Drew A CLUB WIN WIN
MoM: Canterbury Hockey Club
With thanks to team sponsor M1 http://www.canterburyhockeyclub.co.uk/patrons
The 21st Villages Tournament 2023
Canterbury Hockey Club’s 21st Villages Tournament took place the day before New Year’s Eve with over 140 players from the mens, ladies and junior sections competing with an age range from 81 (Corporal Tony Jones) down to 13 – (Olly Triggs)
The teams based on players from where they live was won by the Western Rangers from villages based to the west of Canterbury. Who won was less important than the fact that the whole club, including many many spectators, were participating, watching and enjoying an intensive almost 6 hours of hockey. There were some amusing cameos, such as father and son goal keeping dynasty – Simon and Olly Triggs (the 2 Triggers) vying for who got to keep in the most games – that was decisively won by young Olly, a 13-year-old who obviously has had much tuition in his back garden from his international dad who was often despatched to the bench by said son who kept with huge promise. Stuart Mears was very proud of the penalty flick he saved from Matt Carney and Ben Lawford was awarded the prize for ‘general volume’ (apparently) and for sporting a very inclusive sun hat he wore all day!
The were were many aspiring family dynasties – The Curtiss clan though Daddy Curtis (JC) was severely knackered by the end – what with a surfeit of Christmas and hockey it was really all too much for him. But there were other families – not least the vocal Brown-Leas + MAtt, with Brad somehow scoring some goals, the Goldings, Ericsons, Aikins, Aitkens, Mackinnons, Kemsleys, Pedersons, Fassums, Goodwins, Ratcliffes, Lesters, Plumbs, Dibiases, Uptons, Boydells, 4 x Halle-Smiths, Prebbles, Gardiners, Corteen-Colemans and van de Merwe (no not the Scottish international!) and apologies for any omissions but lovely to see you all! Photo shows the Northern Territories Team (from Herne Bay/Whitstable area)
Amongst the many spectators there was even the evergreen Nick Barry having travelled all the way from North Carolina (yes really!). Dom Annand gave away a short corner for actually sitting on a player in slow motion causing much hilarity. Dan Gent (down from Loughborough) predictably drew blood on his well worn knees and shades of what happened in the Friars many years ago now!
Big thanks to the backstage guys and girls, ranging from Paul Sharratt for the Jamie Oliver style refreshments (including baking 67 one metre French Sticks) and the surplus, of which there were many, given away to the winners and losers who he felt needed more carbohydrates. Thanks to Paul Batch who manned the bar all day, and a dedicated lady on the scoreboard. Huge thanks to Phil Sandy, Lee Hare and their team of umpires and all those other back stage helpers.
A great Club Day.
