17/9/12 Final preparations for the 12/13 season

Posted on 17/09/2012 by Donaghadee LHC

With a good couple of months’ worth of pre-season work behind them, Donaghadee Ladies Hockey Club are very much looking forward to getting started with matches as the Ulster Hockey’s Senior League 4 league programme starts this weekend. The Hockettes kick off the 2012/13 season when they welcome Mossley to their adopted home pitch at Bangor Academy this Saturday (22nd September), pass back 1pm. Donaghadee and Mossley have enjoyed some keenly fought but fair encounters over the last few years, usually with not much to choose between them so it will be interesting to see how this game shapes up. A good start here would be great impetus for the girls heading to newly formed South Antrim the following week.

Numbers at pre-season have been improving week on week with all players enjoying the flat, tame surface of Bangor Academy’s astroturf and the fitness classes run in conjunction with the Workout Warehouse in Donaghadee. Without really having lost any players from last season, DLHC are delighted to welcome back to the fold Kerry Savage – Kerry played for Donaghadee before heading off to university in Scotland but now back in NI, it’s great to see her back in the red and green of the Dee. It’s also great to see several new faces appearing at training and keen to get some match time when the season kicks off.
It’s not only the Seniors who are enjoying really good numbers – the Juniors programme which started last week saw no fewer than 15 girls between the ages of 10 and 15 wanting to improve their hockey skills. Run by DLHC, the Juniors is open to all girls in this age bracket regardless of skill or experience and will culminate in a mini tournament on Friday 12th October when the girls will represent Donaghadee LHC against other local clubs.
Much to look forward to this year then, with good numbers at both Junior and Senior level. Final touches are being put on the social and fundraising calendars too, with ex-players and friends of DLHC warmly invited to come to support the team when they welcome near neighbours Holywood to Bangor Academy on 6th October with drinks and nibbles in Donaghadee Rugby Club after the match, a Night at the Races imminent, the Christmas dinner to finalise and the annual bus trip to be confirmed. To keep up to speed with everything that’s happening in the club over the coming weeks and months, visit www.donaghadeelhc.co.uk or find the club on Facebook.com/donaghadeelhc.
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11/9/12: Junior and Senior training full steam ahead!

Posted on 11/09/2012 by Donaghadee LHC

This week sees a double bill of training for all members of Donaghadee Ladies Hockey Club with the Juniors starting their 6 week programme of hockey in the hour before the Seniors take to the pitch at Bangor Academy to continue their pre-season training. Designed for all girls between the ages of 10 and 15, regardless of experience, Junior training proved very popular last year and so it is again this season, with many of last year’s participants joining in for their second year. A mixture of fun, fitness and skills, this year’s programme will finish with a flourish at a three team mini tournament mid-October – the perfect opportunity for the young ones to show off their newly acquired skills! Places are still available but are limited, so please email dlhc@hotmail.co.uk for registration forms. Training every Tuesday evening at Bangor Academy: Juniors 6.30-7.30pm, seniors 7.30-8.30pm.

The numbers at senior training have been improving week on week as members return from holidays and other commitments and it’s great to see almost the full complement reporting back for duty. League matches are now just over a week away, with the first game for the Dee at home to local rivals Holywood on Saturday 22nd September. Pass back time will be confirmed next week, but what is certain is that Donaghadee will be opening their campaign on the astroturf of Bangor Academy, a welcome development for all at the club.
DLHC are taking a stand at the Community Showcase event in the First Presbyterian Church Hall on Saturday (15th September) between 11am and 3.30pm and members of the team will be available for a chat if you’d like more info about the club.
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4/9/12 Junior training dates announced

Posted on 04/09/2012 by Donaghadee LHC

Following on from the success of the six week Junior training programme run last autumn by Donaghadee Ladies Hockey Club, a similar session is planned for this season. Designed for girls between the ages of 10 and 15, the programme is a perfect introduction to the skills required for hockey and is open to all girls of this age regardless of experience. The first session takes place next week on Tuesday 11th September at 6.30-7.30pm on the Astroturf at Bangor Academy (access to the pitch is via the entrance opposite Bangor Tech) and culminates in a three club mini tournament on Friday 12th October.

The programme is priced at just £15 per girl or £20 for siblings. To obtain registration forms for your child, please email dlhc@hotmail.co.uk as soon as possible. Please note that girls will not be allowed to participate without shinguards, while gumshields are also advised.

Senior training for females over the age of 15 continues at the same venue straight after the Juniors and, with league matches only a matter of weeks away, a healthy attendance is expected from everyone. More information on the club can be found at www.donaghadeelhc.co.uk or on Facebook/donaghadeelhc

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18/8/12: DLHC does hockey on the beach

Posted on 20/08/2012 by Donaghadee LHC

Last Saturday saw the return of the two day Dee Festival and the infamous Birdman competition. Alongside the face painting, bouncy castles and eejits jumping off the end of the pier, players from Donaghadee Ladies Hockey Club took part in the festival in their own inimitable style. Cooled by refreshments from the Pier 36 beer garden as they waited for the tide to recede sufficiently, the Hockettes gamely took to the sand in what surely must be one of the first (and possibly the last!) games of beach hockey to be staged in the Dee.

On a ‘pitch’ that made Crommelin Park seem like a stretch of dry velvet carpet, the Hockettes put on a game of hockey that showcased neither silky skill nor smooth running but which should cement their place in the Try Anything Once hall of fame. Probably the best thing about this particular hockey match was the lateness of the pass back, the tide having delayed proceedings by at least half an hour, meaning many of the folk out enjoying a super sunny Saturday in the town had long headed home for their tea. The match, which was memorable for nothing other than soaking feet, sandy everything and lots of fun for those who took part, ended 7-5 to the non bibs.
Pre-season continues (when the sand has been washed off everything) on the astroturf at Bangor Academy every Tuesday from 7-9pm and at Crommelin Park, Donaghadee for fitness every Thursday from 7.30-8.30pm. The 6 week Junior programme for girls aged 10-15 will start on Tuesday 11th September at the astroturf pitch at Bangor Academy. For more details or any queries, please contact the club via email at dlhc@hotmail.co.uk, visit the website http://www.donaghadeelhc.co.uk or on Facebook.com/donaghadeLHC.

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The game-for-anything Hockettes

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14/8/12 Stick and ball work starts at pre-season

Posted on 14/08/2012 by Donaghadee LHC

With the 12/13 season approaching ever more rapidly, the girls of Donaghadee Ladies Hockey Club have been working hard on their pre-season fitness over the last few weeks. In an innovative new initiative this year Donaghadee Ladies Netball Club have joined the Hockettes for the first time for pre-season training. Both clubs have benefitted from the increased numbers at the sessions each week, not to mention a little added friendly rivalry which will hopefully all add to a good start to the clubs’ respective seasons.

 
With the fixtures due to be announced in the next couple of weeks, DLHC’s attention is now turning to stick and ball work. As one of the last remaining clubs in Ulster Hockey not to have regular access to an astroturf pitch, the committee has been working tirelessly over the summer to try and find a suitable arrangement for the girls to get the much-needed practise on the synthetic surface. With no imminent plans for an astroturf pitch in Donaghadee – dismaying news considering the number of astro pitches due to be laid in neighbouring Bangor and Newtownards over the next couple of years – the club is facing the prospect of playing their home games away from the Dee – a less than ideal situation, but one which has been on the cards for a number of years, and which is inevitable if the club wants to keep building and growing. 
 
After exploring a number of options which have resulted in dead ends, Bangor Academy has stepped in to the fray and saved the day, certainly in the short term. A lack of floodlights at the otherwise excellent pitch will cause problems in deepest mid-winter, but there is no doubt that everyone at DLHC is very much looking forward to making use of the superb pitch and facilities at the school over the next couple of months. Bangor Academy has a burgeoning interest in hockey since their girls enjoyed success in the local schools’ league, and Donaghadee Ladies Hockey Club is looking forward to working with the school to provide playing opportunities for both their junior and senior players.
 
Senior training – for females aged 15+ (all standards and experience most welcome) – starts at Bangor Academy on Tuesday 21st August at 7pm sharp. Dates for Junior training for girls aged between 10 and 15 will be announced shortly. If you would like more information on any aspect of the club, you can find it at http://www.donaghadeelhc.co.uk, on Facebook/donaghadeelhc, email dlhc@hotmail.co.uk – or pop down to see the Hockettes in action at the Donaghadee Festival on Saturday 18th August as they try their hands at a little beach hockey!
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23/7/12: Donaghadee LHC club report

Posted on 23/07/2012 by Donaghadee LHC
Donaghadee LHC is delighted to announce that they have become members of the Donaghadee Commerce and Development Group. The DCDG was set up in 2011 to help raise community spirit and improve the economy of the town and they have already been involved in a number of initiatives round the Dee, from instigating the hanging baskets to putting forward a successful initial bid for funding to improve old buildings in the town. DLHC is very much looking forward to being a part of this growing initiative to help promote Donaghadee not only within our own community but also to the wider world.
Back on the hockey pitch, the girls at have kicked off their pre-season in the last couple of weeks in preparation for the 2012/13 campaign. With an hour of fitness in various guises every Monday and Wednesday at 7.30pm from Crommelin Park, Donaghadee, the training is open to not only all current members of the club but also any new faces – from those who would like to play the odd game of hockey socially to anyone wishing to challenge for a 1st XI spot, Donaghadee LHC is worth a go.
DLHC also has a number of social events lined up, with the club entering Donaghadee Lifeboat’s Raft Race on Saturday 4th August for the first time, followed a couple of weeks later by a spot of hockey on the beach at the 2 day festival on 18th and 19th August in the Dee organised by the Commerce and Development Group. Members of the club will be easily identifiable so if you fancy a chat about the club, or would like to speak to players before coming to train, any of the DLHC girls will be on hand to help.
Much to look forward to over the coming while and a great time to be part of one of the most social hockey clubs in County Down! For more information please visit http://www.donaghadeelhc.co.uk, facebook.com/DonaghadeeLHC or email dlhc@hotmail.co.uk
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2/7/12 Pre season club report

Posted on 02/07/2012 by Donaghadee LHC

It only seems a few short weeks since Donaghadee LHC wrapped up the 2011/12 season with the traditional End of Season Do and prize giving ceremony. The girls managed to pick one of the few dry nights of the summer so far to enjoy a barbeque and drinks before heading into Donaghadee. The team finished Senior 4 strongly, with good wins over Newry Olympic (3-0) and Ballynahinch (4-0), which saw them finish the league in 6th – one of the best positions the club has managed since the league restructure a number of years ago. Centre forward Kerrie Turtle certainly played her part in this campaign, once again finishing top goalscorer for the club – including scoring twice in three games and getting a hat trick against Ballycastle to boost her final tally. On a slight twist to the Best Newcomer award, Ruth Kennedy was awarded Best Recomer as she returned in 2011 for her second stint at the club – here’s hoping this time stretches for lots of years to come! Most Valuable Player was awarded to Siobhan McAdam for being ever-present and ever ready, from super-subbing to donning the goalie pads for a couple of matches at the end of the season. Hugely consistent, Lisa Higgins had a superb season in defence and she only narrowly lost out in the Players’ Player of the Season award, but instead picked up the Captain’s Player of the Year award, with outgoing captain Carolyn Scott keen to acknowledge her contribution throughout the season. The Players’ Player of the Season 2011/12 was voted for by every member of the club, and Nina Wells was the overwhelming favourite for this award, with everyone recognising the huge part Nina plays in defence with her superb reading of the game and wonderful timing and interceptions. 

 
With the 11/12 season firmly wrapped up, attention is now turning to the incoming year. There is much to look forward to, with several off-pitch events already pencilled in. The Club is hoping to enter at least one team in the annual Lifeboat Raft Race on Saturday 4th August and the team will be partaking in a little beach hockey at the Dee Fun Day on Saturday 18th August – let’s hope the weather improves a bit for that one! Many of the girls are also already looking forward to the Hockettes on the Piste ski trip to Sauze d’Oulz in Italy towards the end of the 12/13 season – with 12 already signed up, and places still available right up until Christmas, this should be a trip not to forget! Numerous other events will be happening throughout the season, and will be advertised in due course.
 
On the hockey front, pre-season is kicking off next week (Monday 9th July, 7.30pm at Crommelin Park, Donaghadee) as the girls ease themselves gently back in to the swing of things. The early training will involve cardio work to get the fitness levels back up and is well worth while for everyone, from those who just want to come down for a bit of a run about to those who are preparing for the new season. Donaghadee LHC is welcoming to all players young and old, regardless of experience or fitness levels, so if you have thought about joining a club but haven’t done anything about it, why not pop down and give it a go? You can get in touch via email dlhc@hotmail.co.uk or via Facebook/DonaghadeeLHC.
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10/3/12 Senior League 4: Donaghadee LHC 2-2 Newcastle Nomads

Posted on 12/03/2012 by Donaghadee LHC

In what turned out to be, thanks to the latest withdrawal from the league of College Hill LHC, Donaghadee Ladies Hockey Club’s last league fixture of the 11/12 season, the Dee welcomed Newcastle Nomads to Crommelin Park on Saturday. When the Dee travelled to Newcastle earlier in the season, the scoreline was level right up until the last second of the game – with Newcastle frustrating Donaghadee by scoring with the final touch of the match to win 2-1.

Since then however, Donaghadee have put together a decent run of results, going into this match with confidence boosted thanks to 3-0 and 4-0 wins over Newry and Ballynahinch respectively. This confidence was in evidence as the Dee put the visitors under considerable pressure in the early stages of the match, but without managing to convert the chances. Newcastle made the girls in red pay when strong running from midfield saw a breakaway score for the visitors. The Donaghadee heads remained high however and some further pressure on the Newcastle circle resulted in a penalty corner. In a carbon copy of her goal against Ballynahinch a couple of weeks ago, Ali Lawther made no mistake when the ball was slipped to her.

After the turn around, Newcastle managed to wriggle their way through again and it was 2-1 and a real case of deja vu. Again Donaghadee kept their heads up and continued to play some neat hockey with much of the play coming from the Dee left. One such break saw right wing Carolyn Scott cutting in down the middle but her shot skewed well wide under pressure from the keeper. She managed to atone moments later however when an almost identical ball found her through again. This time, no mistake – 2-2.

Both sides had chances to take the three points, but both defences held firm and a draw was probably a fair result all things considered. Captain Carolyn Scott praised her team, “After a tough middle section of the season when the points were hard to come by, everyone in the team has played their part in recent weeks to get 3 really good results and it finishes the season on a good note for us. To have 15 players available for the final game of the season is so encouraging and it feels like the club is definitely moving in the right direction. We’ve got lots of ideas and plans for next season – both on and off the pitch – and it’s an exciting time for the club. We’re looking forward to the 12/13 season already!” Many thanks to Gina McFall for umpiring. The match ball this week was sponsored by Herron’s Furniture. 

The next event for the club is the Memorabilia Meeting on Wednesday 28th March in Donaghadee Sailing Club from 7.30pm as the club pieces together its history. If you, or anyone you know, is an ex player of DLHC, you are more than welcome to come along for a yarn, reminiscences and a chance to meet members of the club from different eras. If you have any old photographs, match reports or other memorabilia we would love to see it.

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3/3/12 Senior League 4: Ballynahinch LHC 0-4 Donaghadee LHC

Posted on 05/03/2012 by Donaghadee LHC

After the confidence boosting 3-0 win at home to Newry last week, Donaghadee LHC set off for Ballynahinch in good spirits to try and build on that victory. And build on it they did. The Dee won first pass back on the new astro surface at St Colman’s High in Ballynahinch and right from the word go, it was one of those games where everything just goes to plan: the defenders were intercepting everything, the tackles were being made and the attacks? Well, they were as clinical as you like.

Donaghadee settled quickly and won a penalty corner shortly into the game. The ball to the top of the circle found Carolyn Scott who slipped it left to Ali Lawther. Ali’s shot, goal bound anyway, was helped on its way by a Ballynahinch stick and the Dee were 1-0 to the good. In previous matches, a 1-0 lead to the Dee has seen the team getting twitchy and sitting back too much but, buoyed by the goals last week and the early strike settling any nerves here, Donaghadee continued to attack with purpose, building from the back two of Jen McVeigh and Lisa Higgins who were smothering any Hinch forays forward superbly. 

An injury to Carolyn shortly after the goal forced the Captain to the sidelines with Hannah McAdam coming on in defence, with Lisa pushing up into midfield where she ran her socks off for the rest of the game, seemingly everywhere and breaking up any Ballynahinch threats almost before they appeared. With Ali, Lisa and Katie Donnelly dominating the midfield, forwards Carmen van der Schyff, Ruth Kennedy and Kerrie Turtle were starting to put together their own impressive interplay and it was one delightful run which saw Ruth carry the ball to the back line and commit the Hinch keeper before pulling the ball back to the expectant Kerrie who coolly dispatched to make it 2-0.

After half time, Suzie Ferguson and Natasha Cameron, the two wide defensive Dee players, were finding more and more space to push forward and crowd the midfield area and it was this pressure which allowed Katie to burst forward and record her first goal of the season. A free on the right on the Ballynahinch 25 was taken quickly by Suzie and some short, sharp passing worked the opening for Katie who was delighted to get her goal tally for the season off the mark. 3-0 to the Dee.

The scoring was rounded off by a second for Kerrie after another lovely exchange with Ruth – which all but confirms her as this season’s top goalscorer with only 2 matches remaining – and capped a wonderful result for everyone connected with Donaghadee LHC. Special mention should go Siobhan McAdam who, in Teegan Greer’s absence, stepped in to the goalie pads and was as cool as anything, dealing calmly and efficiently with any Ballynahinch attacks, even pawing one shot away like a natural at one stage. Well done Siobhan! Many thanks to Best Hen Ian for umpiring and to Will for his continued support and stats on the sideline. 

Training is back to Crommelin Park for the next three Wednesdays, 7.15pm to 9pm with the next match at home on Saturday (10th March) to Newcastle.

The club would like to invite all members past and present to the Memorabilia Meeting on Wed 28th March in Donaghadee Sailing Club at 7.30pm for yarns, reminiscences and plenty of chat about all things DLHC. If you have any old photographs or other memorabilia you could share to help piece together the history of the club, please speak to Edna Robinson, current club captain Carolyn Scott or email dlhc@hotmail.co.uk. For more information on this or any other club matters please visit http://www.donaghadeelhc.co.uk or find us on Facebook/DonaghadeeLHC

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18/2/12 Senior League 4: Donaghadee LHC 3-0 Newry Olympic LHC

Posted on 20/02/2012 by Donaghadee LHC

For the first time since October, Donaghadee LHC were back at Crommelin Park for a league fixture. A little pre-match pitch care was needed to ensure the previous night’s rain didn’t prevent the game going ahead, with Saturday morning’s bright sun and strong wind also helping dry the gravel out.

Newry have struggled for numbers this season – a problem Donaghadee has known all too well in recent years – and this has seen them conceding a number of fixtures and therefore dropping points, but despite their current position at the bottom of the league, the Dee were taking nothing for granted having had some very tight contests with this team in the last couple of years.

With so many of their games now taking place on astroturf, the Dee took the early period of the first half to settle into any kind of rhythm but after several opening exchanges, Donaghadee started playing some better hockey. The midfield trio of Natasha Cameron, Ali Lawther and Katie Donnelly were finding a fair amount of space to feed their forwards, all of whom found themselves through into the Newry 25 on numerous occasions. Dogged defending from the visitors kept the score level however.

It was one such attacking run which saw Ali bursting from midfield on the left, and her ball into the circle found an unmarked Carolyn Scott who, having cut in from her right wing position, finally got the scoreboard ticking over. 1-0 to the Dee and so it somehow remained for the rest of the half – Donaghadee created a lot of chances but were unable to make them count.

After the teams switched ends, the match continued in the same vein, with the emphasis on Donaghadee keeping calm and stringing a few more passes together to find the killer end ball. The Dee started building from the back, with Nina Wells and Jen McVeigh playing the ball nicely across the back, and Suzie Ferguson and Lisa Higgins making more forward runs down the flanks in support of their midfield. Newry began to bow under the pressure and a free hit was awarded just outside the Newry 25. Straight from the training pitch, Ali belted a ball straight at centre forward Kerrie Turtle who was positioned just in front of the Newry keeper. With the slightest deflection, Kerrie tipped the ball beyond the visiting No 1 to make it 2-0. 

With much of the game being played in the Newry half, the Dee were finding a lot of joy down the left, with Ruth Kennedy in particular causing panic in the Newry ranks when she was on the ball. After another melee in the visitors’ circle, Kerrie capped a typically hard working performance with her second of the day to make it 3-0 to the Dee.

As has been the case with every match this season – wonderfully so – Donaghadee had the luxury of subs on the sideline and they were to make full use of Carmen van der Schyff and Hannah and Siobhan McAdam – each of the three playing a vital role in the rolling subs policy adopted for this match, bringing on fresh legs and impetus to the Dee attack.

Newry did threaten late on with a couple of long corners, with one stinging shot in particular forcing the Dee keeper Teegan Greer into a tremendous save, but Donaghadee were good for this confidence boosting 3 points. Many thanks to Gina McFall for umpiring duties.

Donaghadee have a week off before they travel to Ballynahinch on 3rd March in their final away game of the season, with the final two league games against Newcastle and College Hill at home on 10th and 24th March respectively.

The club has been starting to piece together bits and pieces of the history of DLHC and already a number of wonderful old photographs from the early years of the club have been unearthed. A meeting will take place in late March (venue and date to be confirmed) for all members past and present of Donaghadee Ladies Hockey Club to get together to view the photos, reminisce about old times and hopefully add to the information already collected. For further information on the evening or if you have any old photographs from your time at the club, please email the club on dlhc@hotmail.co.uk, visit http://www.donaghadeelhc.co.uk or find us on Facebook/donaghadeelhc.

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