News 23 October 2014
All the news for Thursday 23 October 2014
USA win 2-0 in Palmerston North to take series lead
Lauren Crandall (USA) takes a tumble while challenging Petrea Webster and Sopie Cocks for the ball.
The USA have beaten the Black Sticks Women 2-0 in their fourth game of the six-test series held tonight at the Twin Turfs in Palmerston North. The win gives the visitors a 2-1 series lead, with two games still to play this weekend in the Wairarapa.
American Katie Reinprecht, scored from a penalty corner in the 13th minute with Caitlin van Sickle doubling it in the 50th minute. The Black Sticks Women were awarded penalty corners in the final quarter but goalkeeper Alesha Widdall did a great job of deflecting the ball each time.
“It was disappointing tonight, especially at the start, we had our chances and just didn’t put them away. We didn’t muscle up with them, they pushed us off the ball, we didn’t win our one-on-ones,” said co-captain Anita Punt.
“The first couple of games we pressed really well and worked together as a team – but the last couple of games have been disappointing. We need to go back, watch the footage, we have training tomorrow in Masterton and then hopefully we will come out a lot better over the weekend,” said Punt.
Coach Mark Hager said one of the team’s focuses this tour has been finishing off the chances that are created and he has made it clear that there is still some work to do.
“We are putting ourselves under pressure by miss-trapping and panicking when we are in the circle - we just aren’t as composed as we could be. We need to do the basics better like Mark loves and hopefully we can pull off two wins,” said Punt.
The team travel to Carterton tomorrow morning where they play the two final games of the series at 2pm this Saturday and Sunday. It is the first time an international hockey game has been played in the Wairarapa.
“I’m pretty excited, being from Capital I have a few people that are coming to watch with it being so close to Wellington. I have heard there are going to be some big crowds - I used to play club hockey there, so it’s exciting to go back and play there in the black shirt,” said Punt.
Tickets are cheaper online at www.dashtickets.co.nz with family, student and child discounts available. Gate sales also available.
All games are live streamed here on the Hockey NZ website - http://bit.ly/1qLD3LR
RESULT
Full time: 0-2 (USA win)
Half time: 0-2 (USA lead)
USA goal scorers: Katie Reinprecht, Caitlin van Sickle
Hockey New Zealand Media release
United States down NZ to take series lead
GEORGE HEAGNEY
BLACK NIGHT: Sophie Cocks of New Zealand tries to make some progress against a resolute US defence. Photosport
The United States have taken the lead in their six-game series with the women's Black Sticks after a dominant 2-0 win in Palmerston North tonight.
The Americans now lead the series 2-1 with two games to play in Carterton this weekend.
In truth the visitors could have won by more, but like the Black Sticks on Tuesday, they couldn't finish.
Almost a repeat of two days ago, when the US scored within 18 seconds, Black Sticks goalkeeper Georgia Barnett had to make a desperate save in the opening minute tonight.
Both teams looked good on attack at the start, but it took until the end of the first quarter for a team to score when Katie Reinprecht scored the United States' opener from a penalty corner.
The Americans then pushed forward more and their aggressive approach paid off, hitting the post as they worked their way into New Zealand's circle regularly.
In the fourth quarter the Black Sticks' defence was breached again when Caitlin Van Sickle finished off a scramble in the goal mouth.
The Black Sticks made a few breakouts late in the game, but couldn't get through the final line of the US defence.
Rose Keddell starred for the Black Sticks with her runs down the left while Liz Thompson was outstanding at the back and Pippa Hayward had some good breaks. Captain Anita Punt lifted in the second half as she tried to get them back in the game.
Melissa Gonzalez and Michelle Vittese were dominant for the visitors in the middle of the field and van Sickle was a threat on attack.
Meanwhile, the Black Sticks' No 1 keeper Sally Rutherford, who was being rested for this series, was flown into replace Amelia Gibson, who broker her collarbone in training this week.
USA 2 (Katie Reinprecht, Caitlin Van Sickle ) New Zealand 0. HT 1-0.
Stuff
Rutherford to replace Gibson in goal
Black Stick goalkeeper Amelia Gibson has been ruled out of tonight’s game and the rest of the series against the USA, having fractured her collarbone at training yesterday.
She will be replaced by Sally Rutherford, aged 33 with 77 caps, who has flown down from Auckland to Palmerston North today to join the team.
It is expected Gibson will be out of action for the next 4-6 weeks, potentially ruling her out of the Australian three-test series in Wellington in November.
Currently the series is all squared up with a draw and a win to each team.
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Walsh stays as India coach
UTHRA GANESAN
Terry Walsh
Less than 24 hours after Terry Walsh tendered his resignation as chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey team, hectic negotiations and several meetings on Wednesday indicated that the Australian may well continue in his job.
However, status quo remains since Walsh has not formally withdrawn his resignation. He has reiterated that he was willing to re-negotiate the terms of his contract in the next one month. Walsh’s tenure ends on November 19 post his resignation. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has insisted that a new contract would be ready before then.
Walsh, who had a contract till the 2016 Olympics, had put in his papers on Tuesday citing difficulty in adjusting to the decision-making style and bureaucratic confines of the Indian system. On Wednesday, SAI said it was willing to allow greater freedom to the coach.
“His major concern was about the lack of functional autonomy in deciding the technical matters relating to hockey. He was of the view that he, along with the High Performance Director (Roelant Oltmans), need to be given more freedom in the decision making process. From SAI side, we have absolutely no issues on this,” SAI Director General Jiji Thomson said in a statement.
Thomson admitted the issue was not completely resolved. “Walsh has not withdrawn his resignation. As per the contract, he has to give one month notice for resignation. Since the resignation will officially come into effect from November 19, it was decided that the contract will be renewed before that, incorporating these clauses,” he said.
The SAI has proposed a committee comprising all the concerned parties – the sports ministry, the SAI, Hockey India (HI) and Walsh himself -- to work out a solution to the problem. Thomson also said that the issue of number of holidays would also be reconsidered and sorted out. While HI was not present during the discussions on Wednesday, it would be part of the next meeting, expected to be held on November 11, after the Indian team returns from its preparatory tour of Australia.
Sports Minister Sarbanand Sonowal, who had sought a report on the entire issue from the Sports Secretary and SAI, tweeted his relief. “I am happy that after SAI's efforts#TerryWalsh is back. Looking ahead for a bright future for hockey in India,” Sonowal said.
The solution, however, may not be so simple. For one, HI has expressed its reservations, fearing it may trigger similar demands from other foreign coaches. Also, while Thomson has categorically said that the decisions related to day-to-day functioning rested with the federation, HI president Narinder Batra insisted that the SAI and the Sports Ministry have to come on board for the same.
“Something like freedom in team selection is not my prerogative; the ministry guidelines say there has to be a selection committee. Also, infrastructure like turfs and other facilities, which is a big concern for hockey, has to be provided by the government. If the coach and the SAI can work out these issues, then why should I have any problem,” Batra said.
The Hindu
Terry Tale: Walsh has withdrawn his resignation
s2h Team
Indian hockey's men's chief coach Terry Walsh has withdrawn his resignation which he tendered last Saturday.
The turn around occurred after a short meeting between the Minister of Sports, Director General, Sports Authority of India, and Secretary (Sports).
www.stick2hockey.com has yesterday predicted the same which proved totally correct today.
Stick2Hockey.com
Terry Walsh to stay as India hockey coach
NEW DELHI: A day after his dramatic announcement to quit, India's chief hockey coach Terry Walsh today withdrew his resignation after a meeting with top sports officials, who have assured the Australian that his concerns will be addressed in a fresh contract.
After a hectic meeting with the Sports Ministry and SAI officials, the 60-year-old Walsh finally decided to withdraw his resignation, much to the relief of the country's hockey fraternity.
Walsh's withdrawal of the resignation was announced by the Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who tweeted, "I am happy that after SAI's efforts #TerryWalsh is back. Looking ahead for a bright future for hockey in India."
SAI Director General Jiji Thomson said that issues raised by Walsh will be addressed in a fresh contract, which will be offered to him before his current contract expire on November 19.
"Since we never accepted his resignation, the question of its withdrawal does not arise. As per his contract, Walsh had to give us a month's notice period which he gave today," Thomson told PTI.
"We had a fruitful meeting with him today. The issues which he had raised can easily be solved and we have assured him that they will be solved before his contract expires on November 19. We will issue him a new contract, which will take into consideration all his demands," he said.
Asked whether Walsh, who had guided the Indian team to a historic gold at Incheon Asian Games, will continue to be India's chief coach, Thomson said: "Yes, there is no question about it. He will continue in his role with the team."
Walsh, a noted Olympian himself, had created a flutter yesterday by suddenly announcing his resignation, saying that he was finding it difficult to adjust to the decision-making style of the sporting bureaucracy in the country.
"In addition to my difficulties with not being able to professionally operate within these bureaucratic confines, I am not willing to continue with the constant time away from my family in Australia. My current commitment places too much stress on my personal life," he had said in his letter to SAI.
His resignation sparked off a blame game between Hockey India and SAI. While HI maintained that the pay dispute and suffocating bureaucracy had prompted Walsh to quit, SAI rubbished that claim, saying that the Australian had never complained of any financial issues.
Hours after tendering his resignation, Walsh himself had hinted that he could reconsider his resignation and re-negotiate with SAI if his concerns were addressed.
Walsh and some other support staff had issues with the government over TDS (Tax Deduction at Source) in their salaries.
Thomson though had denied that there were any issues over TDS and said the problem was created by HI president Narinder Batra. He dismissed the issue as "canards" on the part of Batra.
The SAI DG said "sporting bureaucracy" mentioned by Walsh could also be Hockey India.
Surprised at Walsh's sudden resignation, Sonowal had sought a report on the issue from SAI and his own secretary within 24 hours.
The Times of India
Day after resignation, Walsh makes a quick U-turn
Sabi Hussain
New Delhi - A day after his dramatic decision to resign as India's chief national hockey coach, Terry Walsh on Wednesday made a U-turn, deciding to stay on following the discussion with top sports officials.
Walsh, who had sent shockwaves among the hockey fraternity on Tuesday, decided to continue as head coach after a meeting with the SAI Director General, Jiji Thomson, and the Secretary Sports, Ajit Mohan Sharan, in the Capital.
Though Walsh has not withdrawn his resignation yet, the officials have assured the Australian that his concerns will be addressed in his contract. Walsh's contract officially expires on November 19, well ahead of the FIH Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar from December 6-14.
Walsh's resignation had triggered off a blame game between Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India (SAI). It was only after the intervention of Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal that the top bureaucratic officials went into a huddle and convinced the 60-year-old noted Olympian to carry on with his job. Walsh's decision was announced by Sonowal, who tweeted, “I am happy that after SAI's efforts #TerryWalsh is back. Looking ahead for a bright future for hockey in India.”
Later, the SAI issued a statement, giving details of the meeting and making it clear that Walsh had no issues regarding his salary and tax deduction.
“Walsh has not withdrawn his resignation. As per the contract, he has to give one-month notice for resignation. Since the resignation will officially come into effect from 19th November, 2014, it was decided that the contract will be renewed before that, incorporating these clauses,” Thomson said in a statement.
“During the discussions, he made it very clear that he had no problems with regard to tax deductions or remuneration. His major concern was the lack of functional autonomy in deciding technical matters relating to hockey,” the statement added.
Thomson said Walsh wanted more freedom in the decision-making process, along with Hockey India's High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans.
“He was of the view that he, along with the High Performance Director, needs to be given more freedom in the decision-making process. From SAI's side, we have absolutely no issues on this. This is a matter that needs to be discussed with Hockey India,” he said.
Thomson further informed that a meeting, under the chairmanship of Sports Minister, will soon be convened to resolve the issue amicably.
Apart from blaming the “sports bureaucracy”, another key issue highlighted by Walsh in his resignation letter to SAI was about the number of holidays in his contract. Thomson said the SAI was ready to reconsider his holiday package, which will include fully paid 120-day stay in Australia with his family.
“We have also requested Walsh to help us in preparing a long-term athlete development plan for hockey. He has readily expressed his willingness to get the best experts available and prepare this plan,” Thomson said.
The Tribune
Terry Walsh has his way, is likely to continue
Rutvick Mehta
Terry Walsh seems to have had his way, at least for now.
SAI, Hockey India and the Aussie will meet on November 10 to discuss his 'functional autonomy'
A day after he submitted his resignation as head coach of the Indian hockey team, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) pacified the Australian in a series of meetings on Wednesday. The result – much along expected lines — is that Walsh will most likely continue in his role.
There's another rider though, and there will be another meeting before the issue can be deemed as closed. The 60-year-old had resigned on Tuesday citing 'bureaucratic confines' in the system which were making it difficult for him work. That final meeting, on November 10, will decide the amount of freedom Walsh gets in his decision-making, and will be attended by all the three parties of Indian hockey – Walsh, SAI and Hockey India (HI).
"We spoke to Walsh today and he told us his only issue was functional autonomy," SAI director general Jiji Thomson told dna on Wednesday. "That is not just the prerogative of SAI, even HI will have to assure him of that autonomy. Thus, we'll have another meeting with Walsh and HI on November 10, and sort that issue out before we renew his contract on November 19."
In short, all will have to go well in that meeting, which will also be attended by the sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal, before it can be said for sure that Walsh will continue his stint in India.
Thomson also made it clear that the former Olympian, who guided the Indian team to an Asian Games gold just three weeks back, had no issues with either his remuneration or TDS (Tax Deducted at Source).
"He told us very clearly that he had no problems with either his pay or tax. He spoke to us about his leave package, and that is a very minor issue which will be sorted out. His only bone of contention is the functional autonomy, which will be addressed in that meeting," he added.
Walsh had shocked the hockey fraternity on Tuesday, when his resignation letter was made public. "I am finding considerable difficulty adjusting to the decision-making style of the sporting bureaucracy in India which I believe, in the long term, is not in the best interests of Indian hockey or its players," Walsh had written in a letter addressed to Thomson on Sunday.
It caused a flutter of reactions, with even the sports minister stepping in. But the SAI director general told this paper he was confident that the issues will be resolved.
A major step has been taken in that regard with the dialogue on Wednesday, and it remains to be seen if all the three parties can stay on the same page in that all-important meeting on November 10.
DNA
Terry Tale: Contract to be reworked, many fringe benefits on the anvil?
K Arumugam
The public outcry following the ‘resignation’ of Terry Walsh, Men’s hockey National chief coach, had its telling effect on the people who matters – the spender and provider of Indian sports viz Sports Authority of India – with, if implemented the amendments agreed upon yesterday by letter and spirit, the hope that the future management of elite area of not only hockey but all Olympic sports will transform to a professional way we all have been espousing for decades now.
Indian bureaucracy, which lives on delay and deny tactics so that it is never accountable nor answerable to anybody, does hardly crack as did so in the past 48 hours.
This is as a result of astute strategy of the coach, who may have taken valuable input from those who matter, with national television channels pitching in full throat on prime time, as never before.
Terry Walsh, uniquely positioned to take on anything and everything with the Asian Games gold striking a national chord, did silently achieve what vocal predecessor of him, Ric Charlesworth could not despite being more vocal.
All the demands Terry made while emailing his resignation, mostly are nothing but replica of what Ric wanted six summers ago.
He was brute and plain speaking, and unfortunately did not have the backing of parent body, the defunct Indian Hockey Federation.
Now that the SAI is willing to forgo its time-honoured ‘privilege’ of holding the funds and releasing it leisurely and lethargically, to the custody of Hockey India and that the way it should be spent is collective responsibility of Technical hands at Hockey India, despite future hurdles the wounded bureaucracy may create, augur well.
Hockey India, with about 20 staff on its pay rolls, now has enough infrastructure to handle travel (ticketing) and all other related matters, which may avoid usual bottlenecks of last minute clearances, last minute refusals, with it the ubiquitous ‘breaking news’ etc.
If words are to be believed, mark the words, SAI will not interfere in the modus operandi of government funds earmarked for hockey.
If this happens today for hockey, it will be good for it, provided the national body continues to live upto its professionalism; and will not interfere with technical think tank.
If this happens today for hockey, it will not take much time for other sports too.
Which in turn means the National Federations, most of them are ill-equipped and under-staffed, may also demand the same and the future may not be easy one.
Whatever, if the funds are transferred as is promised, and the Performance Director is going to manage it the way the needs of the team demand, and if HI and the technical hands can usher in the change without hassles, it will be a pioneering effort, and will set trend for how every other sports had to be managed.
Hockey, which gave identity to Indian Olympic Movement, now has taken upon itself the onerous task, and the nation expects it to live upto the task.
If successful today with hockey, it will totally transform sports governance.
It is early to rejoice because a lot many loose ends are to be tied, and the experience shows that the bureaucracy never give up its rights and will circuitously tilt things so that nothing moves.
So, we need to wait and watch before expecting mutational changes, but at the moment we all can heave a sigh of relief, as coaching continuity is expected for hockey.
It though remains to be seen how the clauses of Terry’s contract will be worked out in a month’s time before it expires.
Most of the things announced yesterday in the press conference and hog headlines today are verbal in nature, and later every item can be subjected to different kind of interpretation a game our bureaucracy is well versed with.
While we can thank Indian media to engineer the coup, and the bold stand taken by Terry and the manner with which he went about explaining his reasons augur well for hockey, only time will tell whether talks, assurance and meetings will materialize into a desired action.
Stick2Hockey.com
SAI does a volte-face, wants Terry Walsh to continue as Indian hockey coach
Terry Walsh Getty Images
Australian Terry Walsh had resigned as coach of Indian men's hockey team over a pay dispute issue with Sports Authority of India.
After the dramatic exit of Indian men's hockey coach Terry Walsh, who resigned following a 'pay dispute' with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), DG Jiji Thomson has assured that the matter will be 'resolved', as they want the veteran Australian to continue.
Thomson said he had met Walsh at his office on Tuesday and tried to convince the Australian to carry on in his post.
"I met him (Walsh) when he came to SAI. He told me that he doesn't have any issues with SAI. The matter will be resolved. We want him to continue in his position," Thomson told PTI.
Even Walsh had hinted that he was ready to reconsider his decision if he was given a new contract on his terms and conditions by the SAI.
"There is obviously fatigue factor but I feel I just need to move away from the contents of what presently exists in my contractual arrangements. We are now looking at the possibility of how that can be reset," Walsh said.
"We are right now in a position of re-negotiations and see how it may or may not turnout. Let's see what happens. We have got a month to solve that," he added.
Walsh resigned from his post barely three weeks after guiding the team to a historic gold medal at the Asian Games in Incheon. The 60-year-old Australian,submitted his resignation in dramatic fashion, saying that he was finding it difficult to adjust to the decision making style of the sporting bureaucracy in the country. His contract was to run till the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that he was looking for a resolution of the issue and has sought a report from SAI within the next 24 hours.
Walsh's resignation created a flutter in the hockey fraternity and triggered off a blame game between Hockey India (HI) and SAI.
While HI maintained that the pay dispute and suffocating bureaucracy had prompted Walsh to quit, SAI rubbished the claim, saying that the Australian had never complained of any financial issues.
DNA
Top two set for Premier Division clash
Sam Quek and Nicola White celebrate the winning goal for Holcombe in the Investec Premier Division game between Beeston and Holcombe, Oct 4 2014, credit David Kissman
High-flying Holcombe play host to leaders Surbiton in what could prove a crucial match for both sides in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division.
Holcombe moved up to second following last weekend’s 6-0 win at Buckingham, and are now four points behind Surbiton – the only other unbeaten side in the league so far.
“We’ve been a little bit inconsistent in our play and delivery, so this is another opportunity to bed down our style,” said Holcombe coach Kevin Johnson.
“Everything is new to us in the Premier Division and we’re still getting to know the opposition. We’ve stuttered a bit so far and I know we can play better, but it’s also a positive for us because the opposition are sizing us up too and don’t know what to expect.”
Having dropped to third following their defeat to Surbiton last weekend, Canterbury will want to get back to winning ways when they host Bowdon Hightown. Clifton, who similarly dropped down the table to fourth, entertain Beeston.
Reading moved up to fifth following their 5-2 win over Beeston last weekend, and they could climb higher if they can win at Leicester.
Finally, Buckingham face the University of Birmingham in the top flight’s other match.
Unbeaten leaders Slough head to Bristol Firebrands in the Investec Conference West on Saturday, while second-placed Swansea City are at home against Oxford Hawks.
There are three teams all level on 13 points in the Investec Conference North, and two of them go head to head on Saturday with leaders Brooklands Poynton travelling to third-placed Wakefield. Meanwhile, second-placed Sutton Coldfield head to the University of Durham.
East Grinstead will be aiming to preserve their narrow lead in the Investec Conference East with a win over hosts Maidenhead, while St Albans – who are level on points with the Sussex side – are at home against Wimbledon. At the other end of the table Bedford, who are bottom, travel to ninth-placed Ipswich.
Investec Women’s Hockey League (Saturday, October 25 2014)
Investec Premier Division
Canterbury v Bowdon Hightown 11:45
Buckingham v Univ of Birmingham 12:00
Clifton v Beeston 13:00
Leicester v Reading 14:00
Holcombe v Surbiton 16:00
Investec Conference West
Isca v Olton & West Warwicks 12:00
Trojans v Stourport 12:00
Swansea City v Oxford Hawks 12:00
Bristol Firebrands v Slough 12:00
Cheltenham v Gloucester City 12:30
Investec Conference North
Cannock v Loughborough Students 12:00
Liverpool Sefton v Ben Rhydding 12:30
Whitley Bay & Tynemouth v Kendal 12:30
Wakefield v Brooklands Poynton 13:00
Univ of Durham v Sutton Coldfield 14:00
Investec Conference East
Chelmsford v Sevenoaks 14:00
Harleston Magpies v Horsham 14:00
Ipswich v Bedford 14:00
St Albans v Wimbledon 18:00
Maidenhead v East Grinstead 13:30
Investec Women’s Cup, Round Three (Sunday, October 26 2014)
Bedford v Buckingham 11:30
Boots v Ben Rhydding 14:00
Brooklands Poynton v Doncaster 12:00
Chelmsford v Sevenoaks 14:00
Clifton v Slough 11:30
Gloucester City v Taunton Vale 12:30
Hampstead & Westminster v Surbiton 12:00
Holcombe v East Grinstead 12:00
Leamington v Liverpool Sefton 14:00
Lincoln Roses v Didsbury Northern 14:00
Loughborough Students v Beeston 12:30
Oxford Hawks v Lewes 13:00
Sutton Coldfield v Bowdon Hightown 13:30
Tulse Hill and Dulwich v Havant 13:45
Univ of Birmingham v Cannock 12:30
Wakefield v Leicester 13:00
England Hockey Board Media release
In-form Wimbledon go to East Grinstead
Wimbledon's Henry Weir v Brooklands, Oct 19 2014, credit Matt Henderson
Wimbledon moved up to fourth in the NOW: Pensions Hockey League Premier Division last weekend, and they will be aiming to continue their good form when they travel to East Grinstead on Saturday.
They were trailing two-nil last weekend before a superb comeback saw them beat Brooklands Manchester University 3-2, and that fighting spirit could come in handy against the league leaders this weekend.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Wimbledon’s Director of Hockey Ben Marsden. “We had a good second half performance against Brooklands, and going to East Grinstead I won’t have to try too hard to get the players motivated, that’s for sure!
“Fighting back like that was great for team morale, and we learned a lot about ourselves. Fourth in the table is our highest ever position and we’re determined to stay here.”
This week it is the turn of second-placed Surbiton to face Brooklands, while third-placed Beeston – who like Wimbledon had to fight back from two goals down before beating Reading last weekend – head to Midlands rivals Cannock.
In other Premier Division action Hampstead and Westminster go to Reading and Canterbury entertain Southgate with the home teams knowing they need to avoid defeat to prevent a five-point gap opening up between them and safety.
In the NOW: Pensions Conference West, Indian Gymkhana face a tough task as they head to leaders Team Bath Buccaneers who boast a 100 per cent record to date. Second-placed Cardiff and Met entertain third-placed Cheltenham.
Leaders Bowdon welcome Doncaster in the NOW: Pensions Conference North, while second-placed Olton and West Warwickshire play Leek.
Unbeaten Holcombe will be aiming to continue their great start to the NOW: Pensions Conference East when they take on Richmond. Holcombe have a six-point lead at the top ahead of second-placed Chichester Priory Park who head to Cambridge City. After winning their first four games, Chichester will be aiming to end their two-match losing streak.
NOW: Pensions Men’s Hockey League (Saturday, October 25 2014)
NOW: Pensions Premier Division
Canterbury v Southgate 15:00
Reading v Hampstead & Westminster 16:30
East Grinstead v Wimbledon 18:00
Brooklands Manchester Univ v Surbiton 12:00
Cannock v Beeston 18:00
NOW: Pensions Conference West
Team Bath Buccaneers v Indian Gymkhana 13:00
Fareham v Univ of Exeter 13:30
Barford Tigers v Univ of Birmingham 14:00
Guildford v Whitchurch 14:00
Cardiff & Met v Cheltenham 19:30
NOW: Pensions Conference North
Univ of Durham v Deeside Ramblers 12:00
Olton & West Warwicks v Leek 13:30
Sheffield Hallam v Belper 13:30
Bowdon v Doncaster 13:45
Wakefield v Loughborough Students 15:00
NOW: Pensions Conference East
West Herts v Brighton and Hove 14:00
Old Loughtonians v Teddington 16:30
Holcombe v Richmond 18:00
Cambridge City v Chichester Priory Park 12:00
Bromley and Beckenham v Oxted 14:00
NOW: Pensions Men’s Cup, round three (Sunday, October 26 2014)
Barford Tigers v Bournville 13:00
Beeston v Hampton-in-Arden 12:45
Belper v Deeside Ramblers 14:00
Brighton and Hove v Team Bath Buccaneers 13:00
Brooklands Manchester Univ v Alderley Edge 14:00
Cannock v Bowdon 14:00
Canterbury v Old Loughtonians 12:30
Chelmsford v Surbiton 12:00
Hampstead & Westminster v Reading 14:30
Havant v Indian Gymkhana 14:00
Henley v Chichester Priory Park 13:30
Holcombe v Univ of Cambridge 14:00
Rugby & East Warwicks v City of Peterborough 12:00
Truro v Robinson’s 12:30
West Herts v Southgate 14:30
West Bridgford v Sheffield Hallam 13:30
England Hockey Board Media release
Layne stops Paragon, keep Malvern alive
National forward Krizia Layne scored a pair of goals as Courts Malvern got its first win, and handed Paragon its first loss in the T&T Hockey Board Indoor Championship Women’s Open Division, 3-2 at the Woodbrook Youth Facility, Hamilton-Holder Street, Woodbrook on Sunday. Going into the match, Paragon had an impressive maximum nine points from its three wins over Harvard Checkers (3-0), Ventures (4-1) and Shandy Carib Magnolias (4-0) and was expected to register yet another victory.
However, Layne and the Malvernites had other ideas and pulled off the upset with Sharee Russell, the other player on target for the winners to stay in the hunt for a semifinal spot with four points ahead of their final round-robin match with Ventures, which has three points. Despite the loss, Paragon which had Keima Gardiner and Gabrielle Thompson on target, ended as the top team and will meet either Checkers, Malvern or Ventures in the semis in the hunt for the title vacated by Notre Dame which was forced to withdrew from the competition after one match, a 0-6 loss to Checkers.
Also on Sunday, Checkers battled to a 2-2 draw with Magnolias to end the five-team round-robin phase with four points. Cher King and Patrice Padmore netted a goal each for Checkers while national women’s team duo, Brianna Govia and Amie Olton were scored for Magnolias.
….Parkites set up men’s group decider with Paragon
Queen’s Park CC and Paragon will meet in their final Men’s Open Pool A match with top spot on the line ahead of the semifinals. This after the Parkites crushed Shape 15-0 led by a beaver-trick from Nicholas Camacho and two each from the quintet of Jerry Bell, Stephan Mouttet, Dominic Young, Shawn Lee Quay and Kadeem Fortune.
TTHB Indoor Hockey results
Friday:
Under-19 Boys:
QPCC 4 (Jordi O’Brien 9th, Jarryon Paul 10th, Zachary Clarke 20th, Jordan Weekes 56th) Shape 2 (Lyndell Byer 8th pen. stroke, Daniel Smith 22nd)
Men’s Open:
Pool A:
Paragon 4 (Akim Toussaint 3, Kiel Murray) vs Fatima 3 (Andrew Vieira, Jordan Vieira, Quinn Clarke)
Pool B:
Petrotrin 9 (Roger Duncan 16th, Wayne Legerton 19th, 28th, 25th, 26th, 40th, Solomon Eccles 31st, Tristan Grant 26th, Dwayne Quan Chan 32nd) vs Defence Force 8 (Marcus James 3rd, 24th, 50th, Shane Legerton 8th, 17th, 20th, Javon Woodward 20th, Marcus Campbell 25th)
Notre Dame 5 (Shaquille Daniel 4, Ishmael Campbell) vs Courts Malvern 3 (Teague Marcano, Tariq Marcano 2)
Women’s Open:
Paragon 4 (Alanna Lewis 2, Zene Henry, Arielle Williams) vs SC Magnolias 0
Saturday:
Under-19 Boys:
Courts Malvern 5 vs Notre Dame 0—By default
Courts Malvern 5 (Tariq Marcano 3, Teague Marcano, Jabari Wyke) vs QPCC 3 (Jordi O’Brien 2, Jarryon Paul)
Fatima 10 (Marcus Pascal 5, Jordan Vieira 3, Michael Durity, Michael Gonsalves) vs Notre Dame 0
QPCC 6 (Jarryon Paul 3, Jordi O’Brien 2, Zachary Clarke) vs Paragon 1 (Kelon Skerritt)
Courts Malvern 4 (Tariq Marcano 2, Teague Marcano, Kristien Emmanuel) vs Fatima 3 (Jordan Vieira, Marcus Pascal, Che Modeste)
Under-19 Girls:
SC Magnolias 3 (Jessica Lee, Brianna Govia, Shaniah De Freitas) vs Notre Dame 1 (Kayla Brathwaite)
Ventures 1 (Karissa Wyke) vs Harvard Checkers 0
Women’s Open:
Harvard Checkers 2 (Patricia Alexis-Wright, Patrice Padmore) vs Courts Malvern 1 (Andrea Jackson)
Courts Malvern 3 (Penelope Sharpe 2, Andrea Jackson) vs SC Magnolias 3 (Brianna Govia, Elise Olton, Amie Olton)
Men’s Open:
Pool A:
QPCC 15 (Nicholas Camacho 4, Jerry Bell 2, Stephan Mouttet 2, Dominic Young 2, Shawn Lee Quay 2, Kadeem Fortune 2, Mark Ayen) vs Shape 0
Mixed Veterans:
QPCC 5 (Roger Daniel 2, Anton Reyes, Gerard Ferguson, Nicholas Wren) vs Carib 0
QPCC 9 (Jerry Bell 4, Raphael Govia 3, Paul Weekes 2) vs Courts Malvern 5 (Peter Edwards 2, Shawn Alexander, Anthony Marcano, Charles Carter)
Notre Dame 5 (Selwyn King 2, Keith De Peza, Scott Dopson, Leon Ramdeen) vs Police 2 (Antonio Quashie, Thomas Richard)
Sunday:
Mixed Veterans:
Fatima 9 (Laurence Mc Master 4, Godfrey Roper 2, Colin Young, Alan Young, Mark Nieves) vs Shape 3 (Michelle Hingh-Reynos 2, Steve Dwarika)
Under-19 Boys:
Shape 5 (Daniel Byer 4, Lyndell Byer) vs Notre Dame 3 (Joshua Olton 2, Nicholas Whiteman)
Fatima 4 (Marcus Pascal 2, Jordan Vieira, Scott Pitchery) vs Paragon 2 (Tariq Singh, Kaleb Quashie)
Courts Malvern 3 (Kristien Emmanuel 2, Teague Marcano) vs Shape 0
Notre Dame 3 (Gabriel Monderoy, Joshua Olton, Miguel King) vs Paragon 1 (Nehemiah Julien)
Under-19 Girls:
Paragon 2 (Felicia King, Therese Sobers) vs Ventures 1 (Karissa Wyke)
Notre Dame 4 (Anecia Paul 2, Tamia Roach, Tahiram Wynne) vs Paragon 1 (Felicia King)
SC Magnolias 8 (Shaniah De Freitas 3, Jessica Lee 2, Amie Olton 2, Samantha Olton) vs Harvard Checkers 1 (Marianna Mata)
Women’s Open:
SC Magnolias 2 (Brianna Govia, Amie Olton) vs Harvard Checkers 2 (Cher King, Patrice Padmore)
Courts Malvern 3 (Krizia Layne 2, Sharee Russell) vs Paragon 2 (Keima Gardiner, Gabrielle Thompson)
Men’s Open:
Fatima 7 (Jordan Vieira 4, Andrew Vieira, Quinn Clarke, Marcus Pascal.) vs Shape 1 (Lyndell Byer)
The Trinidad Guardian
Alex Speers Calls Time On Her International Career
Alex Speers, a mainstay of Irish Hockey for the last 8 years winning 164 caps, has called time on her International career and is retiring. Alex burst onto the International scene with her first cap in 2006 and subsequently had the privilege of captaining her country for 3 years, in her own words "to play for your country is an honour but to captain it was an absolute privilege". This is a decision that Alex has not made lightly but it comes a time that she feels is right for her to step off the international stage, Alex isn't walking away from hockey entirely though, she will still play club hockey for Pegasus.
First capped against Scotland in 2006, Alex has played a significant role in the International set-up for close to a decade. Alex captained the team throughout the London Olympic qualification tournament in Belgium, despite having broken her thumb and undergoing surgery just a few weeks before. Such a level of commitment comes as no surprise to those who know Alex and Ireland coach Darren Smith expresses his admiration for one of Ireland's most-capped players; "Alex has been pivotal in the Green Army for the past 8 years and especially in recent times as captain of the team. This is an athlete who not only is an extremely talented international but also a great trainer, team leader and a high quality person. There are many qualities that I admire in Alex one that always stands out is that she will always put the team's interests ahead of herself."
Alex ranks winning a Champions Challenge bronze medal in Belfield in front of a home crowd in October 2012 as a career highlight. Ever the professional athlete that thrives off the buzz of a crowd, she also fondly remembers drawing with Argentina in Argentina in December 2011. The crowd filled in for the broken sound system and sang the national anthem, resulting in an unforgettable atmosphere.
Alex wishes to acknowledge all the people who played a role in her International hockey journey of which there were many starting from her first break on the international scene "I would like to thank Riet Kuper (Coach) for giving me the opportunity as an 18 year old to play for Ireland. I would also like to thank Gene Muller (Coach) and his management team for all their work during the majority of my career, during which period I relocated to Dublin for CPP with the help of Daragh Sheridan of the Irish Institute of Sport who helped secure me employment in CBRE."
Alex went on to recognise the support of partners and sponsors "I want to acknowledge the support of the Irish Sports Council, the Sports Council of Northern Ireland, the Irish Institute of Sport and the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland. I would also like to say a massive thank you to Electric Ireland, for their backing of the women's national team and the women's game as a whole. Specifically I want to thank Padraig McManus, Brid Horan & Lisa Browne for their personal support."
"To Darren (Irish Coach), Megan (Captain), all the squad and management I would like to wish you all the best for the qualification for Rio. As you showed over the last number of months, the squad is bursting with talent, they can beat anyone on any given day and the expertise is there in the management team to guide you to Rio."
Alex was also keen to recognise her family and employers "I would like to thank my family, for the endless encouragement and support they have given me throughout the years. I also must mention CBRE who have been absolutely fantastic in supporting me over the last four and a half years and providing me with opportunities to further my career whilst also playing hockey for Ireland."
All in Irish Hockey would like to thanks Alex for her commitment to hockey and the leadership she has shown both on and off the pitch. Alex has been a fantastic role model for Irish Hockey and we would like to wish her all the best in her future endeavours and club career.
Irish Hockey Association media release
Hockey players in long wait for allowances from State
By BRIAN YONGA
Kenya Police Richard Birir (right) dribbles past Nakuru Simba Joseph Mwangi during their National Hockey League match at City Park Stadium on September 21, 2014. Kenya Police won 5-0. Members of the national men’s hockey team have been paid Sh5,000 by the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU). FILE PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Members of the national men’s hockey team have been paid Sh5,000 by the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) but the squad is yet to get allowances a month after the conclusion of the 2016 Olympic qualifier tournament held in Nairobi.
According the the Kenya Hockey Union, the money the players have received is what it had promised to add onto the allowances which are meant to be paid for by the Government.
Daily Nation Sport has however established that the money which was given to the players by KRU chairman Nahshon Randiek was meant to appease the players after a section of the women’s national team threatened to boycott training over unpaid allowances.
The women’s team has started training for the second round of the 2016 Olympic qualifier matches set to be held next year in Uruguay after winning the first round event held in Nairobi’s City Park Stadium last month.
Randiek said the players had been fully briefed about their allowances and warned that any player who boycotts training would be dropped from the team.
“We have reiterated to the players that the Government will pay their allowances but any player that absconds national duty will be axed and her place taken up by another,” Randiek said.
He also urged the Government speed up the payment process to enable players to focus on next year’s second round of the World League series.
The money was released to the various team managers who went on to tell the players that their allowances were still been processed.
“When we asked about the long overdue allowances, we were informed that the Government is still working on it and we would be updated,” said a player who did not wish to be named.
The 36 players (18 men and 18 women) are owed Sh15,000 each in allowances.
Daily Nation
50 years on...
Members of Australia's first Olympic medal winning team look back on Tokyo '64
This week marks 50 years since the Australian men’s hockey team won the country’s first Olympic hockey medal, bronze, at the Games of the XVIII Olympiad in Tokyo in 1964.
A 3-2 victory over Spain in the playoff earned the silverware. The team had earlier beaten Great Britain, Japan, Rhodesia and New Zealand, and lost to Pakistan and Kenya in the pool phase, before going down to India, 3-1, in the semi-final.
As part of Hockey Australia’s recognition of its rich history, we caught up with four members of the team – Des Piper, Don Smart, Brian Glencross and Don McWatters – to take a trip down memory lane.
“I had names for everyone,” says Don Smart. “[Des] Piper was the soldier. Eric Pearce was the B.S. artist. [Donald] Martin was passionate and Ray Evans was the joker.”
Captained by John McBryde, the Australian team of the time contained brothers Julian and Eric Pearce and three Donalds – Messrs. Martin, McWatters and Smart. Julian Pearce was regarded at the time as one of the best players in world hockey while Don McWatters was a constant threat from penalty corners, scoring seven during the ’64 Games. The team was led by coach Charlie Morley, who Piper credits with being “before his time” for his insistence on good fitness.
McWatters agrees. “Australia’s superiority to all other countries in terms of fitness was largely responsible for our good result,” he says. “Australian sports medicine was in its infancy and through Charlie Morley’s liaison with Doc Howard Toyne, Hockey Australia was one of the early sporting bodies to fully adopt fitness strategies.”
Indeed, captain John McBryde and goalkeeper Paul Dearing were recording 400m track times before breakfast each day, which two Olympiads earlier would have seen them amongst the athletics medallists.
The team for the Games was selected at the national championships in Western Australia. It was a largely experienced group with the exception of the uncapped Brian Glencross, who would go on to play in three Olympics.
The first indication of Australia’s medal-winning potential came in two warm-up games against then-powerhouse Pakistan as Eric Pearce’s double helped the Aussies to their first ever win over the ‘green shirts’, 2-1. Although Des Piper netted in the follow-up game, Australia narrowly lost that one 2-1.
While much has changed in the five decades since the Class of ’64 won its Olympic bronze, the need for hockey players to balance their sporting career with a professional life remains a challenge. For Piper, a plumber, Glencross, working in hospital admin, and McWatters, working for the Education Department Queensland, supportive employers allowed them the leave to represent their company at the planet’s biggest sporting event. However, for Don Smart there was a choice to be made.
He explains, “I had just got a job for the International Harvester Company but they forced me to choose between the job and the Olympics. There was no choice to make.” The “frustrated centre forward” walked away from the job, taking on a casual role as a plasterer as he prepared for Tokyo.
As they are now, the opening ceremony was an experience to be savoured. “Entering the main stadium on the opening day is a sensation etched permanently in my memory like no other,” McWatters recalls. “I have always believed that preventing some Olympians from participating in the opening ceremony is a terrible decision. Olympic participation surpasses all other tournaments, especially in hockey.”
Australia had finished fifth and sixth in its two previous Olympic outings but spurred on by some choice under-the-breath comments from their opponents, the men in green and gold thrashed Great Britain 7-0 in their opening contest.
“Everyone did their job,” explains Piper. “A good start against the Poms was the catalyst.”
Further wins over Rhodesia and Japan put the Aussies in a strong position and while there was a blip as Kenya surprised Australia with a controversial 1-0 win, victory over New Zealand was enough to secure semi-final progress despite defeat to Pakistan.
One of the most striking images was the women and men who repaired the divots in the pitch at half time and full time.
As Glencross remembers, “Japan wasn’t a dominant hockey nation but the grass pitch was perfect, like a bowling green. At half time they would come out with little trowels and hand brushes to replace the divots and brush away grass. It was an excellent facility on what was one of the few early Games with a multi-venue Olympic park.”
With no interchange Glencross had to wait until the final pool match against Pakistan for his chance to experience the turf. Following a team reshuffle, the 23 year-old came in and played the three remaining matches, picking up the bronze medal for his efforts. In those days, only the 11 players that played in the medal match received one.
While the heroes of ’64 keep their cards pretty close to their chests, it’s clear that off the pitch mateship ran strongly. Rumours abound that Dawn Frazer’s high profile ‘souveniring’ of an Olympic flag that led to her decade-long competition ban was not a solo mission and she may have been aided and abetted by a hockey player or two. And McWatters recalls coach Morley’s devastation at learning “his boys” had jokingly removed a wheelbarrow-sized display cake from a nearby eatery, a feat that required four people such was its size.
While nowadays medal-winning athletes are treated to open top bus parades and television appearances, as Des Piper points out, “there were no street parties” on the team’s return. For many it was a case of going back to the day job at the soonest opportunity. Speaking engagement invitations, however, did flood in and many members of the team went on to forge life-long associations in the top level of Australian hockey.
Don McWatters was chosen as captain of the team going to the 1968 Olympic Games but injury prevented him from playing. He subsequently became Australian men’s coach, preparing the team for the Moscow Olympics before the boycott of those Games.
Don Smart went on to represent Australia at the Olympic Games in 1968 and 1972, winning silver in Mexico four years after the bronze medal in Tokyo. He coached Australia’s Under 21 men at two Junior World Cups (1982 and 1985), winning silver in 1982, and the junior women at the Junior World Cup in 1993, also winning silver.
Brian Glencross also represented Australia at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games, winning silver in Mexico in ’68. He was coach of the Hockeyroos from 1980 until 1992, leading them to Olympic gold in 1988 before becoming High Performance Manager for the Women’s Hockey Association prior to its amalgamation.
Des Piper also played in three Olympic Games – 1964, 1968 and 1972. He went on to coach Victoria and was an Australian selector for 20 years before retiring from the role after the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Australian men’s hockey team, Tokyo 1964
Merv Crossman, Paul Dearing (GK), Ray Evans. Brian Glencross, Robin Hodder, Donald Martin, John McBryde (capt.), John McCormack, Don McWatters, Patrick Nilan, Eric Pearce, Julian Pearce, Desmond Piper, Donald Smart, Anthony Waters, Graham Wood. Charles Morley (coach)
Hockey Australia congratulates everyone involved with the 1964 Australian Olympic hockey team, a charismatic group that played a significant role in this country’s love affair with the Olympic movement and set the foundations for considerable future hockey success.
Hockey Australia media release
Olympian Darshan Singh left in lurch
K. Arumugam
He won the Gold for us fifty years ago at the Tokyo Olympics, being part of the dream team of 1964, but today he is a disillusioned man, as government of India play faux pass with him.
Darshan Singh, now settled in United Kingdom, momentarily over-whelmed with a call from Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, government of India, inviting him for a Felicitation Ceremony to be held in Delhi to commemorate the epoch making 1964 victory.
The Tokyo win is landmark event in Indian sporting history, as hockey regained the Olympic gold in 1964 after Pakistan had it in 1960
This is first gold of India in which no Anglo-Indians were there, and the team consisted of post-Independent heroes.
Unfortunately, it is the last Olympic gold for India in which all the leading teams of the world participated.
India won the gold at Moscow, against the backdrop of leading hockey nations from the West boycotting it.
Despite inviting the likes of Darshan Singh, Govt of India failed to inform them when the event was cancelled.
They informed all others in India, who had cancelled their tickets to Delhi.
Darshan Singh is from well-known former hockey hub Sansarpur, will now celebrate Diwali with his friends there in Punjab.
Stick2Hockey.com