Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

In the rather complicated England Hockey colts Single System player selection process, which is now in place for developing hockey youngsters to the top level, numerous Ashford colts have done very well so far. Initially some Junior Development Centres (JDCs) were held at which players of under 14 from all Clubs could attend. Young female colt Bella Bogan went along and was selected for the next level up; the Junior Academy Centres (JAC) of which several sessions were held. Bella then made it to the next level the Junior Regional Performance Centres (JRPC) for the U 15,16, 17 and 18 age groups. Although Bella didn’t make it inot the England squads, she is the first female AHC colt to get to such a high level.

VERY WELL DONE BELLA, you have brought a great deal of credit to yourself, Ashford Hockey Club and in particular to Peter Cottrell and his very dedicated band of Colts coaches and helpers. If you would like to read more about the new system and see the final selected squads, link onto the England Hockey website www.englandhockey.co.uk

Come on down for a curry and quiz night! £5 ticket.

Your quizmaster is Lucy and she’s sourced a variety of rounds and question writers to test your grey matter with, so worry not, they’re not all by me or all devised by Sherpa.

Bring some friends to build yourself a team beforehand or join one on the night!

RSVP ahcsocial@hotmail.co.uk.

The astro draw winners for January 2012 are:

£100 Hilary Hull

£50 Jane English – who has kindly donated her winnings back to the Club

£50 Gordon Smith

Congratulations to all the winners and your cheques should be with you soon. It is only £12 per year for a ticket and a draw is made every month throughout the season, with the extra big money prizes being drawn at the AHC Annual Dinner in April. Application forms are available on the website (see link on side bar) and on the Club Notice Board. Help support the club and give yourself a chance of winning some money at the same time.

Besides the league fixtures already confirmed for the Men and the ladies 3rd team this coming Saturday 14/1/12, there is now an additional fixture at 10.30am at Short Lane, between the Ladies 2nd team and Southgate Ladies 4th team. This is a reaarranged league fixture from before Christmas. There may also be a Ladies 1st team friendly at 3pm at home, but this has yet to be confirmed. Come on U Red & Blacks.

Apologies that we haven’t been able to update the website, but there are the following friendly and two rearranged Men’s League fixtures this coming weekend. Sorry, I haven’t got push back times for the Men’s games, but they are all afternoon matches:

Home Games
Ladies 1st XI v Sunbury, Walton & Weybridge Hawks 1st XI at Short Lane at 1.30pm

Away Games
Winchmore Hill & Enfield 2nd XI v Ladies 2nd XI at 1.30pm

Epsom 1st XI v Men’s 1st XI

West Hampstead 6th XI v Men’s 3rd XI at 2.30pm (League)

Leighton Buzzard Fledings v Men’s 4th XI (League)

Good luck all.

Sorry to report that AHC lost the challenge pool match v ACC last Thursday by 4 games to 2, hard luck shane and the boys and we will get them next ime!

On a brighter note:

Ashford Cricket and Hockey Clubs are holding a Family New Year’s Eve Party this year.

To celebrate 2011 and see in the New Year the club will be open from 8 pm ’til late, there will be games/quiz and music and dancing, and food/buffet will be provided.
Entry will be free to members but on a first come first served basis and numbers may be limited – tickets are available from Tracey Roberts and please get yours now if you want to attend. Non members will be charged – £10 adults, £5 children.

Full details to follow.

Get you tickets now to enjoy a great night and while continuing your support for your Club.

The Xmas newsletter 2011 has recently been sent out to members via e-mail and it contains all the latest AHC news, information from Ashford (Short Lane) Sports, Ashford Antiques gossip and the league tables for all teams at the half way stage of the season and lots of other articles. Please contact me president@ashfordhockeyclub.co.uk if you haven’t recieved a copy and we hope to have a copy linked to the website soon.

Thursday December 15th – Pool match between ACC and AHC. Teams of eight players, nibbles nad prizes on offer. Shane Smith is running the AHC team, so please let him know if you want to play or come down and support our team against the mighty Cricket Club. The challenge begins at 7.30 pm, hope to see you there.

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The AAs are hosting the annual challenge trophy match v Sunbury Stars of the Past (SSOPs) this coming Saturday at Short Lane at 1.30 pm. Unfortunately snow and ice have caused the postponement of this popular fixture for the last two years, so please can you all try and arrange for some beter weather for us this year. Once again star AAs players are travelling from far and wide, including across the pond from the US of A, to play in this prestigious event. Numerous festiviites and ceremonies are held before and after the game and everyone is welcome along on the condition that they either wear a Santa hat or something festive. Hope to see you there and “COME ON U AAs”.

The U16 boys were at home against Teddington today, but unfortunately lost 0-6 to a very strong team, the score did not reflect how well they played. The U14 boys were also at home and they won 3-0 against Richmond. The U14 girls were away at Woking and played a very good game winning 2-1 thanks to a late goal scored in the last minute by Beth Jefferies who also scored the first. Well done all.

Forthcoming events at Short Lane:

Friday evenings – Informal quiz in the Members bar, hosted by Shane Smith – all welcome.

Monday December 12th at 7.30 pm, ‘Ideas evening’, where we hope representatives of ACC and AHC will meet to thrash out further ideas to help solve some of the current financial problems. We plan to issue some ideas in advance to promote discussion at the meeting, but we would be grateful if you could ensure that we are primed for a inspiring debate and hopefully some innovative ideas. Please could you let me 9Lynne) know if you would like to attend this meeting to represent AHC.

Thursday December 15th – Pool match between ACC and AHC. Teams of eight players – food – prizes – time etc. to be defined. Shane Smith is running the AHC team, so please let him know if you want to play or come down and support our team.

Saturday December 17th – Children’s (2-12 years old) Christmas party from 4.30 pm. Tickets £4 each (available behind the bar) and food, games, prizes and a gift for each child, with also of course a visit from Santa.

Saturday December 31st – New Year’s Eve party, 8 pm until late, there will be games/quiz and music and dancing, and food/buffet will be provided. Entry will be free to members but on a first come first served basis and numbers may be limited – tickets are available from Tracey. Non members will be charged – £10 adults, £5 children.

Go here and like the page to get updates on events & results via your facebook newsfeed!

If the link isn’t showing below, simply search for ‘Ashford Middlesex Hockey Club’ as a PAGE (NOT GROUP), on the left should be the button to click to like it!

thank you

Colts had some great results this weekend with the Boys U14 beating Surbiton 8-1. The GU14 drew 2-2 against Staines in an end to end match. The U12 Girls played in a tournament against Spencer and Richmond winning their group and playing Spencer in the final. It was a good match but unfortunately lost 0-1. The U10 boys were away at Oxted for a tournament and the best they had played with 3 no score draws, a win and 1 loss. Well done all.

At the A(SL)S meeting this month, the Board discussed the current precarious financial situation at Short Lane, and the need to act now and to increase bar turnover rapidly. A number of decisions were made about some fund raising events at which we need your support:

Thursday December 15th – Pool match between ACC and AHC. Teams of eight players – food – prizes – time etc. to be defined. Shane Smith is running the AHC team, so please let him know if you want to play or come down and support our team.
Saturday December 31st – New Year’s Eve party – £10 per ticket for non-members – free for members but the number of tickets may be limited for ACC and AHC members. Speak to Tracey early to secure your ticket. Food and entertainment (TBD) included.
Further A(SL)S events to be organised in the New Year.

Finally, we have arranged a meeting for Monday December 12th at 7.30pm, where we hope to meet with representatives of ACC and AHC to thrash out further ideas to help solve the current problems. We plan to issue some ideas in advance to promote discussion at the meeting, but we would be grateful if you could ensure that we are primed for a inspiring debate and hopefully some innovative ideas. Please could you let me know if you would like to attend this meeting to represent AHC.

It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in this position but drastic measures are now necessary to ensure we have a Sports Club in the future! ACC have organised two social events to try and help and these are on:

Tuesday December 6th – Xmas games night.

Friday January 13th – ACC Curry Night.

AHC members would be very welcome to attend either event and Shane Smith is now running an informal quiz night each Friday in the members bar.

Any further ideas about how we can improve bar and A(SL)S turnover would be greatly appreciated either at the meeting on December 12th or to myself or the other AHC, A(SL)S reps David Sutch and Adam Husband or at any time by e-mail.

Lynne Morgan lynne.morgan@live.co.uk