24th January 2012
Hockey Wales Club of the Year Awards 2011
Whitchurch HC, Men's Club of the Year – Award presented to Roger Harris (on behalf of Whitchurch HC) by Anne Ellis (HW President) and Debbie Austin (Sport Wales)
Rhondda LHC, Women's Club of the Year – Award presented by Roger Caddick (Friends of Welsh Hockey) & Ian Sutton (Utility Warehouse)
Colwyn Bay HC, Youth Club of the Year – Award presented by Julie Whittingham (Strachen Travel) & Helen Bushell (HW CEO)
Part two of the retrospective look at our awards takes us to the heart and soul of our organisation with the Club of the Year award. This is our chance to really thank the clubs that have helped make sure that we have excellent hockey being played throughout the year! There were three awards in this category, the first for Men's Club, the second for Women's Club and finally for Youth Club of the year.
The first award for Men's Club of the Year went to Whitchurch Hockey Club. Whitchurch were the first men's club to achieve the Hockey Wales Club Accreditation 3 stick top level award due to a dedicated committee that ensured coaches and volunteers were not only qualified to the necessary standards but were also highly valued and supported. The club realised the potential in developing links with local schools and were awarded a Sport Wales Development grant worth over £5000 to expand their school club links programme to encourage youngsters from close primary and secondary schools to get involved with the club. They are a pro active club in supporting Sport Cardiff events and taking an active part in the Cardiff Hockey Forum. The club have a welcoming environment, with committed coaches, umpires and volunteers always ready to welcome new players. They support new coaches and for example with the help of a mentoring programme are currently supporting Tom Skirrow on Sport Cardiff's Coaches of the Future programme. As well as being a true development club they have demonstrated notable success in performance over the last year securing their place in both Indoor and Outdoor EuroHockey Club tournaments as well as at Vets level.. The first team play in the Men's West Conference league in the EHL and the club boast several welsh internationals at all levels from U16s through to Senior.
The second award was for Women's Club of the Year and was won by Rhondda Ladies Hockey Club. The team recently celebrated their 30 year anniversary, which was a momentous achievement as 5 years ago the club were in danger of folding. However, the club changed their training venue, sought support from the Hockey Development Officer Judith Powell and club members pulled together saw a dramatic turn around. The club boast 2 senior teams playing in the South Wales women's league, they support junior development and entered the youth club championships, which they reached the finals of and also the 13s and 15s league and cup competitions. Last season saw the establishment of an U11s team who will be ready to play next season. They are an incredibly proactive club offering opportunities from juniors through to veterans; they want the club to succeed and place a large emphasis on club development and never miss attending the Valleys Hockey forum which they see as pivotal in getting the clubs voice heard. One highlight for the club was being the first ladies club in South Wales to achieve the Hockey Wales '2 Stick Award'. Finally to finish the season off the clubs Senior team were promoted to the Prem 1 division of the South Wales Women's Hockey League. Speaking to Hilary Williams Club Secretary she said "The club was extremely proud to be part of the Hockey Wales Award's Night but to actually win the category we were nominated for was fantastic. We had an excellent season last year and this award was the 'icing on the cake'! It recognised the hard work that everyone had put into the club. There was definitely a 'feel good factor' to begin this season". In regards to the profile of the club and the award she added "Our profile as a club has grown from strength to strength over the past few years and this has helped confirm our status as being a club for all ages and abilities, in both a fun and competitive environment. We have worked hard to get where we are and our journey will continue, hopefully to even greater heights. I think it is important to have such awards for both men and women as it shows that each is important and also it doesn't matter if you are a club who play in the top divisions or a club in the lower divisions each are important to the development and sustainability of Welsh Hockey." Finally to this year's nominee's she said "There are so many unsung heroes in the world of sport and I have met a lot of them in the hockey world. Club's should take a look at the categories and consider themselves, as when you begin to write the application for any of the named awards, there is a realisation that your club has achieved great things to get to where you are now and such clubs should be recognised and rewarded for the work that they have done!"
Finally the last award went to Colwyn Bay for the Youth Club of the Year. Colwyn Bay's Junior section has been going from strength to strength and the work and commitment at this level definitely provided a strong background for the club to gain the a level three stick club accreditation award. The junior section has started an U13s girl's team playing in North Wales boy's competition and also playing as a development team in the North Wales Division 3 Ladies competition.
The club maintains strong links with its feeder schools running an under 11s schools league on Saturday mornings and under 14s on Tuesday nights giving many youngsters the opportunity to play hockey. The club encourages young players to get involved in coaching and volunteering from an early age and get them on the coaching ladder. The club have developed a comprehensive 5 year plan to bring coaches, umpires and volunteers through the club to create a strong sustainable infrastructure. The club also runs the PDC and has been instrumental in providing player development and coach development opportunities for the north Wales academy.
So if you feel your club, or any other is worthy of an award of this regard then download the Nomination Form (below) and send it back to us as soon as you can!
Download Hockey Wales Awards 2012 Nomination Form
