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News for 12 December 2019

All the news for Thursday 12 December 2019


Men's Junior AHF Cup 2019 - Day 7
Muscat (OMA)

11 Dec 2019     CHN v UZB (Pool A)     6 - 0
11 Dec 2019     SRI v THA (Pool A)         2 - 4
11 Dec 2019     HKG v SGP (Pool B)     0 - 6

Pool standings

Pool A

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 China 4 4 0 0 17 2 15 12
2 Uzbekistan 4 2 1 1 7 9 -2 7
3 Thailand 4 1 1 2 6 9 -3 4
4 Iran 4 1 1 2 5 8 -3 4
5 Sri Lanka 4 0 1 3 7 14 -7 1

Pool B

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Oman 3 3 0 0 15 2 13 9
2 Chinese Taipei 3 2 0 1 7 5 2 6
3 Singapore 3 1 0 2 8 6 2 3
4 Hong Kong China 3 0 0 3 0 17 -17 0

FIH Match Centre



Pink SPAR South Africa victorious in Hack’s 100th



The Sixth and final test of the SPAR Indoor Series between South Africa and Ireland was played tonight at the Bellville Velodrome. The two teams who have fought out a fantastic series over 5 days and two provinces renewed rivalries for one last time.  The SPAR South Africa team were all dressed in pink to as in conjunction with SPAR they created an initiative to stand together against gender-based violence. The 10 December also marked the final day of the United Nations 16 Days of Activism, with gender-based violence the focus for 2019.

Ahead of the game there was a presentation to the SPAR South Africa captain Cindy Hack who became the first African Hockey player to reach the 100 caps milestone.  She received a commemorative trophy from Marissa Langeni, CEO of SA Hockey, and some Proteas from her mother who was wearing a C100 shirt.

The game was played in front of a vociferous crowd at the Bellville Velodrome with the Pro Series National finals taking place at the same time and approximately 2000 people were in attendance for the historic night.

Although the night was all about Cindy Hack and her historic milestone, it was Kayla de Waal who stole the show with her own hat-trick, the third for SPAR South Africa in the series. What is so thrilling was that this was in front of her home crowd in just her second international series for South Africa. The future is bright.

South Africa had earlier opened the scoring through Amy Greaves after a fantastic bit of team play before de Waal got in on the action. Robyn Johnson would also add her fourth of the series before the biggest cheer on the night was reserved for Hack who netted South Africa’s final goal.

For Ireland they got two consolation goals with Sophie Barnwell finishing off a good team move and Amy Benson showing her goalscoring credentials with her fourth of the series and Irelands second of the game. Ultimately the South Africans were too good for their European opponents and turn their eye to their Poland tour with a current 20 match unbeaten run under their belt. Their 2019 record will read as played 28, won 22, drew 3 and lost 3.

SPAR Test Series

Durban – Danville Park Girls High School
First Test - Wednesday 4 December – South Africa 2-1 Ireland
Second Test – Thursday 5 December – South Africa 2-1 Ireland

Cape Town – Bellville Velodrome
Third Test – Saturday 7 December – South Africa 5-0 Ireland
Fourth Test – Sunday 8 December – South Africa 6-1 Ireland
Fifth Test – Tuesday 10 December – South Africa 4-2 Ireland
Sixth Test – Tuesday 10 December – South Africa 6-2 Ireland

SA Hockey Association media release



Pro League second edition to kick off in January

Indian men’s team to participate this time

Uthra Ganesan


Thierry Weil.  Photo Credit: Biswaranjan Rout

The second edition of the FIH Pro League will kick off in January.

At an interaction with select Indian mediapersons here on Tuesday, FIH CEO Thierry Weil admitted there had been teething problems, but insisted things would only get better.

Hockey India had pulled out of the 2019 edition but the men’s team will participate in 2020.

“The first season was a success not only measured by FIH but by the players as well. The main feedback we received was how great it was to play against the best teams in the world at home but also how tiring all that travel had been. We have now tried to change the schedule for 2020 and cut the travel in half,” Weil said.

In addition, the FIH has dropped the Grand Finale in 2020. “This is to give teams six to eight weeks to prepare for the Olympics. But we have not planned to bring it back in 2021. National associations agree it is not realistic to commit (to hosting the finale) not knowing if their team will actually participate in the Pro League,” Weil said.

Pakistan is a prime example, with the team committing to the inaugural edition only to pull out citing financial issues.

Weil insisted that all participating nations had committed to continuing in the Pro League beyond 2020, but the actual scenario would be known only later.

Asked if the Pro League, where the top nine teams play each other twice a year between January and June, would be able to draw crowds, Weil said: “The Pro League is like a quarterfinal or semifinal of a major event like the World Cup every weekend. It’s now our responsibility to make people understand that these are not just friendly games,” he said.

The Hindu



China's captain has high hopes for second season



The FIH Hockey Pro League second season gets underway in January 2020 after a hugely successful first edition. We caught up with the coaches and players from the participating teams as they prepare for the new look FIH Hockey Pro League season to get underway. In the following interview, China’s captain and stalwart defender Cui Qiuxia looks ahead to the forthcoming season.

China (FIH World Ranking: 10) finished the 2019 FIH Hockey Pro League season in seventh position. The Asian giants will begin their FIH Hockey Pro League campaign with a home fixture against the world number one team and reigning champions, the Netherlands on 11 January 2020.

What message have you got for the fans to get them along to watch the matches in the second season?
Cui Qiuxia: “I am the captain of China and I want all our fans to come along to the matches and support us. The FIH Hockey Pro League is a really exciting tournament and you will all enjoy a great sporting experience.”

What did you learn from the first season of the FIH Hockey Pro League and how will you prepare for this season?
Cui Qiuxia: “We learnt a lot from the first season. How to prepare the team for a number of important matches over six months and often travelling a long distance to play just one match. It is a long season and I think the second season will be even more exciting. We will train hard and prepare for the season thoroughly.”

What are the team’s ambitions for this second season?
Cui Qiuxia: “In the first season we didn’t play to our expectations and hopefully, in this second season, we will perform better.”

What are your thoughts on the new FIH Hockey Pro League format that will be introduced in the second season?
Cui Qiuxia: “The new format will be better, it will reduce the time spent travelling which generally made the team tired. So this new format, I am sure, will help us prepare for matches better and get better results.”

Which fixture are you most looking forward to and why?
Cui Qiuxia: “I am looking forward to our first game [against the Netherlands] because it will be the first test for the players. And also, there will some activity zones to enjoy and provide fun for the hockey fans outside of the match.”

What was your #MyProLeagueMoment from the first season?
Cui Qiuxia: “My best moment was when I scored [against Germany] from a penalty corner to help the team win the match.”

#FIHProLeague
#HockeyInvites

Official FIH Pro League Site



Jaffa Super 6s returns to Copper Box Arena for 2020


East Grinstead at the Jaffa Super 6s

England Hockey is taking the Jaffa Super 6s back to the Copper Box Arena as our indoor finals day comes to the iconic venue once again on Sunday 2 February 2020.

With four semi-finals and two finals taking place on the day and the certainty of dozens of goals scored, it’ll be a fantastic day of top class men’s and women’s hockey, starting at 10:30am and running through until roughly 5:30pm.

In order to encourage as many of our clubs and fans as possible to attend, England Hockey have lowered ticket prices across the board, with children’s tickets from just £5 and adults starting at only £13.50. Groups of 20+ also get a further 20% off the cost of their tickets.

The day sees the country’s best eight indoor teams do battle on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with a number of world class hockey players on show. With support from our partners Jaffa, there will also be plenty of exciting activities off the pitch as well.

There’s always a great atmosphere in front of an energised crowd, and with supporters set to come in from all corners of the country, hockey fans will come together for the showpiece event in the indoor calendar. So whether you’re a fan of one of the clubs involved, or just love to watch brilliant hockey from the country’s best players, it’s a key date for the diary.

As well as regular tickets, we are also offering Premium Experiences for the first time at this venue, for the most luxurious way to enjoy the day.

England Hockey Board Media release



Surbiton’s stars both establish healthy leads in English leagues



Surbiton’s men and women – who will play in the EHL FINAL8 – both hold healthy leads at the top of the English national league going into the winter break with.

The men secured an emphatic 7-0 win over the University of Exeter on Saturday evening, with Alan Forsyth also scoring a hat-trick while other goals came from Luke Taylor, Ben Boon, Tom Sorsby and David Goodfield.

The win was their 12th in succession and puts them nine points clear of Wimbledon – 4-2 winners over Old Georgians – with just six matches left to be played in the new year. Wimbledon have played a game extra at this stage while Hampstead & Westminster are in third, 11 points off top after their 4-3 win over Brooklands MU.

Old Georgians are in fourth place and in the playoffs but in a reasonably comfortable position with 10 points between them and fifth placed Beeston.

In the women’s competition, Surbiton returned to winning ways after their draw the week before. The top of the table side recorded their 11th win of the campaign as they won 3-1 at Beeston on Saturday.

Erica Sanders gave the away side the lead in the 19th minute from open play before Augustina Fernandez Merlo levelled for Beeston one minute in to the second half.

Darcy Bourne and Hannah Martin went on to score two more for Surbiton as they head into the winter break with a six-point advantage at the top of the table.

Hampstead & Westminster remain in second place after picking up three points for the ninth time this season, this time winning 3-1 at the University of Birmingham.

Lauren Turner, Fran Tew and Joanna Leigh all netted for the away side while Caroline Spence was the only scorer for the University of Birmingham. Both leagues fully resume in mid-February.

Euro Hockey League media release



Young Female Umpire selected for Elite European Programme.



The Irish Hockey Umpires Association is delighted with the recent selection of Connacht umpire, Ellie Duffy (27) onto the EHF Umpire Development Programme (UDP). A number of past graduates of the Programme have gone on to officiate at the very highest-level of world hockey, including the Olympics and World Cup.

Last year, Ellie was selected for the initial Umpires4Europe (U4E) Programme. The U4E Programme is a pathway to UDP and includes mentoring, webinars and practical weekends.

The UDP identifies and targets young talented umpires within the U4E Programme and provides them with a programme of events over a three year period. Ellie was one of three female umpires selected from a group of over 30 European umpires who took part in the ‘Push Tournament’ in Breda, Netherlands at the start of this season. In addition to Ellie’s selection, we are also delighted that Leinster based Tom Goode, will be a mentor on the Programme alongside Caroline Brunekreefe from the Netherlands.

Ellie’s involvement in hockey started as a goalkeeper. Whilst umpiring local Connacht schools matches, members of Connacht Hockey Umpires Association identified her umpiring potential. Ellie then progressed through the provincial structure and more recently she has risen through the ranks to be a regular face in the Women’s EY Hockey League.

IHUA Vice Chairperson, Rob Argent, commented, “We wish to congratulate Ellie on her selection and this excellent opportunity. Ellie’s selection on UDP follows in the recent footsteps of Alison Keogh and Shane O’Donnell and also represents the commitment of Hockey Ireland in supporting these important European Programmes for umpires and umpire coaches. With the development of the new Young Umpire Programme, we need young role models such as this, and we certainly hope this inspires more young people to take up umpiring and to enjoy reaching their full potential in the game.”

If you would like to know more about Ellie’s story, then catch up on a recent radio interview with Ellie on Galway Bay FM.

Irish Hockey Association media release



Field Hockey Canada announces 2019 Hall of Fame inductees

Pioneers of the game and Olympians headline 2019 induction class



In 2019, a formal Hall of Fame Committee was established to review and refine the nomination and induction processes. Field Hockey Canada is proud to announce the outstanding class of 2019 Hall of Fame inductees.

Athlete Category

In the Athlete category, Shelley Andrews of Victoria, Alan Hobkirk of Vancouver, and Reg Plummer of Ottawa will be inducted.

Andrews was an outstanding player and team leader. She co-captained the Women’s National Team through six world cups and the 1984 Olympic Games. She was the first Canadian female player to appear in more than 100 international matches.

Hobkirk captained the Men’s National Team from 1975-1979 while participating in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the 1978 World Cup and four Pan American Games. In 1983, he came out of retirement to play for Canada on the gold medal winning team in the 1983 Pan American Games.

Plummer, a long-time stalwart of the Outaouais Field Hockey Club in Ottawa, participated in the Montreal and Los Angeles Olympic Games as well as three Pan American Games and one World Cup. In 2004, he was elected President of Field Hockey Canada.

Official Category

In the Officials category, Alan Waterman of Vancouver will be inducted. Waterman has been an international umpire for 17 years during which time he umpired 88 international matches, including the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the 1994 World Cup and three Champions Trophies. Alan in currently the President of Field Hockey B.C.

Builder Category

In the Builder category, Dorothy (Dot) Asuma of Sunshine Coast, Denys Cooper of Ottawa, Jenny John of Kamloops and Dr. Jack Taunton of Vancouver will all be inducted.

Asuma was Chair of the 1979 IFWHA Women’s World Championships held Vancouver. She was the Women’s National Team manager for three years and a member of the CWFHA Board. In the early 70s, Asuma convinced Canada and the international hockey world that Canada could host a World Championship competition like none other. Her vision was instrumental in laying the  foundation for international hosting in Canada for the last 40 years.

Cooper has played and umpired field hockey at the local, provincial and national levels for over 50 years. Administratively he has contributed to the development of umpiring and the technical aspects of the sport through his leadership to the various umpiring and technical committees.

The name, Jenny John, was synonymous with field hockey both in B.C. and the rest of Canada during the 70s and 80s. She has been the ultimate builder providing inspiration to thousands of Canadians as a player, coach and administrator.

Dr. Taunton was the Team Doctor for both the men’s and the women’s national teams for over 25 years. He tended teams before, during and after eight Olympic Games as well as many other international and domestic competitions. Dr. Taunton is well-recognized, not only for his contribution to field hockey but as an outstanding leader in the field of sport medicine in Canada and worldwide.

Team Category

The 1983 Canadian Women’s National Team won the silver medal in the 1983 World Cup, achieving the highest ranking of any Canadian field hockey team to this day. The core of this team went on to participate in the 1984 Olympic Games and to win the bronze medal in the 1986 World Cup which qualified them for the 1988 Olympic Games.

Dr. Sue Neill (class of 2015), Chair of the Hall of Fame Committee, said, “we are pleased to have such an outstanding group of inductees for the Hall of Fame this year. They are a part of Canadian hockey history and have demonstrated leadership and commitment to hockey on and off the field of play.”

Class of 2019

    Athlete: Shelley Andrews, Alan Hobkirk, Reg Plummer
    Official: Alan Waterman
    Builder: Dot Asuma, Jenny John, Denys Cooper, Dr. Jack Taunton
    Team: 1983 Women’s National Team

Field Hockey Canada media release

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