Thank you, Mr Brown!

Our Prime Minister is short of praise at present and I’m an unlikely person to come to his aid! But I will do so by thanking and complimenting him for introducing in his 2002 Budget, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, the designation of Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC). After minor changes to our constitution, covering such things as membership admission and what would happen to our funds in the event of the winding up of the club, HMHC qualified as a CASC with effect from May 2003. Since then the club has benefited very considerably by receiving

a) a rate rebate of 80% from the government with Mid Suffolk DC kindly maintaining their rebate of the other 20% and

b) ‘Gift Aid’ of 28% on all donations to the club.

The 80% rate rebate has so far benefited the club to the tune of £37500 and the ‘Gift Aid’ assistance has given us £21560 – a total of £59060 over the past five years. So ‘thank you’ Mr Brown – and I mean it!

And I take this opportunity to acknowledge the help we have received from three other MPs over recent years by them taking up matters with the government and local authorities on our behalf – namely Sir Michael Lord (Suffolk Central & Ipswich North and Deputy Speaker), Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk) and Dr. Ian Gibson (Norwich North). And thank you also to Mid Suffolk DC for their invaluable help by way of the 20% rate rebate. Needless to say all three MPs and Mid Suffolk DC were written to at the appropriate time.

I draw your attention to the following:




With kind regards and best wishes to all members, supporters and friends of the Club.

Bourne Hockey Tournament

Dear all,

Bourne Hockey Club are holding their annual 7-a-side mens and ladies tournament on 30 and 31 August at Stamford High School astroturf pitch, Stamford, Lincs.

The ladies tournament will be held on Saturday 30 August and the mens tournament will be held on Sunday 31 August.

Team entry
Each day will consist of league games with the top teams qualifying to compete for the Cup and overall winners of the tournament with the remaining teams competing for the Plate.

Teams can be made up of a maximum squad of 10 players, with 7 players on the pitch at any one time.
(Each team will be required to provide an umpire who does not have to be qualified but competent to umpire at an appropriate level).

Team entry is £50 per team, which should be paid prior to attending the tournament.

If you are interested in entering a team(s) of either ladies, men or teams on both days, we would be grateful if you could reply by return email no later than 27th June and we will forward further details of where to send your entry fee, directions to the pitch and full tournament rules to you.

We will also be venturing out for a night out in Stamford on the Saturday night, if you need details of where to go and places to stay over, please let me know and I can include these details and suggestions with the above.

We had a fantastic tournament last year and are looking forward to an even better one this year. We really hope you enter a team and enjoy the weekend with us.

There will be a full range of refreshments, a bbq and stalls for you to buy from to keep you fed and watered during the weekend.

Regular updates regarding the tournament will be posted on our website at www.bournehockeyclub.co.uk. Should you have any questions regarding the tournament or any other aspect of Bourne Hockey Club, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to help.

We look forward to hearing from you

Kind regards

Jenny Jackson
Amy Martin
Bourne Hockey Club Tournament Co-ordinators

Farewell to 2007/8!

The 2007/8 season with its inevitable ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ is finally over with last Saturday’s End of Season Bash at the club. We had an excellent turnout of members and friends of all ages and I thank them for their support and for helping to make the event so enjoyable and successful. I also thank the main organisers, namely David Blackmore, Graham Clark, John Moore, Robert Stimpson, Philippa Taylor, Jose Tibbenham and Mary Wright and, of course, Tracy Baker and the other members of the ginger tom & the GO cats, i.e. Roy, Neville, Don, Simon and Chris for the important musical part they played in helping to round off the season in fine style. And I thank David and Susie for the excellent Hog Roast.

Looking ahead I draw your attention to the following:

The Summer Mixed Hockey which will once again be played on Monday nights (7.30pm) commencing on 2 June and continuing on 16 & 30 June and concluding on 14 July. Please bring a white and coloured shirt and £3 match fee!

The Annual General Meeting to be held in the clubhouse at 8.00pm on Thursday 19 June – the agenda will be posted to members in the next couple of weeks.

Next season sees the introduction of North, East and West Conferences in the Slazenger EHL structure below the Premier Division and our Ladies’ 1sts will be (not surprisingly!) in the East where their opponents will be Barnes HE, Horsham, Maidstone, Old Loughtonians, Reading, Sevenoaks, Southgate, St Albans and Staines. The winners of the three Conferences will play off at the end of the season with the ninth placed team in the Premier Division for the two promotion spots; the bottom team in the Premier being relegated. The bottom side in each Conference will be relegated with a play-off between the three second bottom sides to decide which two are also relegated.

I quote as follows England Hockey’s justification for this restructure which, following the decision to include only 40 teams instead of the present 44, cost our Men’s 1sts automatic promotion and leaves me feeling a little like John Terry did last night in Moscow! I’ll say no more!

“The new structure supports the Performance Plan objectives for competition with less travel, more local competition, more appropriate and effective training and a less recruitment driven league whilst maintaining a fully national top Division which was clearly supported in the first stage of the consultation process in 2006.”

Dates for your diary please!


With kind regards and best wishes to all members, supporters and friends of the Club.

Magpies late and dramatic equaliser against Belper......

Short corner v Leicester

Magpies girls demonstrating their team spirit.....

Sunshine and sadness

Glorious sunshine, good company and some excellent hockey; what more could one want for the perfect weekend? Answers on a postcard …….!

Canterbury HC was an excellent setting for last weekend’s round-robin national championships where our U18 Boys’ and U18 Girls’ squads did the club proud with some first class team performances in the heat cheered on by a large, enthusiastic and vocal crowd of supporters. While victories were elusive both teams finished with two draws and one narrow defeat each and both drew against the eventual winners – 0-0 against Bowdon (Boys) and 1-1 against Belper (Girls) thereby demonstrating how little there was between our squads and the champions.

The highlights for the Girls were their last second penalty corner equaliser against Belper by Artemis Clark and the fine equaliser by Lizzie Clymer against Leicester. Meantime the highlights for the Boys were the narrow angle reverse stick goal by Carl Sitch against Beeston and the comeback against Reading to draw 3-3 after being two goals down early in the game. All three goals were special with Chris Barber getting the team back quickly into the game following a penalty corner; a superb run and shot by Ben Gowing following an aerial pass by Carl and finally a crisp reverse shot by Jamie Legg.

The Boys finished in third place with the Girls in fourth when a win against Leicester would have given them second place. Congratulations to both squads under respectively captains Richard Larkin and Jess Hull and their management teams of Leigh Sitch and Bertie Steggles (Boys) and Nick McAllen and Nigel Wooltorton (Girls).

As I watched the games on Sunday I couldn’t help feeling sad that several of the players might never play for the club again with the prospect of university places looming in the autumn. I wish them and all our other young members the best of luck with their examinations.

On a happier note I’m pleased to say that tickets are going better now for Saturday’s End of Season Bash at the club. The event (which starts at 7.30pm) is open to all ages and entry is by ticket only - £10 (U13s £5) including food. So if you haven’t got your ticket (you will be very welcome) please contact Mary Wright 0774 779 5481 or Jose Tibbenham 07881 811259 as soon as possible.

Last week I thanked by name several members who had played a large part in organising the Magpies’ Tournament but afterwards I realised I had omitted mentioning Karen Ray who did so much towards the success of the event. Sorry Karen!

I also thank David Francis and Kathryn Hinsley for all their hard work with the Mixed team again this season. The team went out of the national trophy last Sunday at the quarter-final stage against Eastcote by 3-2 not helped by several registered players being required to play elsewhere.

The Summer Mixed Hockey will once again be played on Monday nights (7.30pm) commencing on 2 June and continuing on 16 & 30 June and concluding on 14 July. Please bring a white and coloured shirt and £3 match fee! (Last Monday’s opening session was cancelled owing to lack of numbers due no doubt to several players recovering from their weekend exertions).

Another date for your diary please!


With kind regards and best wishes to all members, supporters and friends of the Club.

The boys under 18 squad travelled down to Canterbury for the finals weekend of the National Cup Competition for the first time in the clubs history. The squad knew this would be a testing weekend for everyone involved.

Bowden 0 - Harleston 0
The first game saw the team face Bowden, the game started at a blistering pace despite the heat with Bowden having the upper hand and creating many chances. Despite the pressure the defensive unit held firm denying Bowden at every opportunity. With no score at the break it was all to play in the final 25 minutes. Harleston fought back this half and started to create more chances of their own, but despite this neither side could find the break through. Harleston started to force more penalty corners but neither team could take advantage and the game ended in a hard fought draw.

Harleston 1 - Beeston 2
The second game of the day saw a tired Harleston side face a very strong Beeston team. With the energy used in the first game the squad started slowly, despite with standing a lot of pressure within the first 20 minutes the teams defence was only broken from a well taken goal 5 minutes before the break. The team started the second half well but Beeston could have extended the lead but 2 excellent stops on the line from William Johnson kept the team in the game. Despite his heroics the wall could not stop Beeston doubling their lead from a well worked short corner. With 5 minutes to go Harleston grabbed a life line when Carl Sitch scored with a reverse stick from an impossible angle. There was no team for celebrations as the team could see another goal as Beeston started to wobble. With seconds on the clock Will Harrison through an ariel over the Beeston back line which Chris Barber latched onto with just the keeper to beat the hooter cruely went which saw the team loose 2-1.

Despite a hard fought first day the squad was impressed with their efforts and knew that a win on the sunday with results going their way would see them grab second place.

Reading 3 - Harleston 3
On another hot sunny day the team faced reigning champions Reading who had yet to secure any points this weekend. With the team starting slowly they found themselves 2 goals down within the first 8 minutes. Despite this the squad showed their team spirit by fighting back well and Chris Barber snatched a goal with a well worked short corner. Reading continued to crank up the pressure but none of the numerous short corners they won could be converted. With the team trailing at half time it was all to play for. Ben Gowing pulled the team level 5 minutes into the second half with a well taken goal, keeping his composure when 1 on 1 with the keeper. The team were fighting for everything when they were harshly reduced to 10 men after Will Harrison was sent off for an innocuous challenge. Shortly after this the team found themselves a goal down following a well taken goal. Despite this the team continued to press and equalised again through Jamie Legg with a well taken reverse stick goal. Despite more pressure from Reading the team held out for the draw.
For their first time at the Finals weekend the boys did the club proud and with 8 of the squad still eligable for next year there is a lot to look forward to. The results over the weekend all came from excellent team work digging deep for each other.

HARLESTON MAGPIES U18 GIRLS IN NATIONAL FINALS

Harleston Magpies U18 Girls finished 4th in the National Finals behind the winners Belper, Leicester and Chelmsford. Magpies made a poor start on the Saturday losing 2-0 to Chelmsford by conceding two soft goals in the first half and despite a really strong second half performance the damage was done.

On Sunday morning Magpies played Belper the hot favourites who boasted no less than 8 junior Internationals. Magpies were unrecognisable from the team that played on Saturday as they turned round at half time having defended well and created plenty of problems for Belper.

Belper scored early in the second half but it seemed to make Magpies even more determined and they were very unlucky not to be awarded a penalty stroke. In the final minute of the game Magpies equalised from a penalty corner when a shot from Artemis Clark was deflected by a defender into the goal, but it was nothing less than Magpies deserved. When you consider that Belper beat Leicester and Chelmsford 5-0 and 7-0 it shows how well Magpies played.

In the final game against Leicester Magpies had plenty of chances to take the lead but Leicester survived and then took the lead themselves. As in the Belper game Magpies turned up the tempo and equalised with 2 minutes to go with a classy goal from Lizzie Clymer.

England Hockey National Cups - Canterbury

SAT 10th MAY
11.30 U18 BOYS v BOWDON D 0-0
14.15 U18 GIRLS v CHELMSFORD L 0-2
16.30 U18 BOYS v BEESTON L 1-2

SUN 11th MAY
10.15 U18 GIRLS v BELPER D 1-1
13.00 U18 BOYS (finished 3rd) v READING D 3-3
14.00 U18 GIRLS (finished 4th) v LEICESTER D 1-1

SUN 11 May
England Hockey National Mixed Quarter Final
Magpies Mixed v Eastcote H L 2-3

So near, yet so ….

So near, yet so far away! The draw against Fareham came back to haunt the Men’s 1sts in the EHL play-offs at Cannock last weekend when after an uncharacteristically bad game against the University of Durham and excellent wins over Harborne and Cardiff the team missed out on promotion to the national league on goal difference from Durham and Cardiff. Our cause was not helped by the disappointing performance of Kingston upon Hull who lost all their three games by wide margins thereby distorting the goal difference factor.

In the last three seasons the Men’s 1sts have twice finished in second spot in the East League and when we eventually win the title there are play-offs for this season only to accommodate the quite unnecessary changes in next season’s national league structure. I could say more but I won’t!

Despite the below par performance against Durham the team did the Club proud at Cannock with their subsequent wins over two other divisional champions. I take this opportunity to congratulate the squad under manager Robert Stimpson, coach Les Howlett, captain Leigh Sitch and vice-captain Richard Gill for their play and sporting demeanour over the weekend and throughout the season and I also pay tribute to the 50 or so supporters who came to cheer the team on over the three days.

Before I leave the subject of the Men’s 1sts it is worth pointing out the team played 27 league and play-off matches over the season losing just twice and failing to score just once. Quite a record and I’m pleased to show below the results and goal scorers – the latter led by Andy Hipwell with his astonishing record of 45 goals from the 26 games he played.


Good luck to our U18 Girls’ and Boys’ teams in the national finals this weekend at Canterbury HC. To have both teams in the finals is a remarkable record for the club and bodes well for the future. Good luck also to the Mixed team when they entertain Eastcote on Sunday (1.00pm) in the quarter-finals of the national trophy.

I hope as many members as possible will be able to attend the End of Season Bash at the club on Saturday 17 May (7.30pm). The event is open to all ages and entry is by ticket only - £10 (U13s £5) including food - obtainable from Mary Wright 0774 779 5481, Jose Tibbenham 07881 811259 or Mike Denham 01603 506925. Dancing will be to ginger tom & the GO cats.

My thanks go to James Smith, Kirstin Cumming, Daphne Beckett, Nick McAllen, David and Philip Cobbald and all other members involved with the preparation and running of last weekend’s very successful Magpies’ Tournament.

The Summer Mixed Hockey will once again be played on Monday nights (7.30pm) commencing on 12 May and continuing on 2 & 16 & 30 June and concluding on 14 July. Please bring a white and coloured shirt and £3 match fee!

Other dates for your diary please!


With kind regards and best wishes to all members, supporters and friends of the Club.

HARLESTON MAGPIES U18 GIRLS AND U18 BOYS IN NATIONAL FINALS AT CANTERBURY

Harleston Magpies U18 Girls and U18 Boys teams have both reached the National Finals taking place at Canterbury this weekend in a tremendous double achievement for the Club.

The U18 Boys have reached the Finals with some fairly comfortable results whilst the U18 Girls have had some very tight games. The U18 Boys are making their first appearance in the outdoor National Finals but also reached the Indoor National Finals this season, which is a great achievement for Coach Leigh Sitch and his squad.

The U18 Girls are making their second successive appearance in the National Finals having finished third at Birmingham last season.

SATURDAY 10th MAY
11.30 U18 BOYS v BOWDON
14.15 U18 GIRLS v CHELMSFORD
16.30 U18 BOYS v BEESTON

SUNDAY 11th MAY
10.15 U18 GIRLS v BELPER
13.00 U18 BOYS v READING
14.00 U18 GIRLS v LEICESTER

The U18 Girls reached the Finals with the following results:
Round 1 - Bye
Round 2 - Ipswich Drew 2-2 won on pen strokes
Round 3 - Saffron Walden Won 4-0
Round 4 - Dereham Won 2-1
Semi Final - Exe Won 4-3

U18 Boys reached the Finals with the following results:
Round 1 - Bye
Round 2 - Cambridge Nomads Won 4-0
Round 3 - City of Peterborough Won 3-1
Round 4 - Chelmsford Won 4-1
Semi Final - Richmond (Yorks) Won 7-1

U18 Girls Squad for the weekend
Jess Hull (Capt), Becky Marshall, Calianne Clark, Cherry Seaborn, Bryony Lund, Artemis Clark, Lauren Barber, Jade Daly, Amy Tuffs, Lizzie Clymer, Jessie Withers, Katrina Warnes, Helen Brook, Josie Molloy, Siobhan Wooltorton, Amelia Thomson

Manager: Nigel Wooltorton
Coach: Nick McAllen


U18 Boys Squad for the weekend
Richard Larkin (capt), Charlie Garrard, Harry Blandy, Will Harrison, Will Johnson, Dan Legg, Carl Sitch, Ben Gowing, Fred Merrett, Chris Barber, Craig Snelling, Louis Steven, Jamie Legg, Toby Hughes, George Moore

Manager: Bertie Steggles
Coach: Leigh Sitch

Harleston Magpies 0 Durham Uni 3

In the first of the weekends 3 games Harleston faced a youthful Durham side. Harleston started slowly with Durham soon snatching the initiative pressing Harleston back hard. Harleston were struggling to string passes together as the tension of the occasion was adding to the problems. It was no surprise when Durham took the lead following a short corner. Despite Durham continuing to press the Harleston defence stood firm and did not concede again up until half time. Harleston started to play the flowing hockey they are used to but didn't manage to create many clear cut chances. With the team pressing forward Durham were able to snatch two late goals. This result meant that the team had to win their two remaining games to stand any chance of gaining promotion.


Harleston 3 Harbourne 2

The Sunday game saw a different Harleston side taking to the pitch buoyed with believe the normal flowing hockey was soon being played. Harleston took the lead through an Andy Hipwell short corner. Harleston were dominating proceedings with the lions share of possession and soon doubled their lead through another Hipwell short corner. With Harleston in control at the break Harbourne came out fighting in the second half and pulled two quick goals after a well taken short corner of their own and then a defence mix up resulted in Harbourne being awarded a penalty stroke which they converted. With the pressure now mounting Harleston snatched a late winner after Hipwell again ploughed through 4 tackles before firing low past the Harbourne keeper.


Harleston 3 Cardiff 1

Harleston went into this game knowing that a win by 4 clear goals would return them to the National League. The games started openly with both sides creating chances. Harleston were dealt a cruel blow half way through the first half when Cardiff struck first from a short corner. Harleston never die spirit saw them fight straight back and were rewarded with an equaliser after a great finish from Tristan Baynes. The second half saw Harleston dominate again winning numerous short corners. Despite the pressure Cardiff stood strong and Harleston could only snatch 2 more goals through Carl Sith and Tristan Baynes both taking their chances well at short corners.

This meant that Harleston finished on 10 points with Durham and Cardiff but missed out on the top two spots on goal difference. Despite the final outcome Harleston can still look back at a successful season in 27 games loosing two and drawing one is a great achievement.

The season was a real squad effort and many thanks must go to Les Howlett and Robert Stimpson for all their efforts they have put in. A big thank you must also go to the many supports who travelled to Cannock to support the squad over the final weekend.

Men's EHL Qualifying Tournament
Saturday 3 May
MENS 1s v University of Durham (North Winners)
L 0-3

Sunday 4 May
MENS 1s v Harborne (Midlands Winners)
W 3-2

Monday 5 May
MENS 1s v Cardiff & UWIC (West Winners)
W 3-1

Failed to qualify on goal difference
University of Durham 10pts
Cardiff & UWIC 10pts
Magpies 10pts