Presidents Page

President’s Page No 17 Monday September 6th

The President Gets Hooked!

It was conference time this weekend as coaches and those interested in that side of the game gathered at two venues to hear the words of wisdom offered. For the first time the conferences were being spread across the provinces.

First it was off to Banbridge for the first Hooked Session and with the IHA Team and the invited coaches in place, your President and the CEO opened the proceedings leading on to getting down to the business of the day.

Both senior coaches Paul Revington and Gene Muller, HPD Dave Passmore, Stephen Barry on strength & conditioning, Suzanne Evans on the precise skill of the drag flick all gave of their time and expertise.  Inside the addition of video clips assisted explanations, a science that has been developed to a high degree giving perfect illustration to points being debated.

Of particular interest was a run-down of the recent participation in the first World Youth Olympics in Singapore.  The climatic conditions for our under 17 girls playing there left us gasping.  Playing in 41 degrees in day it was icebaths before the matches! Substitutions were being carried out every 45 seconds at times! The lowest temperature was 33 degrees and that at 3am! Humidity was 98%.

With 204 countries, 26 sports and 70,000 spectators, it was every bit a full Olympics. Our girls travelled with 9 other Irish athletics thus we doubled our country’s participation. Full credit to our boxer’s gold medal and to our girls and their 5th place.

There is as much pitch time at Hooked as at the podium, unfortunately our recent mini Indian Summer had deserted us and as the gallant participants stood out on the park with notebook and pen, the rain poured down!

The weather wasn’t much better yesterday in Dublin as the Conference rolled out for its first re-run.  However the groups persevered and again everyone was very appreciative of all the information offered and in such a pleasant well-communicated way.

Two out of three complete, the third will take place next Sunday (12th) at Garryduff in Cork.  Still places available if the foregoing whets your appetite!

It was good to catch up on friends not seen for a while – and to meet new people.

While all this was happening, there was a mid-week attendance at the OCI AGM.  The IHA was represented by the CEO, the Vice President and myself.  My first visit to the amazing Aviva Stadium.  The meeting took place in the room looking down over the pristine and futuristic arena.  The pitch looked like an Axminster carpet!  It wont always be like that!

Of particular interest was the official entry to Irish Olympics of Rugby (7s), golf, ice hockey and ice skating all for 2016.

Back in hockey, with the grind of the initial pre-season training done, the run-up friendly match phase is busy with teams sharpening their skills and bodies for the domestic fray soon to begin.  It will not be long before we are all in full swing!

Herbie.

President’s Page No 16 Tuesday 31st August

UNDER SEVENTEENS SING HOME FROM SINGAPORE!

Dublin Airport was the place to be on Friday night for Irish sports’ followers as the large crowd gathered to welcome home the athletes from the first World Youth Olympics.  The sense of excitement was heightened by the delay of the linking flight from London.

The arrival area was festooned with flags and banners by the contingent of several hundred people comprising parents, press and RTE.  Arrival passengers were mesmerised by this unexpected reception as they innocently emerged to the unwitting spotlight.

Word was that the boxer, Ryan Burnett who had won gold medal in the flyweight would come out first followed by the hockey players. At last, to a tumultuous cheer and applause he appeared carried shoulder high and flanked by his coach and Pat Hickey President OCI.  Behind came the boxer’s faithful fans: the Irish girls’ hockey squad! 

Once the interviews were over the girls emerged to their own reception.  Many of the parents had been out in Singapore and had come back before the athletes and were there to greet their daughters and transport them the last leg of the long voyage.

The girls showed none of their long trip as they danced around the arrivals on a high, singing “Ireland’s Call” and forming for a group photo with their number one fan Ryan – whom they had obviously taken under their wing and in true Irish sporting spirit had supported him in his bouts at the games.  How important a team sport is to a country at an Olympic event.

Congratulations to the girls who had come through the heartbreak of the earlier games to conclude with two victories and come home with 5th position.An experience of a lifetime and hopefully fully indoctrinated by hockey for the rest of their lives!

The Airport returned to its normal quiet buzz as the last of the greens pushed their trollies of gear to their waiting transport and no doubt slept soundly in the car on their way to their own bed!

For the last week our senior men having been having a successful sojourn in Paris and with two earlier draws earlier, they were undoubtedly very pleased to conquer Malaysia so convincingly and round off their tournament with yet another win against Scotland.  While not clinching the overall win of the test series, Revs must be pleased with his team’s performances.

With a Board Meeting concluded at the weekend your President will attend the AGM of OCI midweek and then looks forward to meeting the hockey fraternity at the hooked conferences over the next couple of weekends as the pre-season domestic action gets underway.

President’s Page No 15 Tuesday 24th August

A great weekend for Irish Hockey with success home and away in Dublin, Lisnagarvey and South Africa!

Many congratulations to the Irish Masters’ Tournament on the success of the first Home Nations (Plus) in Ireland when the Over 40s men and women and over 50s men took to the astro in (mostly) sunny summer conditions at ‘Garvey.

Your President was delighted to be there representing the IHA as the process of this important part of our game becomes a formal part of our structures. Particular praise for organizers Andy Nye, Alison Pigot, Jamie Millar and Mark Murray all of whom put so much work into the event. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated, including special guests over 40s men from Germany giving an extra European spice.
It was just amazing to see the high standard of hockey and fitness at this age level, although I am sure there are some tired limbs this week!
Not to mention a fine celebratory dinner on the Saturday night in the Lisburn Civic Centre --- followed by a disco – God Bless the energy!!!
As this aspect of the sport continues to develop in Ireland, there cannot but be benefit as more people are enthused to stay in the game, bringing themselves and their families and friends back into hockey – or stay in it longer.
For the record it was the ladies on only their second outing at International level who took the honours coming from 1-0 down in the last 10 minutes of their final game to beat England 2-1 and take the title.
However there are no trophies, glory only in pride and smiles whether the teams won or lost – true sporting values at their best. Well done to everyone and we look forward to all of this going from strength to strength.

Notwithstanding all that involvement your President buzzed down the M1 (so easy now!) to catch the final match of the senior men’s series with Malaysia at UCD. And what a thriller that was for the home crowd. The Irishmen gifted a smartly taken penalty corner goal to the visitors in the first half but were deservedly the better side, especially in the second half. This is not always reflected in scorelines however! Thankfully Ireland leveled in similar fashion and it looked like it was going to stay like that but as the hooter went Ireland found themselves with another corner which Tim Cockram tucked away on the second ask. The stand erupted! A great way to finish the series and sets the men up for their trip to Paris this week when they will meet Poland, Scotland, France and Malaysia – again! Bonne chance à tous!
Congratulations too to John Jackson who played his 50th game on Sunday.

And as if that wasn’t enough…..while all this was going on, news came through that our under 17 lassies out in Singapore had at last secured victory by beating South Africa 1-0 in their final pool match. Best of luck to them as they play them again in the classification match today for 5th/6th place.

A very satisfying weekend and largely a conclusion for the summer international activity for the IHA – and its President!! It has been a roller coaster for me making so many new friends and also re-acquainting many I had not seen for some time.
Thank you to everyone for making me so welcome everywhere I go.
I look forward to getting stuck into the domestic scene as the autumn leaves start to drop on to the astros!

President’s Page No 14 Thursday 19th August

Welcome to the gentlemen from Malaysia who arrived in Dublin yesterday and - only in the evening - and had therefore scarcely time to drop their bags at their hotel before they were on the pitch at UCD! Nonetheless they produced some breath-taking fast-paced hockey – as did our Irish senior men – the team sporting a number of our up and coming new talent.

Ireland held the initiative for most of the match but the visitors crept ahead at the closing stages and only a final last minute goal from the hosts kept everyone’s pride intact at the 3-3 draw.

It will be interesting to see tonight’s contest when our visitors from the Orient have had a night’s rest and settled in for the weekend.A good crowd attended with the stand at UCD well filled, although everyone feeling the cool temperature of the autumn touch. An extra layer of clothing might be the order of the evening tonight!

Not so, out in torrid Singapore where our gallant Under 17 gals are coping with the humidity and distant opposition. With two close encounters and coming out the wrong side of Holland and New Zealand (but only just) we wish them all the best as they enter battle with Argentina next. They are certainly getting around the world!

I look forward to meeting those involved in the Home Nations’ Masters’ Tournament in Lisnagarvey at the weekend and hope that their preparations are going smoothly.

Finally last night, as the men were centre-stage, our senior women were taking time out and as was commented some of whom were most likely out celebrating their Leaving Certificate results! How the age profile of our international teams have changed!!

Herbie.

President’s Page No 13 Monday 9th August

It was back to HQ over the weekend as Ireland senior’s women’s team hosted Belgium with three matches. Again, as in Scotland, Gene Muller was giving some of the up and coming players some scope to show their paces while more senior players were being rested.

There was no appearance of any inexperience as the new comers bedded in and showed their paces. We were treated to a very confident and sprightly performance by the Irish team on the Friday night. The first half proved goalless but with Ireland deserving to be ahead, they capitalized on it in the second half with four fine smacking goals leaving the visitors wondering what had happened by full time. Those of us present were delighted with the outcome and were encouraged by the determination and vigour on the pitch by all concerned.

On Saturday afternoon the larger audience wondered if we might be found out as the visitors settled into their weekend. But again from the start, Ireland took the initiative, confidently holding possession and were 2-0 up by the break. Inevitably there was a wobble in the second half which allowed Belgium a goal from a penalty corner but the home side reasserted itself with the move, vision and goal of the series to put the game beyond contention.

The sun shone brightly on Sunday morning 8th August as the players, officials and spectators gathered for final game of the series. Following the anthems your President had the privilege of presenting skipper Emma Clarke with recognition of her 100th cap which she was about to complete. Many congratulations to her.

As the game got underway it looked as if Ireland was going to emulate its success of the weekend and indeed before long two goals had been netted for the home side. This was the situation at the break and despite Belgium pulling one back in the second half Ireland remained in front at the finish thus completing a very pleasing three out of three. The sun shone as the Irish kept smiling, a glorious way to finish this section of their preparation matches. Coach Gene Muller cannot but be pleased with the way his new potentials measured up over the weekend – and with 9 goals scored and only 2 conceded from three matches!

However it is now in downtime for the girls as they take a well earned rest and then head into camp mode in October. I now turn my attention to the senior men who take up the IHA action for the remainder of the month – while keeping an eye on how our under 16s progress in Singapore. We wish our team of girls all the best as they depart today (Monday) on their long journey to a far away pitch!
Herbie