| 21/07/08 | New Season approaching! |
| 21/07/08 | Password required You will need a username and password to access parts of the website from today. The Username is - Season08-09 The Password is in the form - TtttttNNNN Clue. Tttttt - Road the Club house is on. NNNN - Year the club was founded. (or email for it!) |
| 21/07/08 |
100
Club Update Prior to the start of last season
we started up a new 100 Supporters Club to attract sponsorship to fund our
ambitious Youth Development programme which we started in late January 2007. We were able to do that
thanks to the donations by all the people or companies listed on the board
(pictured). Our aim was to raise £5,000 initially with 50 donations of £100 -
hence the name of the Club – with people keeping their name on the board until
it comes up for renewal, when they can then decide to re –donate or to let
someone have their space. This rotation will only start once the board is full
initially. Whilst their names remain on the board, every year they all go into
the hat for two free tickets to our Dinner Dance where they will be the guests
of honour. If they cannot attend (as has unfortunately been the case for the
past two years) then a donation equal to the sum of the tickets will be made to
the Juniors Fund. Those of you who have kindly donated to this fund now have your names
displayed on a superb new Board in the Clubhouse which rightly has pride of
place. A photo is included below and as you can see we have 8 spaces left so if you would like to assist in this
project please ring Bob Ward on 01376 513991 or email bob.ward49@btinternet.com - it would be great to reach our target
this year, then we can start all over again!! A very special thank you to Trevor
Upson (that’s Stephen from the 4th team's grandad) from Priory
Stud Horseboxes for providing the board, artwork and sign writing free of
charge and to all those on the board for their donations: So please feel free to join this list of brilliant supporters and let me
have your cheque sharpish! Wardy
|
| 19/07/08 |
Just a quick email regarding mixed hockey this coming season.
As you may or may not be aware Witham HC have entered a mixed team this
season and will competing in division 2E. Can all those intrested in
either playing or umpiring please let me know and those that know
members that are not on email let them know please... I have had a
friendly request from Romford which is on the 05/10/2008. |
| 15/07/08 |
Updates
Just so you are updated - following on from the
AGM (as minutes will be another week or so) the captains for the men's teams
for the coming season are:
Club Captain/Head Coach - Roger Brown (Dinky for
the new chaps)
Men's 1st Team - Division 1 - Brett Parker
Men's 2nd Team - Division 4 SE - Metin
Ledwell.
Men's 3rd Team - Division 6 SE - Paul
Loy
Men's 4th Team - Division 9 SE - Richard
Dunnage
The first three remain unchanged from last season
but Richard is doing this for the first time. He has only been with the club for
one season and this shows a lot of commitment by him to volunteer to take on
this role. Can I ask everyone to assist him as much as possible (especially all
the 4th team players by offering up to assist with the captains
responsibilities) and give him that good old Witham support.
Can I also publicly thank Harvi Tumber and Neal
Hadgraft who have offered to take on the Sponsorship role and again anyone who
can help them with advice, suggestions or contacts please do so.
For those not at the AGM - Adult Subs have gone
up to £90 - still payable in two halves if you wish - Oct and Xmas - this is
unavoidable due to the rising prices and we have kept it to the absolute
minimum. Match fees remain the same at £6. However Under 18s, Unemployed and
those in full time education whilst your Subs remain the same your match fees
will go up from £2.50p to £3.
Under 14's match/training fees will be £2 per
session and Subs will be £5.
Family membership is available for Subs in respect
of children under 18. The first child pays full subs, the second half subs and
any other children free - match fees are still payable.
We are still one of, if not the, cheapest clubs in
Essex with a Clubhouse to run and we have tried to limit any increase bearing in
mind the rises in the cost of living etc. but we cannot afford to not try and at
least break even next year. As always if anyone is in dire straits speak to
Gavin the Treasurer early on and he will do a deal if at all possible - don't
just give up your sport.
We will be holding a Club day at the Astro in early
September where all the teams will get a chance to play each other and captains
can have a look at the likely squad make up to start the season so please watch
your email for a date. When we know Training dates we will circulate them
too.
Well here's to another great season - come on
Witham
Chairman Wardy |
| 23/06/08 | Kelvedon and Feering Panther Cubs When Kay Fish, the leader of Kelvedon and Feering Panther Cubs was looking for a new activity to introduce to her pack which would enable them to progress in their Fitness Challenge Badge, which they need to achieve as a progression towards their Chief Scout Silver award; she wondered about hockey, and was delighted when the coaches from Witham Hockey Club offered to put on hockey training for two consecutive Fridays. The Cubs needed to show how they can learn a new activity and over the two weeks show an improvement, then going on to look at how they can improve their own health and fitness. The tutorials were a huge success and in the opinion of the coaches every one of them improved, some of them quite exceptionally. Kay was very pleased with the outcome saying 'All the boys thoroughly enjoyed the sessions, as shown by the attendance which was only one short of 100%, but they also clearly learnt a lot about a new sport and responded very well to the coaches. I can't thank Witham Hockey Club enough for their input, it was first class'. The Club coaches were equally pleased with how the sessions went and Coach Leaders Hannah Cagney and Geordie Tyson were unanimous in their praise for the Cubs ' They were a lovely enthusiastic bunch and some of them have a definite aptitude for the sport. We hope they will join our junior section when we re start in September'. Witham Hockey Club will again be running two 'hockey taster' sessions as part of the Extended Schools Programme during the summer holidays at the Astro Pitch in Spinks Lane, Witham. When known, details will be advertised on the Club website at www.witham-hc.org. Pictures : Club Coaches supervise a match between the cubs at the conclusion of training.    |
