The 2006/7 season is now over and that’s official!
Yes – the 2006/7 season really is over and before it fades completely into the background I begin by thanking all members who attended the recent AGM and I congratulate the Mixed team, so expertly captained by Kathryn Hinsley and David Francis, for doing the Club proud in reaching the final of the national mixed trophy. After edging out a very good Staines side in their semi-final clash at Old Loughtonians HC they had an even tougher final the next day against Phoenix and only a poor ten minutes spell in second half denied them victory.
I remind all members of the Strawberry Luncheon to be held on Sunday 1 July at Gawdy Hall. Please see website (and below) for more details. It is not too late for you to make your decision to attend with family and friends!
At the AGM I gave my chairman’s report and I feel it deserves a wider audience – you will not be surprised to read! – so I take the liberty of showing an almost unexpurgated (!) version below.
AGM – 21 June 2007 – Chairman’s Report
The reports of the members of the Executive had two purposes – to relieve the captains of giving individuals reports and to spare you all from a long chairman’s report! So I will try to do just that while also picking up on a few aspects not naturally covered by the reports bearing in mind I have issued regular Chairman’s Chats throughout the season.
As was evident from the reports it was another long and very busy season both on and off the pitch. For the Club to have reached five national finals as well as winning division two of the men’s national indoor league was a remarkable achievement unmatched by any other club in the country.
Another success was to have provided hockey for 16 regular Saturday teams and throughout the season to have fielded a total of 28 teams in the various competitions.
I take this opportunity to thank Shirley McAllen for all her hard work as Playing Manager. She is standing down from this role and she will be very badly missed.
We have had an upbeat report from the Finance Manager and have been reminded of the successful social and fund raising events run throughout the season. I take this opportunity to thank Brian Pring and Jose Tibbenham for all their hard work on behalf of the Club
The youth section has had another very successful season and it is impossible to overstress the importance of this side of the Club.
One aspect of the Club not fully covered by the reports is publicity and here our website plays a vital role. It is a superb website and we are indebted to Nigel Bedingfield for his sponsorship and enthusiastic and pro-active maintenance of the site. Thank you very much Nigel.
Other aspects of the Club not fully covered by the reports include maintenance of the grounds, equipment & sales, fixtures and bar and here I thank in no particular order David and Philip Cobbald, Andrew Longe, Kirstin Cumming, James Smith, Irene Bicker and Robert Stimpson for all their hard work.
Over the years the Club has striven to upgrade its facilities on a regular basis and this season has been no exception with the planning and financing of the clubhouse improvements which will be carried out before the start of next season. In addition the upgrading of the pitch floodlights began last week and is now almost complete. I thank David Cobbald and Andrew Longe for all the time and effort they have put into these projects over the past few months.
Another important project has been our successful bid to obtain Clubs 1st designation for the Club and I thank Nick McAllen for heading the team responsible for this success. Our bid entailed an enormous amount of work and I’m very grateful to Nick and all other members of the Club who were involved. And talking of Nick I cannot stress how much he does for the club. We are very lucky to have him.
I take this opportunity to thank all other officers and officials of the Club for their friendship and work throughout the season. A club such as ours requires the active participation of many members and in this direction we are very fortunate. I also thank all other friends of the Club for their support.
In addition I thank the small group of members whom I have bothered on a regular basis. For some it must feel like a daily basis! They include Andrew Longe, David and Judy Cobbald, Jose Tibbenham, Philippa Taylor, Kirstin Cumming, Nick McAllen, Nigel Bedingfield, Robert Stimpson and Daphne Beckett. I am very grateful to them for their patience and guidance.
Notwithstanding that I know the close season is a busy time for several officers I hope all members will be able to take at least a small break from helping us to run the Club – a club of which we are proud to be members.
I conclude by thanking our President, David Alexander, and Deputy President, Irene Bicker, for the enormous support they have given me during the past twelve months.
Mike Denham
At the end of the AGM the President congratulated and made presentations to the following 2006/2007 trophy winners.
Female Club Person of the Year
Jose Tibbenham
This award is given for another season of devoted service to the Club as a member of the Fund Raising & Social, Executive and Finance Committees, a team captain and most importantly as the Club’s Treasurer.
Male Club Person of the Year
David Cobbald
Once again he has spent an enormous amount of hours at the Club on an almost daily basis doing vital and often unseen work in connection with the pitches, grounds and general infrastructure of the Club. He has also been closely involved with the current upgrades of the clubhouse.
The Magpie Cup (To mark a season of outstanding service)
Kirstin Cumming
For another season of remarkable devotion to the Club as amongst other things equipment controller, equipment seller, “meeter and greeter” to visiting teams, member of the youth and tournament committees.
Male Young Player of the Year
Carl Sitch
Breaking into the 1st team at the start of the season pushing for the left back role he soon made the position his own. Not only was his defensive work first class his attacking from deep also put the opposition under pressure. Along with his success with Magpies he also represented England U18s at the international tournament at Exeter University over Easter.
Longe Trophy (For outstanding Youth coaching services)
Nigel Wooltorton
This award has been given to recognise his outstanding services to youth Coaching. He has been involved with coaching 3 sessions a week throughout the season and has also helped with running the U11 Girls team. He has also recently Qualified as a Level I Coach.
Leeder Cup (Men’s 1st Team Player of the Year)
Andy Hipwell
He moved back to the Club at the beginning of the season after completing his course at Loughborough University. Although playing out of his preferred position as striker he fitted in well at right midfield giving the team many attacking options and many problems for opposing teams. His tally of 24 goals for the season shows how much he got forward at one point trying to chin the ball in resulting in a trip to A&E!
Rushworth Ward Trophy (For outstanding long service)
Shirley McAllen
This is the third time she has won this award, the first being in 1992 season and the second in 1999. Her service to the Club over many years has been quite remarkable evidenced in more recent years by serving as a hard working Playing Manager and captain of the Colts A team. While standing down from both positions it is good to know she is intending to carry on playing.
Betty Whipps Cup (Ladies’ 1st Team Player of the Year)
Lucy Hayman
Being voted Player of the Season by her team mates was a fitting tribute for a player who had a tremendous season. The team have been very fortunate to have had such an outstanding goalkeeper who has contributed enormously to the success of the team over many years.
Female Young Player of the Year
Jess Bloom & Hannah Coulson
This award goes jointly to two players. Both players contributed significantly to the 1st team’s performance this season and they were a major reason for the U18s reaching the national indoor and outdoor finals.
Congratulations also to Linda Hunter on being made a Vice-President in recognition of her long and distinguished service to the Club.
EuroHockey Nations Championship
18-26 August 2007 (Belle Vue, Manchester)
Have you considered supporting England Women and Men in their quest for the European crown and British Olympic qualification? With the top three sides in each event gaining automatic qualification for Beijing these championships are even more important than ever. If the England teams fail to qualify via Manchester they will have to try again in the early months of 2008 in one of three further qualification events (in Chile, Japan or New Zealand for the men and Azerbaijan, Canada or Russia for the women) in which only the top team from these events will qualify for the 2008 Olympics. Olympic qualification is getting harder and harder as the FIH seeks to give more countries a chance.
Tickets are now on sale for Manchester and are priced from just £5.00. Please buy online from www.eurohockeymanchester2007.com or call 0871 230 9842.
STRAWBERRY LUNCHEON
Sunday 1 July 2007 12 noon
I hope you will be able to support this event which this year is being very kindly hosted by David and Wendy Green at Gawdy Hall, Redenhall.
Tickets (including a drink) are £10 (adults), £5 (children 7 to 12) with children under 7 free.
Please contact
Daphne Beckett (07850 709297)
or David Alexander (01508 530237).
GOLF DAY
Thursday 23 August 2007 – Bungay GC
If you would like to enter a team of four (men, women or mixed) for 18 holes of golf, luncheon and the chance of prizes please contact me (Mike Denham) on 01603 506925
SUMMER MIXED HOCKEY
For regular league players
Mondays 2 & 16 July 7.30pm
Please bring white and coloured shirt
and £3 match fee!
I wish all members, supporters and friends of the Club an enjoyable summer.
Mike Denham (Chairman)
Tel: 01603 506925
E-mail: MDenham975@aol.com
27th June 2007
Magpie
Characteristics
Habitat
The nest is usually in a large tree (but sometimes in pylons) and domed to prevent predation by other crows. The hen lays and incubates eggs that are smooth, glossy and pale blue with olive-brown or grey spots. Both parents feed the young after they have hatched.
Behaviour
The magpie can be seen all year round and surprisingly, the car, may well be the real reason behind the magpie’s recent population explosion. Until relatively recently, numbers were probably kept in check by lack of food during the winter and early spring. (During the winter months the magpie’s diet is mainly a mixture of vegetable matter and invertebrates.) The increase in the number of cars on the roads has led to a corresponding increase in wildlife road casualties, something the scavenging magpie appreciates. It is this new abundance of food that has allowed magpie numbers to grow so quickly.
Listen to Magpie Call:
