News for 15 April 2024
All the news for Monday 15 April 2024
Clean sweep! Kookaburras claim emphatic Series win
The Kookaburras have fired a warning to their Olympic rivals, with a clean series sweep over world number 5 India at the Perth International Festival of Hockey.
Whitewashed Down Under - India's 'eye-opening' Hockey tour to Australia
Here is a breakdown of the Indian men's hockey team's 0-5 whitewash at the hands of hosts Australia in the Test series in Perth.
By Pritish Raj 
Indian men's hockey team
"Thanks to the Australian team. They were a bit harsh on us, but we are going to meet in Paris."
Indian men's hockey team drop out of world's top five in FIH Rankings
The Indian men's hockey team dropped out of the world's top five in the FIH Rankings after Australia whitewashed them in the recent Test series. 
FILE PHOTO: Indian men's hockey team defeated Japan in the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023.
The Indian men's hockey team dropped to world number six in the latest FIH Rankings after getting whitewashed by Australia in the five-match Test series.
Pakistan hockey team gears up for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup with national training camp
KARACHI - The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has initiated a national training camp at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium in preparation for the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.
Roelant Oltmans roped in by PHF for two events
Oltmans earlier had expressed his inability to join the Pakistan team
By Abdul Mohi Shah
Oltmans earlier had expressed his inability to join the Pakistan team due to some reservations about the offered contract clauses. - PHF
ISLAMABAD: Roelant Oltmans has penned a two-tournament contract with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) after Spanish Juan Escarre’s reluctance to go into a short-term contract with the PHF.
Injured hockey trio fighting against time
By Aftar Singh
Coach Sarjit Singh will name his final squad of 18 players after a friendly match against world No. 10 New Zealand in Ipoh on May 1. Malaysia are world No. 13.- BERNAMA pic
KUALA LUMPUR: Three national hockey players are fighting against time to recover for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from May 4-11.
Olympic Games Records - Medals
By. Tariq Ali
The following is the list of the countries won medals in the hockey event in Olympic Games
Men's Hockey
Gold Silver Bronze Total Countries
8. 1. 3. 12. India
3. 3. 2. 8. Pakistan
3. 2. 4. 9. Great Britain
3. 1. 4. 8. Germany
2. 4. 3. 9. Netherlands
1. 4. 5. 10. Australia
1. 2. 0. 3. West Germany
1. 1. 1. 3. Belgium
1. 0. 0. 1. Argentina
1. 0. 0. 1. New Zealand
0. 3. 1. 4. Spain
0. 1. 0. 1. Denmark
0. 1. 0. 1. Japan
0. 1. 0. 1. South Korea
0. 0. 1. 1. Soviet Union
0. 0. 1. 1. United States
Women's Hockey
Gold Silver Bronze Total Countries
4. 2. 3. 9. Netherlands
3. 0. 0. 3. Australia
1. 1. 1. 3. Germany
1. 0. 3. 4. Great Britain
1. 0. 0. 1. Spain
1. 0. 0. 1. Zimbabwe
0. 3. 2. 5. Argentina
0. 2. 0. 2. South Korea
0. 1. 0. 1. China
0. 1. 0. 1. Czechoslovakia
0. 1. 0. 1. West Germany
0. 0. 1. 1. Soviet Union
0. 0. 1. 1. United States
Most Medals in Men's Hockey
Medals Gold Silver Bronze Countries
12. 8. 1. 3. India
10. 1. 4. 5. Australia
9. 3. 2. 4. Great Britain
9 2. 4. 3. Netherlands
8. 3. 3. 2. Pakistan
Most Medals in Women's Hockey
Medals Gold Silver Bronze Countries
9. 4. 2. 3. Netherlands
5. 0. 3. 2. Argentina
4. 1. 0. 3. Great Britain
3. 3. 0. 0. Australia
3. 1. 1. 1. Germany
Players Won Most Medals in Men's Hockey
Medals Gold Silver Bronze Players
4. 3. 1. 0. Leslie Claudius (India)
4 3. 1. 0. Udham Singh (India)
4. 2. 2. 0. Teun de Nooijer (Netherlands)
Players Won Most Medals in Women's Hockey
Medals Gold Silver Bronze Players
4. 3. 1. 0. Eva de Goede (Netherlands)
4. 3. 1. 0. Lidewij Welten (Netherlands)
4. 0. 2. 2. Luciana Aymar (Argentina)
Players Won Most Gold Medals in Men's Hockey
Gold Silver Bronze Medals Players
3. 1. 0. 4. Leslie Walter Claudius (India)
3. 1. 0. 4. Udham Singh (India)
3. 0. 0. 3. Richard Allen (India)
3. 0. 0. 3. Dhyan Chand (India)
3. 0. 0. 3. Francis Ranganathan (India)
3. 0. 0. 3. Balbir Singh Sr. (India)
3. 0. 0. 3. Randhir Singh Gentle (India)
Players Won Most Gold Medals in Women's Hockey
Gold Silver Bronze Medals Players
3. 1. 0. 4. Lidewij Welten (Netherlands)
3. 1. 0. 4. Eva de Goede (Netherlands)
3. 0. 0. 3. Rachelle Hawke (Australia)
Surbiton And Old Georgians Crowned Premier Division Champions
The Finals weekend was the culmination of 2023/24 season and it was Surbiton women and Old Georgians men that came out on top and took home the Champions trophies.
Old Georgians bag England Hockey Premier Division hat-trick in style
By Rod Gilmour
Old Georgians continued their domination in English hockey PIC: Eva Gilbert/England Hockey
Surbiton — Old Georgians’ old guard paved the way for a hat-trick of men’s league titles on Sunday as they repelled the home threat of Surbiton to secure an 18th league win in a row.
Grange are just about there in the race for the Scottish Men`s Premiership title
It gets a little tense at the denouement of the men`s Premiership title race, contenders Grange and Edinburgh University both won but only by a single goal in the penultimate fixtures of the season.
Women’s Scottish Cup finalists confirmed
Western Wildcats 1-0 Uddingston
Western Wildcats booked their place in the Women’s Scottish Cup Final through a 1-0 win over Uddingston in a close contest at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge
KZN North Coastal Regional, Grantleigh School: Saturday 13 April
The inside scoop. St Catherine’s School’s Nicole Gunda works hard to defend as Grantleigh school’s Kate Sparks puts pressure on during the regional final of the KZN North Coastal Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place at Grantleigh on Saturday 13 April.. Pic by Val Adamson
An exceptional day of action ended with hosts, Grantleigh School raising the trophy for the sixth time in the KZN North Coastal Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that took place on their astro on Saturday 13 April.
Seven schools participated in a full day of round robin hockey, with Grantleigh finishing top of the log. A tussle for second place ensued, with two times winner, Felixton College, Eshowe High School and St Catherine’s School all competing valiantly for the ticket to meet Grantleigh.
The final round robin game was all to play for, to reveal who would advance to the regional final. St Catherine’s met Empangeni High School in the penultimate game of the day. Sitting on 11 points, St Catherine’s required a win that would add 4 points, to continue, watched keenly by Eshowe who ended on 14 points. Midway through the riveting game, St Catherine’s netted the all-important goal and then played out the game determinedly, not allowing Empangeni any room to equalise, and finishing their day on 15 points.
This was the first time that St Catherine’s have featured in this regional final, leaving everything on the turf during the day, playing their hearts out, they were thrilled to step onto the astro to meet Grantleigh.
From the whistle, a refreshed Grantleigh dominated. Having had a five game break, the tenacious hosts camped in St Catherine’s half, constantly building pressure. In the first minute, Pipa Saint opened Grantleigh’s account in the game’s first short corner.
The home team’s forwards peppered St Catherine’s courageous keeper, Phakade Mchunu who stood firm deflecting a barrage of attempts. Her gutsy defence wasn’t enough for a slick Grantleigh attack, as the defending champs boldly outnumbered the Saint’s defence, overwhelming them in the circle with a surge of spirited strikes. Nicole Klopper netted the second goal, followed by Lisa Mbhamali and then Klaradyn Kotze got back-to-back goals taking the score up to 5 nil. Three minutes before the final whistle, Amy Scalliet prowling at the goal post was on hand to redirect a fantastic pass that whisked across the goals, nailing in her teams’ sixth goal.
Former Grantleigh player, Beth van Onselen was awarded the Umpire of the Day. Van Onselen matriculated in 2020, having played in two SPAR challenges in her school career. This was her first time appearing at the challenge with a whistle.
Grantleigh is the seventh of ten teams to qualify for the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. The six teams that have already secured a spot are Durban Girls’ College (Durban Central Regional); The Wykeham Collegiate (Pietermaritzburg North Regional); St John’s D.S.G. (Pietermaritzburg Central Regional); Our Lady of Fatima (Durban North Regional); St Mary’s DSG (Highway Regional) and Amanzimtoti High School (Durban South Regional).
The next regional takes place this weekend (Saturday 20 April) at St Patrick’s College in Kokstad where ten teams will vie for the Sisonke and Ugu Regional title.
All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page (SparSchoolGirlsHockeyTournament) or follow on Instagram (sparkznhockey).
Results
Regional Final
Grantleigh School 6 vs St Catherine’s School 0
Round Robin Points
1 Grantleigh School 24 points, 2 St Catherine’s School 15 points, 3 Eshowe High School 14 points, 4 Felixton College 11 points, 5 Empangeni High School 7 points, 6 John Ross High 2 points, 7 Richards Bay Christian School 1 point
Versveldt & Associates media release for SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge
Welsh Great "PJ" Dies
Peter James Wilson [09.08.42-22.03.24]
Phil Bailey
It is with great sadness that Hoci Cymru has learned recently of the passing of Peter Wilson.
Peter James Wilson, known affectionally as ‘PJ’ Wilson in the hockey fraternity, passed away at home on the 22nd March 2024. It is no understatement to state that Peter was one as Wales’s greatest ever hockey players. Those that played with and against PJ have paid testament to his skill, sportsmanship and ability; ‘the best player of his generation’ was one colleague’s assessment of him.
Peter was born in Weston-Super-Mare on 9th August 1942 and was educated at Chatham House School in Kent before gaining a place at Oxford University, where he studied Geology at St Edmund Hall. Peter then went on to be a much - loved teacher at Dragon School, Oxford, where he taught for 55 years; known affectionately as ‘the great PJ’ to generations of Dragon boys.
PJ Wilson made his debut for Wales on 16th March 1963 against Ireland at The Headquarters Ground, Londonbridge, Dublin. Peter played 87 times for Wales over a 15 - year period, playing his final game against Sweden in the 3-0 win on 18.09.78. He also captained Wales for the last 5 years of his Welsh career [1973-78] and did this with distinction on 49 occasions. Peter scored his first international game for his country on 10th April 1965 against Scotland at Ruabon and continued to score regularly for Wales.
PJ was a pivotal part of the history making Wales team in 1974 which took the Triple Crown for the first time since its beginnings in 1903, the highlight being a victory over England by three goals to one in Cardiff. As Desmond Eagar’s report stated, “in the dying seconds Wales were awarded a penalty stroke, and the captain, Wilson, who deserves credit for his country’s triumph, capped a great day for Welsh hockey by adding a third goal”.
During his Welsh career Peter played for Oxford University before moving to Cliftonville, City of Oxford and Welsh Dragons Hockey clubs. PJ’s Corinthian nature flourished with the touring Ladykillers hockey team, especially at the Folkestone Festival; and in 1973playing against the then European Champions, Frankfurt 1880, with their German Olympic stars. Ladykillers beat them 4-1, causing RL Hollands in the Daily Telegraph to write, “This Festival match provided as fine an exhibition of hockey in the modern style, as I could remember, and that includes the last Olympics. The team had pace, punch, and a degree of skill which delighted a crowd who had hockey in their bones”
Apart for a stellar career with Wales, Peter was an Olympian, playing for Great Britain in the 1978 X1X Olympiad in Mexico City. His debut for G.B. was on 30th December 1963, winning 35 caps and captaining Great Britain once. His GB career spanned 4466 days, making it one of the longest GB careers that did not span WW2! He was also the only British player to be selected for the European X1 v Asia to mark the 50th anniversary of the FIH.
Besides being a great hockey player Peter also played two first class cricket matches for Oxford University in 1964 against Derbyshire and Hampshire and was a Welsh international squash player. He was also talented at tennis, football, rugby and golf.
His teammate Brian Griffiths remembers the ‘hair raising trips’ they made from Oxford in PJ’s mini cooper, and ‘even in the era of grass surfaces, he could effortlessly send aerial balls half the length of the pitch’. Brian remembers him as ‘charismatic’, a ‘natural athlete’ bit with an ‘intellectual curiosity’. Brian believes that PJ Wilson was: ‘ the complete player, to whom sporting success came naturally, but he carried it lightly, and was whole hearted in his contributions to the team. Truly, a unique all-rounder of his time’.
Hoci Cymru extends its sympathy to his wife Celia and daughters Susie and Catherine.
With thanks to Mike Smith [The Hockey Museum], Patrick Rowley, Brian Griffiths, Freddie Martin, Lynne Morgan and Vera Savage for their contributions.