The Season Starts!

Welcome to the 2nd edition of the Oracle. Now that the season has started you can expect to see this published most weeks, with details of individual and team achievements, forthcoming events and other news of interest. We really hope that you find the content of interest, and enjoy reading about the wider junior hockey section, as well as the teams that you and your children are a part of.

We are very keen to make this a forum for members, especially the junior players, to contribute. Thanks to Esther Chainey for her contribution to this week’s edition. You can read her interview with Marie Atkinson, our new Team Summit Girls Under 14 head coach, below. If you have anything that you would like to include in future editions, please do get in touch.

We are delighted to introduce our latest sponsor. Anthony Munden Architect has kindly agreed to sponsor our girls under 16 team for the season. You can see some of his fantastic recent designs here.

New Sponsor

We are delighted to welcome a new sponsor of the junior section.  Anthony Munden is a local business and we very much appreciate his support in helping us to achieve some of our strategic aims this season.

Anthony Munden will be sponsoring the under 16 girls group this season, and we look forward to working with him as the season progresses.

I am a Winchester based architect specialising on residential projects in Hampshire and the South East. Projects include the design of new build private houses, residential developments and alterations and extensions to existing homes.

My solutions are design-led, working closely with clients from inception to completion, employing a collaborative and creative approach. I aim to add value with inspired concepts that are creative, simple and pragmatic and which exceed the clients’ aspirations. I take a lot of pride in my work and the exceptional level of service that I offer to my clients.

Designs are context driven, contemporary and, where appropriate, respectful of tradition. I see each project as an opportunity to produce thoughtful and composed architecture that positively transforms the experiences of its users and the wider community.

My projects are characterised by a sensitive approach to materials and an intuitive understanding of construction and detail.

www.AMArchitect.info

The Junior Committee

• Junior Chair: Tim Lander

• Junior Vice Chair: Peter Jenkinson

• General Liaison: Richard Macer

• Director of Coaching: Richard Penrose

• Junior Membership: Anna Morgan

• Child Welfare & Junior COVID Officer: Melissa Clegg

• Minis Reps: Sharon Robertson & ‘J’ Russell

Many thanks to Mel Clegg for taking on the Junior COVID officer position, in addition to her role as Child Welfare Officer. I know this is often said, but it is certainly true this time, without her agreeing to take on this role, there would be no hockey!

We still have a number of voluntary positions that we are looking to fill. If you feel able to help with some of these administrative tasks please do get in touch.

Open positions

• Sunday Fixtures Co-Ordinator: VACANT

• Junior Umpires Manager: VACANT

• Sponsorship Co-Ordinator: VACANT

• Newsletter & Social Media Manager: VACANT 

• Assistant Child Welfare Officer: VACANT

Sponsorship Opportunities

As we look to invest in the coaching programme and resources, we are giving local business an opportunity to sponsor individual teams or the entire junior section.

For a modest contribution, sponsors will have:

• Their name associated with specific teams

• Bespoke coverage in newsletters and social media

• Recognition of their sponsorship in local press coverage

We would very much like to hear from you if you are interested, or have contacts at local business which may be prepared to get involved. Please do get in touch.

Coach Development

Our season opening Club Day began with a coach-the-coaches session run by our Junior Director of Coaching, Richard Penrose, and GB international and club President, Simon Hazlitt.

Many of our minis and junior coaches attended and were educated, and entertained in the intricacies of hockey technique and the arts of coaching it. From using old toilet roll tubes and encouraging the kids to stick out their tongues at coaches, we all left with many ideas to improve delivery of training sessions.

Many thanks to Simon and Richard.

Watch this space for the next one!

U16 BOYS – TEAM FORGHETTI

13th September: Triangular v Guildford & Wimbledon

Results: Winchester 3 (Marsh, Coleman, Hobkirk) Guildford 0 Winchester 3 (Wilson, Coleman, Crompton) Wimbledon 0

A sunny September afternoon in Guildford saw the Boys Under 16 Academy team start their season with two convincing wins against strong opposition, Guildford and Wimbledon.

In the first of two 40-minute games the boys weathered early pressure, including a goal line clearance by Dylan Coleman. Within a few minutes, Guildford couldn’t clear a Winchester short corner cleanly and Alfie Marsh pounced on the loose ball to open the scoring. A second goalmouth scrap finished by Dylan Coleman double the lead just before halftime.  Guildford came back strongly after the break and, following a (disputed!) short corner, a goal bound ball hit a Winchester foot resulting in a penalty flick.  Everyone assumed it was 2-1. Nobody told Harry Loveridge whose rapid left pad pulled off a fantastic save. That moment turned the game and Winchester took back control.  Lovely interplay between Jack Hobkirk and Max Wedderburn saw Jack slot in to complete a 3-0 victory.

Despite the heat, the second gamed started just a few minutes later.  Wimbledon started brightly and despite Winchester pressure, there were no goals until the stroke of half time when Harry Wilson, capping a highly promising debut for this team, poked in from short range. The start of the second half saw pressure from Wimbledon with Harry pulling off important saves.  However, in a Winchester attack a ball spilling out from Wimbledon goalmouth was struck beautifully by Ollie Lander and deflected in by Dylan Coleman to double the lead.  Despite tiring legs, Winchester pushed forward and created their best goal – an unstoppable reverse hit by Henry Compton into the top of the net.

Two games and two three nil victories; a great start to the season.

U14 GIRLS – TEAM SUMMIT

The Team Summit U14 girls have welcomed Marie Atkinson to the coaching team. Esther Chainey has been talking to Marie:

When did your love of hockey start? What age did you start playing and at which club? 

I started playing hockey when I was 18 and went to Uni. My school didn’t do hockey and there were no local clubs so I didn’t have the chance to play – I did football, athletics and netball instead. When I started my teacher training we were told to try a new sport, so I joined the hockey team and never looked back. 

 Have you played for any other clubs or teams? 

The first team I played for was my university team (University of St Mark and St John). I then played for a small team called Waterside before finally joining Winchester around 4 years ago.  

In your hockey career what was your most memorable match you played in and why? 

I think it would have to be one of the matches for the 2’s last season. We were hoping for promotion so we were fully determined every game. Particularly in the games before Christmas, the team felt so connected and we all worked hard for each other. It was so good to be part of that (and even better that it led to promotion!). 

 Do you think a player’s success benefits from participating in a variety of sports or is it best to focus on one favored sport? 

As a PE teacher and someone who has always played multiple sports, I definitely think there is something to gain from doing multiple. However, if you are someone who throws everything into one sport, I also think that can be hugely beneficial too! 

If you had to choose 3 top attributes in a player what would they be? 

Commitment, passion, and a determined attitude. (If I’m allowed 4 then resilience as well!)

What advice would you give for someone who wants to progress in the England Player Pathway? 

Never give up and just do your best. Sometimes things aren’t always as easy as you hope, and things don’t always go according to plan. If you stick with it and give it your all, the rewards will come and will be so worth the hard work. 

What can we do at home to supplement practice? 

Keep your fitness as good as possible and practice any skills / ball control. I’m also a big believer in team spirit so if socialising with members of the team is an option then go for it! A better connected team off the pitch helps you on the pitch as well. 

What would you like to gain from working with the Girls under 14’s?  

I would like every single girl to enjoy being part of the team, and to love playing hockey. I’d love for the teams to be successful, and I think if we all work together and enjoy what we are doing then we will achieve that. 

How can we help you achieve that?

Support each other and always ask for help if you need it. Listen to the coaches / each other and be respectful. From the few sessions I did before the summer, I saw this in each of the girls I met and I’m really excited for the season ahead and to get to know everyone.