Witham Hockey
Club 
NEWS.
| 21/10/08 |
GET BACK INTO HOCKEY
Unfortunately due to the small number of
entrants Witham Hockey Club have decided to cancel the Basic Skill Hockey Course
that we were planning to run starting Sunday 26th October. This may have been
caused by a problem with our marketing, so we intend to re advertise and run it
again in the New Year. If anyone is interested please email Bob Ward on bob.ward49@btinternet.com or
telephone 01376 513991 and he will ensure you are contacted in advance of the
start of the re-scheduled course.
Anyone wanting to get back into hockey in the
meantime can always come along to our regular training sessions from 8pm -10pm
every Wednesday night at the Bramston Astro, and you can be sure of a warm
welcome.
|
| 15/10/08 | Hi folks At last night's committee meeting we decided to go ahead and have another 'Run off the Christmas Pud' club mixed friendly at our Astro on Saturday 27th December followed by a drink at the clubhouse. This was hugely successful last year and well supported (even by visiting Kiwi players !!). Paul Bellehewe is again organising so can you let him know if you are interested in playing and if we again get enough for two teams we will book the Astro - obviously if we get more than that - we can organise something better!!!! Paul's email is pbellers26@hotmail.com We are also close to finalising the season's social functions including a Casino night (new), curry night (new), a games night (new), race Night and possibly something on Firework Night - we have also booked the Dinner dance and the Village Tournament. As soon as dates are confirmed with me I will give you all early notification for your diaries. Well done last Saturday everyone - great results all round even those just losing - so keep it up folks. Regards Wardy |
| 15/10/08 | Dear All, The Ladies 2nds are running a Casino Night at the Club on Saturday 31st January 2009 from 7.30pm to 11.00, Gaming will be from 8.00 – 10.30 with a cabaret and prize presentation 10.30 – 11.00 On the casino night we will have two gaming tables, one roulette table and the other black jack. These tables will be hired and run by professional Croupiers, It was advised that the tables being run by professionals will be better then the ladies 2nd running them because it would assure fair gaming, and that no guest can dispute a bet !! but also the 2nd team can concentrate on hosting the social night and enjoy the evening too. The club holds 80 people standing but with the tables and to be comfortable there is a 65 ticket limit. Tickets are to be sold at £10 and In comparison to professional/party casino nights this is relatively cheap. Tickets are to be sold up front with no ticket purchase on the night. So please see any member of the Ladies 2nds and book your tickets now and give them your money or you might miss out on a really great night out. There is a dress code, this to enable everyone to feel the theme of the night. It is a Fancy dress night but for those who do not wish to go fancy dress it is suit or smart frock. While the croupier’s count the chips there will be a small cabaret and a prize will be issued to the person winning the most chips by the end of the night. Throughout the evening Vegas themed music will be played and some of the 2nd team members will waitress and will also provide snacks to soak up all those cocktail drinks. The club house is to be transformed from a hut to (as real as we can get it) a Vegas Casino. So don't miss out or don't moan if you do!! Wardy |
| 15/10/08 | GET
BACK INTO HOCKEY Cancelled. |
| 13/10/08 | Fixtures in excel |
| 24/09/08 | ITS
- BACK WITH A BANG - The Ladies 1st team are organising the first 'do' of the season with a 'Back with a Bang' gig from Dun and Dusted ( the band we had at the Dinner Dance and you all know how good that was). Paul and his band did a great gig at the clubhouse last year for those of you who came and this year promises to be even better so book your tickets now with any of the ladies 1st team - £5 per head or £15 a family of 4 - from 7pm - 11pm - Saturday 4th October 2008 Whether you just want to sit and listen to some great music or get up and gig about (who can forget Gibbo's dancing!!) then this a good night out for you - and its cheap! This will be another great night so don't miss it. Wardy |
| 23/09/08 |
First Mixed game is a friendly on 5th Oct
away to Romford and is a 2pm game. Anyone in club who wants to play
mixed hockey please contact Metin.
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| 23/09/08 | Get Back Into Hockey in Witham
Starting on 26th October this is your chance to get back into playing hockey with a friendly club. The course is designed for both beginners and lapsed players so if you're a bit rusty or if you've never played before then this is a great opportunity for you to get involved. The course is a bargain at only £20 and there's a taster session being held on 19th October so you can see what it's all about. For more information and to book your place contact Bob Ward at Witham Hockey Club by bob . ward49 @ btinternet . com or calling 01376 513991. |
| 23/09/08 | Hi everyone, Well didn't we get off to a good start with 38 juniors out there enjoying their first training day in such lovely weather. Lets hope the enjoyment lasts even if the weather doesn't. Please remember we play in all weathers so please make sure your children have suitable clothing for the day.we do collect up anything left behind each week! A warm welcome to all the new juniors and mums and dads we hope you enjoy your stay with our club. Now down to a few admin details. Due to the cost of the astro we have had to raise the weekly home training fee to £2. This coming Sunday training will however be at Maldon H C whom we jointly play in the league with. Their Astro is right next to Maldon Town Football Club which is next to Maddison Heights which most people seem to know. If you are unsure of directions please contact Jo Maleary as I am away this weekend. Start time is as usual 10.30am. We will only charge £1 for training at Maldon as its a bit cheaper than our astro and Jo will collect it there or advise otherwise. The following Sunday we are playing our first league matches which were due to be held at Upminster. However, that will now change and is probably going to be at Brentwood but Jo will let you all know for definite this Sunday, if it has been finalised, or I will email you next week. There is no charge for league matches. Thank you to all those who have already paid their Subs, and for those who haven't a reminder that they are £5 for the season which covers all our league fees. Family membership applies so its £2.50p for second under 14 child and any others are free. So maximum a family will pay for under 14's is £7.50. Over 14's have to pay a £10 sub which remains the same until they are 18, but they also qualify for free training on weds nights from 8pm -10pm. Fixture cards are at the printers and as soon as they are available I will ensure you all get one. If there is going to be a delay on these I will hand out some sheets with the fixtures on. Any parents who would like to join the Club as social members please see me - cost is £10 a season and you can use our Club bar on Saturdays and attend any of our social functions which are looking pretty good this year. If anyone hasn't filled in a Registration Form, or re-signed their old one, please see Jo as everyone has to be re-registered every year. I think thats all for now lets all look forward to a good season. Regards Chairman Bob. |
| 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. |
