News for 29 May 2018
All the news for Tuesday 29 May 2018
Malaysia suffer another defeat to Olympic champs Argentina
By Aftar Singh
KUALA LUMPUR: Three Test matches and three defeats for the Malaysian hockey team.
National chief coach Stephen van Huizen’s men suffered another embarrassing 2-7 defeat to reigning Olympic champions Argentina at the Mar Del Plata in Argentina on Sunday.
In the first match played last Thursday, world No. 2 ranked Argentina won 1-0 but thrashed Malaysia 6-1 in the second match on Saturday.
The defenders, led by Muhd Razie Abdul Rahim, have been a letdown as they have conceded 14 goals in three matches while the forwards were no better as they only managed to net three goals.
The national side seriously need to buck up in the next three Test matches against Argentina this week.
Another big margin defeat will further demoralise the players.
In the third match, Argentina drew first blood as early as the first minute through Joaquin Menini. Four minutes later Malaysia equalised through Muhd Haziq Samsul.
But Argentina dominated the match and tore apart the Malaysian defence to hammer in six more goals in the space of 31 minutes.
Nicolas Della Torre, who scored a hattrick in the 6-1 win last Saturday, netted a brace in the sixth and 27th minutes.
Tomas Domene (ninth), Menini (14th), Juan Gilardi (35th) and Pedro Ibarra (37th) contributed the other goals for Argentina.
Malaysia reduced the deficit through Azri Hassan in the 45th minute.
Stephen said his players had a slow start and were on the back foot when they conceded the first goal.
“We equalised but they regained the lead within two minutes because we were slow to react.
“We were trailing 1-4 in the first quarter.
“We created some chances but didn’t manage to score while they made use of their penalty corners to score,” said Stephen.
“In the third and fourth quarter we were much better and created more chances but only managed to score one goal.”
The Star of Malaysia
Stockmann, Dwyer and Lleonart finish on a high with Bloemendaal
©: Frank Uijlenbroek/world Sport Pics
Jaap Stockmann got to sign off on 14 years with HC Bloemendaal in the perfect possible fashion, winning the EHL title in front of his home fans with an 8-2 win over SV Kampong.
Speaking afterwards, he said: “To end your career after a fantastic tournament in such an atmosphere and on your own field, there’s nothing better.After the disappointing play-offs for the title we came back, we were unstoppable here.”
It crowns an exceptional club career in which he won five national titles in the Netherlands and three EHL crowns.
And his coach Michel Van den Heuvel paid tribute: “Jaap has such phenomenal reflexes. We got a new ball machine for him and took to the maximum and I saw him blossom. We took ten balls at the head of the circle and shot them at 110 kilometers per hour but he thought it was too soft. Brilliant.”
The tournament also saw a final farewell to Jamie Dwyer. The Australian will return with his wife Leoni and his children to his homeland. He played six seasons between 2004 and 2011 for the Sparrows and has said goodbye twice before only to return.
But it will not happen again for the 39-year-old who will give his body more rest having scored with his last act for the club in the final win.
“It was unfortunate that we did not play our best match during the play-offs, but today we have made up for it with the EHL.
"I must thank Michel and the team that I could participate this season. It was amazing. But now I'm done. I'm too old! But I will definitely miss the club. "
In addition, Bloemendaal confirmed Xavi Lleonart will return to Spain for next season following a man of the match performance in the EHL GRAND FINAL.
Euro Hockey League media release
Why it’s time to put hockey clubs first for season-ending league finals
Photographers were placed facing the one stand which had spectators PIC:Simon Parker
Columnist Todd Williams reflects on the English season and urges hockey officials to look to Hoofdklasse success and bring League Finals back to the clubs fighting for their very existence in the sport
So, English hockey lovers, where were you on the last weekend in April?
Judging by social media, you were either well into your post-season life or one of the many who were still fully engaged in a seemingly endless number of training weekends, matches and events that have been going on since the league seasons finished. Certainly at my club, you’d barely know the season was over. If it’s not summer league, it’s regional junior competitions, while there was an invasion of the most competitive and apparently indestructible women’s over-50 and 55 players that I’ve ever seen.
For the overwhelming majority however, I know where you weren’t. Despite the top four men’s and women’s club teams in the country putting on six exciting matches over the two days at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre , the awkward truth is that this showcase of the domestic game was played out in front of a crowd that stood no chance of even filling one stand’s worth of the 3000 seats at Lee Valley.
As good as the images and clips of the goals and shootouts were on social media, the ever-present backdrop of empty stands stood out like a sore thumb.
But before you think that I’m about to embark on a scathing critique of the appeal of the Premier Divisions or the enthusiasm of hockey spectators, I’m not. Those crowds at the Hockey and Tennis centre actually reflect what is great about our game. We just need to be honest and recognise it.
The strength of our game is largely based around two factors. First, most people in hockey participate in one form or another. People play, umpire, coach, administrate, watch their children and just plain help out. In short, there is a reason most people are pitch side at a game of hockey other than it being a game they like to watch.
Secondly, almost every participant spanning one or more of the various categories does so on a voluntary basis.
The reality is that unless it’s a major tournament like the Olympics, World Cup or Euros, people would rather play in their own team, or umpire in their own league or make sure the register at the junior training session is done properly. Anything other than attend the league play-offs.
The volunteer basis also creates a unique level of perfectly acceptable selfishness. It might surprise people to learn that even at Premier Division level, coaches have to factor in absence for ski trips, Six Nations matches and weddings as much as injuries and illness.
But it’s a hard job to argue with someone that has paid their club and match fees and travels for hours every second Sunday that the 40 or so minutes on the pitch this weekend will be better than the free tickets to England v Wales or the NFL match at Wembley. Instead, we usually just insist on having enough notice to be able to plan for someone’s week on the slopes, which is fair enough when that same person every other week is helping out with the juniors every Sunday morning or driving the club’s fund-raising efforts.
Football of course is a different story and that’s why I wonder why hockey’s top administrators appear to be putting the same sort of hopes and expectation on the hockey community as though they are the same as football “fans”. If there was an option between tickets to the hockey play-offs at Lee Valley and a big game at Wembley, I’d probably choose the latter and I expect most of the players in the team I coach would do the same.
That said, football’s “tribal” thing is at the very extreme and comes with a host of problems that hockey can happily do without. Nonetheless, while we’ll put on the replica shirts at the Olympics and World Cups, you have to go a long way to find the wonderfully obsessive sight of flares, face paint and crazy fan behaviour at a club hockey match.
Or do you?
Followers of the Dutch Hoofdklasse competitions will know of their annual play-off series where the top four teams in the men’s and women’s leagues play in a best of three, home and away format, with the higher ranked team getting the advantage of two home games if needed. This year, the men’s semi-finals and final all went the distance with some 4000 spectators at Kampong watching the home team in the first game trying and close out the series against Amsterdam.
Just as we’ve seen with the EHL, it’s these club-based series that really capture the imagination, and attendance, of the most enthusiastic club fans including the face-painters, the headband wearers, the Smurfs and those older and/or more refined ones in the wonderful blazers.
To support this case, you only have to look at the wonderful job Surbiton did to host the recent Eurohockey Club Championships. It was of course a shame that the team that has dominated the women’s Premier Division for half a decade wasn’t able to find their best form, but just as the likes of Reading, EG and Beeston have done before them, the effort of the committee, members and players to organise and run the event so successfully shows what clubs are capable of.
EHL rounds and Eurohockey events are of course a step up from domestic play-offs but if we are ever going to grow our fanbase, it surely has to start by allowing, or in some cases requiring, clubs to host these championship, promotion and relegation deciding matches. On the back of being brave enough to hold the EHCC, Surbiton now has new dugouts, a proper video tower, more sponsors and has put their club on show to their local community.
Compare that to a couple of weeks earlier when their supporters watched their men and women achieve an historic double, having travelled to a freezing cold and empty stadium, with no indoor space available for the elderly, no covered bar and stewards more worried about confiscating food and shepherding people around to try and make empty stands look less obvious.
No doubt though, this idea is much easier to write about than do. The legacy of the 2012 Olympics gave hockey (and tennis) the “home” that is Lee Valley and I’m sure it will host an excellent World Cup in July. Six years on from the London Games though and the novelty of playing on a blue pitch near to where the Olympics before the last one were played is surely losing its sheen.
Let’s not also forget that seven of the eight Premier Division teams that competed in this year’s play-offs were from clubs south of Milton Keynes. Granted, unless you’re Old Loughtonians, Lee Valley is a pain for any club to get to but let’s just be completely crazy and imagine that Bowdon and the University of Birmingham make the women’s semi-finals next year. What would be more appealing for Bowdon?
At least one home game and then a tolerable 80-mile drive to Birmingham or a 400-mile round trip, plus the cost of an overnight stay and a full English in a Westfield shopping centre? And what if Bowdon did so well as to finish on top of the ladder? Surely they should be able to play for the championship and a European place in front of as many spectators as can get to their club and not as many as can afford the time and money to get to Stratford?
In the words of the great philosopher George Santayana, “Those who can’t remember the past are condemned to repeat it” and the relentless travel of north and south leagues and post-season play-offs at a “central” venue seem worryingly similar to the 90’s which ultimately led to the demise of the England Hockey Association and the sale of the National Hockey Stadium to the Milton Keynes Dons.
Beyond that drama though is the more worrying story of what has happened to the top clubs of that era. Looking back to the final standing in the men’s First Division of 1995-96, it’s bad enough that only three of what was eighteen teams will play Premier Division next season. Worse still is the fact that so many of the top clubs of the Nineties have since had to battle for their very existence. Compare that to Holland where nine of the 12 teams in the 1995-96 Hoofdklasse season were in the league this year, including Kampong and Amsterdam.
Strong clubs playing big games at home. Maybe that’s why 4,000 people turned up?
The Hockey Paper
Coaches Corner: Lock looks for key to Hockey World Cup success
Spain will be looking to continue their positive development in London Photo: FIH/WSP
In our latest Coaches Corner article, we meet Adrian Lock, the Englishman who has taken Spain to the brink of a top 10 world ranking and a place at the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup, London 2018.
FIH: Last year you spoke about your team needing to improve consistency, where would you say you are at the moment and what are you still looking to improve before the World Cup this summer?
Adrian Lock (AL): I think we have grown as a team since Rio 2016. We have gained more tournament experience, some good and some not so good, but it has given us a chance to reflect and allowed us to improve our mentality. This is one of the keys to achieving greater consistency.
Our performances in recent test matches have been pretty good and we look like a more solid and compact unit. This is despite rotating players to give experience to as many players as possible. We want to keep improving this mentality towards the World Cup so we have a balanced psyche during the tournament. I think we have enough experience now to know how to deal with anything that may be thrown at us during the competition.
"I think the lower ranked teams have been gradually creeping up on the higher ranked teams and I expect the World Cup to be full of surprise results, creating a tense and exciting tournament."
Adrian Lock, Spain Head Coach
FIH: How will your team prepare mentally and physically for the challenges ahead?
AL: We have been working more individually with the players, looking at their objectives and helping them understand what they can do to achieve those objectives. That has kept players focused on the present and on the process of improvement.
On the physical side, we are always looking to improve, so again we have created a more personalised environment to adapt to the different life situation of each player to help them reach their peak in time for the World Cup. Sometimes, it’s difficult to find a balance between work/studies, club hockey, international hockey and real life. I feel that the players are more experienced now, which has helped them to organise their lives better and recover better. This helps them take maximum advantage of the training they do.
FIH: How often do you meet and train with the team?
AL: Outside of training camps, we train between one to three times a week in our performance centres in Barcelona and Madrid. Some players who play abroad in the Netherlands, Germany or Belgium will come to Spain occasionally to train in the midweek and then return home to play with their clubs at the weekend. They will have their specific routines which they do with their clubs that looks to replicate the work that we do in Madrid and Barcelona.
Sometimes it would be nice to have the whole team together more often; on the other hand, playing in different leagues with different styles of hockey can be a positive experience which helps players grow.
FIH: What preparation matches/ training are planned between now and the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup, London 2018?
AL: In January we played a test series in Australia, a test series against Ireland in February and then a test series against Germany and China in March. Now the players are with their clubs for European competitions. They will take a short break and then it's straight into training camps and matches.
We play India in Madrid, then England at the World Cup venue, a Four Nations in Holland and finally Canada in Madrid before travelling to London.
FIH: What are the qualities you are expecting Spain to show in London?
AL: I expect us to play fast, aggressive attacking hockey, creating lots of goal-scoring opportunities and to fight hard in each game from start to finish. I expect to work as a team, to be positive and to find solutions to situations that we come up against. I think the lower ranked teams have been gradually creeping up on the higher ranked teams and I expect the World Cup to be full of surprise results, creating a tense and exciting tournament.
Spain open their Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup London 2018 campaign with a Pool C match against Argentina on 22 July. For the full schedule, click here.
FIH site
Ticket sales launched for Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018
Government of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launches the online ticket sales for the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 by receiving the first ticket for the tournament Photo: Hockey India
Sports fans from across the world can now take one step closer to the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 as ticket sales were launched for the showpiece event earlier today.
Tickets for all Pool, Cross-over and Quarter-Final matches can now be purchased from www.ticketgenie.in, while tickets for the Semi-Finals and Finals plus a hotly anticipated opening ceremony will be released at a later date.
Priced between Rs. 100 and Rs. 250, there’s a range of ticket options available for fans heading to the Kalinga Stadium between 28 November and 16 December. Demand is however set to be extremely high, therefore organisers have limited purchases to two tickets per person for each match day.
As a result, fans are being encouraged to buy early and not miss out on witnessing the best men’s teams in the world live in India, with 18 days of fast-paced, action-packed, world-class hockey scheduled.
Speaking after receiving the first official ticket, presented by Hockey India CEO Elena Norman, Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Government of Odisha, said: “I am glad to announce the launch of the online ticket sales for the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018. I am delighted to have received the first ticket. May the hockey fever of the people of Odisha spread to the world. We look forward to hosting fans and visitors from all over. We hope all our guests will enjoy world class hockey action and the great treasures that Odisha has to offer. Come enjoy the thrilling matches and soak in the warmth of our hospitality!”
Fans who had pre-registered via the official website were given exclusive access to a pre-sale between 12-15 April. With tickets now on general public sale, all fans can get their hands on the hottest tickets in town.
News about this event and subsequent ticket information is regularly updated on the official Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 website on worldcup2018.hockey/men, whilst other updates are regularly posted via FIH Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Ticket Information
• Official Ticket website for General Sale: www.ticketgenie.in
• Helpline: +91 804 115 0910 or +91 821 739 5364
• Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
#HWC2018
FIH site
York secure third title in Hockey Challenge
Outeniqua High’s Gemma Hoffeldt goes on the attack during the South Western Districts leg of the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge in George on Saturday. Outeniqua lost 2-0 to York High in the final. Picture: Hugo Redelinghuys
York High won their third title in a row when they defeated close rivals Outeniqua High in the South Western Districts final of the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge in George, South Africa on Saturday.
The defending champions won 2-0 in a repeat of last year’s title decider and they have again earned the right to represent the region in the provincial finals to be played on August 11.
These take place at Woodridge, just outside Port Elizabeth, and will see the five regional winners playing off to decide the year’s overall winners.
The other qualifiers are Kingswood (PE Inland), Alexander Road (PE Coastal), Hudson Park (East London Coastal) and Kingsridge (East London Inland).
Despite winning the title the previous two years, York coach Erica Combrink said before the tournament they knew there would be plenty of pressure on them.
With the games in this competition being played on a shortened format over 20 minutes, matches are contested at a high intensity.
Combrink said their strategy would be to try to score goals early in the match to transfer the pressure to their opponents.
Event organiser Peter Wilson said it had been another thrilling day of schoolgirls hockey, with as much excitement off the field as on it.
“The vibe at York High was outstanding, even from 7.30 in the morning,” he said.
“These schools really embrace this competition with everything they have and that’s really good to see.”
He added that the hockey was of a high standard, with plenty of competition throughout the day.
“The thing with the shortened format of 20 minutes a match is that the whole competition is unpredictable because anyone can win.
“It’s a bit like sevens rugby and if you can score a goal early on, then you are in the driving seat.”
SPAR EC sponsorship and events manager Alan Stapleton said they were thrilled with the support the tournament received from the South Western Districts schools.
“From an organisational point of view this was one of the best tournaments we have had,” he said.
“The hockey was really competitive, with no team having any big victories during the day.
“Well done to York for their efforts and, having won the tournament three times now, they will know what to expect when it comes to the provincial finals in August.”
The York High team which won the South Western Districts leg of the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge when they beat Outeniqua 2-0 in the final in George on Saturday is (back, from left) Erica Combrink (coach), Erin Coetzee, Sanja Greeff, Lauren Rothman, Frances Herholdt, Mieke Hougaard, Ella da Silva (captain), Emily Klue, Silke Schmidt (vice-captain), SPAR sponsorship and events manager Alan Stapleton, (front, from left) Megan Buckley, Caitlyn Callaghan, Nicci Claassen, Jo-Ann Klue, Abi van Tonder and Jessica Edington. Picture: Hugo Redelinghuys
Fullstop Communications media release for SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge
St Andrew’s College host Selborne
St Andrew’s College hosted Selborne in various hockey matches played at St Andrew’s in Grahamstown, South Africa on Friday
The 1st XI went 2-0 up in the first half, but were not as dominant as they would have liked to have been and their usual clinical passing game was well under par. The second half saw the College side give away far too much possession to an excellent Selborne midfield. This put the College defence under increasing pressure and although Dan Erasmus, making his 1st XI debut, made some excellent saves the continued pressure was too much and College conceded goals to finally lose the match 3-2.
The U14B lost 3-1 to Selborne having had the upper hand in the early stages of the match. However, Selborne slowly established some dominance and their victory was a fair reflection of the game.
The U14A were 3-0 down and struggling against a stronger, more physical Selborne team. Inspirational play from Anthony Baker and Nick Lane gave the team encouragement to get back into the match and finish strongly but unfortunately could not score the equaliser, losing 3-2.
The U16D also had a terrific fight back after going 5-0 down in the first half. The team were completely dominant in the second half and although could not find the net, they kept Selborne on the defensive for the entire second half. Africa Matshingana was instrumental in creating attacks, and Aubrey Chauke and Rowan Rosenberg solid in defence.
The U16C’s had an excellent and evenly contested match against their Selborne opponents, drawing 0-0. Tom Harper and Jeffrey Carle were excellent in defence, and Daniel Pizarro and Andrew Mackenzie were hard-working in both defence and attack.
The U16B’s struggled against a well-organised Selborne team and had to defend for most of the match, finally losing 3-0, but much credit must go to the team for the spirited display.
The U16A side drew 0-0 in a tightly contested match. The 4th and 3rd XI’s both lost 3-1 and the 2nd XI won 3-1, with some excellent midfield control and hard-running from the forwards.
Results vs Selborne College:
St Andrew’s U14B 1-3 Selborne
St Andrew’s U14A 2-3 Selborne
St Andrew’s U16D 0-6 Selborne
St Andrew’s U16C 0-0 Selborne
St Andrew’s U16B 0-3 Selborne
St Andrew’s U16A 0-0 Selborne
St Andrew’s 4ths 1-3 Selborne
St Andrew’s 3rds 1-3 Selborne
St Andrew’s 2nds 3-1 Selborne
St Andrew’s 1sts 2-3 Selborne
RNews
Passionate Tasmanian Read Awarded HA Life Membership
Ben Somerford
Photo credit: Hockey Tasmania
Hockey Australia (HA) today congratulates Ken Read who was awarded Life Membership at Friday’s Annual General Meeting for his exceptional and long-standing contribution to the sport.
Read, who is the current Hockey Tasmania chairman, is a former Australia international athlete and team manager, coach, official and administrator, having also served on the HA Board among many other roles.
The Tasmanian was awarded Life Membership alongside Rosemary Stern has worked as a tournament director, administrator and official, is one of the world’s leading technical officials in hockey and has contributed locally, nationally and internationally.
Hockey Australia President Melanie Woosnam said the Life Memberships were due recognition for the pair.
“Ken and Rosie have both made outstanding contributions to hockey for more than 40 years,” Woosnam said. “Their passion is truly amazing, volunteering their time for the love of the sport.
“Ken’s contribution has been long and distinguished at all levels of the sport, having played for Australia but also having served as a coach, official and administrator.
“He has significantly aided the growth and development of the game in Australia and remains hugely passionate, playing a key role in his home state Tasmania. He always has the best interests of hockey in mind in everything he does.”
Read rose through the ranks in Tasmanian hockey, before being selected to play for Australia at the 1978 Champions Trophy.
His involvement with the national team continued following his playing retirement, working as the Australian men’s team’s Manager from 1993 to 1996, including at the 1994 World Cup and 1996 Olympic Games.
Read also coached numerous Tasmanian teams in both indoor and outdoor over a 29-year period.
He officiated as a Judge at the 1997 Champions Trophy, acted as Tournament Director at the 2006 World Cup, 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 World Cup and finally as the President - Jury of Appeal at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Read also has been significantly involved as an administrator, serving on several bodies including the AHL Commission, FIH Judicial Commission, FIH Events and Competitions Committee.
He has also been a HA Board Member and Vice-President, chaired the HA Officiating Commission, served as the Oceania Hockey Federation Secretary-Treasurer and Hockey Tasmania Chairman.
Read has received numerous awards for his service to the sport, including the 2006 Tasmanian Official of the Year, 2008 Star of Sports Award Nomination – Merit Award, 2008 FIH Diploma of Merit, 2010 FIH Congress President’s Award and Hockey Tasmania Life Membership in 2011.
Passionate Tasmanian Read said: “This honour is great recognition for not only me, but Tasmania.
“It shows we’re one of the Member States that really contributes nationally and internationally.”
Speaking about his highlights, he added: “I’m very lucky to have been to six Olympic Games in various positions and formats from managing to administrating.
“I never made it to play at an Olympics which probably gave me the desire to keep going, coaching and work in administration.”
Hockey Australia media release
SA Stalwart Stern Honoured With HA Life Membership
Ben Somerford
Photo credit: Hockey SA
Hockey Australia (HA) today congratulates Rosemary Stern who was awarded Life Membership at Friday’s Annual General Meeting for her significant contribution to the sport across five decades.
Stern has worked as a tournament director, administrator and official, is one of the world’s leading technical officials in hockey and has contributed locally, nationally and internationally.
The South Australian was awarded Life Membership alongside Ken Read, who is the current Hockey Tasmania chairman, a former Australia international athlete and team manager, coach, official and administrator.
Hockey Australia President Melanie Woosnam said the Life Memberships were due recognition for the pair.
“Ken and Rosie have both made outstanding contributions to hockey for more than 40 years,” Woosnam said. “Their passion is truly amazing, volunteering their time for the love of the sport.
“Rosie’s service to the sport is exceptional, having officiated at many tournaments internationally but also nationally and locally, and I remember her as an umpire when I was playing.
“She has made a unique contribution as a valued volunteer, who is well respected by players, coaches, team managers, umpires and other officials. It is tremendous to recognise one of our officials who are integral to the game.”
Stern’s contribution spans over 40 years as a volunteer in the sport, culminating in becoming the most highly ranked female official in the Oceania region.
She initially played at a modest level, before starting as an Umpire in 1968 but it is her contribution as a Technical Official over the past 15 years which is particularly remarkable.
Stern has acted as an official at many successful and high profile international tournaments, including as the 2008 Olympics Assistant Tournament Director, the 2010 Commonwealth Games Tournament Director and as a Technical Official at the 2002, 2006 and 2014 World Cups and 2013 World League Final.
Domestically, Stern has also been regularly appointed as the Australian Hockey League Tournament Director, reflecting her status as Australia’s pre-eminent female Tournament Director.
She was an Umpire in the South Australian Hockey Association competition for 36 years and was a member of the South Australian Umpires’ Committee for more than 25 years, coaching and developing umpires. Stern also volunteers her time locally as a Technical Official in the Hockey SA competition.
Stern was made a Hockey SA Life Member in 2001, was awarded the SA Olympic Council’s Order of Merit in 2014 and was a finalist for the 2009 HA Official of the Year and 2010 Sport SA Official of the Year.
Stern said: “It’s an honour because officials tend to get overlooked. You never expect to get recognition so it’s a humbling feeling.
“I’ve done many things in hockey, locally, nationally and internationally, but it’s nice to be recognised for something you’ve done in your own country, not just your own state.”
Stern listed being the Tournament Director for the 2012 London Olympic Qualifiers in Japan for both the men’s and women’s tournaments and the 2010 Commonwealth Games Tournament Director in Delhi as some of her biggest highlights.
She added: “I played and umpired all the way through. I even played on the day I got married! It’s about the love of the sport and the people you work with. They make it a good buzz.”
Hockey Australia media release
Vale Olga Corrigan (née Hanson)
Ben Somerford
Hockey Australia is saddened to learn of the passing of Olga Corrigan (née Hanson) on Thursday 24 May 2018.
Corrigan, who passed away aged 94, was a decorated former Australia international, vice-captain, NSW captain and Hockey NSW Hall of Fame member.
She represented Australia from 1947 to 1954 and was vice-captain of the 1953 Australian touring team who became the first national women’s hockey team to defeat England.
She also participated in the 1953 International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations Tournament, later known as the World Cup, in England.
Corrigan started playing hockey aged 16 for the Central Hockey Club in the Newcastle District Women’s Hockey Association and went on to debut for NSW in 1946.
The full-back remained in the state team until 1955, captaining NSW from 1951 to 1953 and was a member of Australian Championships-winning teams in 1948 and the undefeated side in 1954.
She was selected in the All Australia team for eight consecutive years from 1947 to 1954.
Corrigan is not only a Hockey NSW Hall of Fame member, but also a Life Member of the Newcastle District Women’s Hockey Association and part of the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame.
Olga was the dearly loved wife of Kevin (deceased), much loved mother and mother-in-law of Michael and Robyn, Mark and Louise and the loved Nan of Samuel and Lucas.
On behalf of the entire hockey community, Hockey Australia offers our sincere condolences to the family of Olga Corrigan.
For family and friends who would like to attend the Funeral Service of the late Olga Corrigan, please see details below:
Date: Friday 1 June 2018 1pm
Place: France Family Funeral Chapel, Cnr Maitland Road & Barton Street, Mayfield, NSW
*No flowers by requests, donations to St Joseph's Home may be made at the Service.
Hockey Australia media release