Hockey: Marlborough Club’s annual awards dinner sees younger players coming to the fore

 

At the Marlborough Hockey Club’s recent annual dinner at the Town Hall it became clear that there are a great deal of young talented players waiting in the Club’s wings – and during the last season many of them have been successfully stepping up to play for senior teams.

The Junior Section organiser – Sarah Kendall – was named ‘Clubman of the Year’.  That award was applauded as the most obviously deserved of the whole evening: she also coaches the juniors at their Sunday morning sessions – and has been playing for the Ladies first team.  (See below for the Junior Section’s presentation evening.)

The Club’s team of the year award went to the Ladies First Team under Anna Scott.  They started the season missing nine players from the very successful and promoted 2013-2014 Ladies team.  But they hung on valiantly and stay up in their league for next season: “We live to fight another day.”

Euan Reid gained three awards: First Team Player of the Year, First Team Junior Player and Men’s Most Improved Junior.  He is at school at Dauntsey’s School and had just got back from the school’s hockey tour to Malaysia.  It was, he said, very hot indeed and they do not play quite the same game as is played in Britain.

 

 

The evening before the dinner, the Junior Section had their presentation evening at the Town Hall  – and, it is said, it was a very lively affair.  Children from all age groups were there to collect their awards and certificates.

 

Awards were presented to all age groups in several categories: Most Improved Player, Most Dedicated Player, Coaches’ Best Player/Player with Most Potential and in the older age groups they voted for the Players Player.

The coaches all thanked the groups for their hard work over the season and this can be summed up in a quote from Richard Pembroke who coaches the year eight girls:  “Over the last 12 months there has been a quantum leap in technical ability and game awareness across the board and I urge all the girls to build on that next season.”

Coaches agreed that both girls and boys have improved dramatically and they look forward to next season and more success in all the competitions they enter.

Click on photos and tables to enlarge them.  With thanks to James Dunn of Coffee and Countries Photography for the senior awards photos.