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Carrick Ladies celebrate satisfactory season

Saturday, 4 September 2010

AT LAST Friday evening's well attended End of Season Prize Night, held in Dobbins Inn Hotel, Carrickfergus Ladies Hockey Club members and guests celebrated a highly satisfactory season of competitive league and cup hockey.
"This was yet another good year for the club", said club chairperson Norman Wilson, "and while we didn't quite manage to deliver any season end promotions this time around, all of our teams finished comfortably placed in their respective UWHU league sections.
“Our first team ended their first season in Senior Two in a commendable fifth place while at the same time enjoying excellent runs in their Ulster and Irish cup competitions. The seconds were third in their league, missing out on promotion only by a single point, while the thirds also ended their season in an impressive third place. Our newly formed fourth team were sixth in their league, a sound performance for an inaugural season.
“Following last season's promotion into Senior Two, we were unsure how our firsts would settle in what proved to be an exceptionally competitive league. But they very quickly got themselves up to speed and we were more than happy to end the season with five established Senior Two teams beneath us in the league table. The team also had an excellent cup season, the highlight of which was defeating two Senior One teams in the first two rounds of the all-Ireland Irish Hockey Cup. We eventually lost to Ulster Elks but there was certainly no shame in that. Elks field at least half a dozen senior International players, went on to win the Cup, and will next season be playing in the Premier League.
“We also made it through to the second round of the McConnell Shield but, even more impressively, we fought through to the semi finals of the Qualifying Plate where we lost to the eventual Plate winners, Ballymena.
Our seconds, sponsored by Penrose Roofing, had also won promotion in their previous season so this year they were playing in a much more competitive league section. They gave the eventual runners up, Belfast Harlequins, a tremendous run for their money finishing their season only one single point behind them. And similar to the firsts, the seconds fought through to the semi finals of their Plate competition, losing out to the eventual winners, Lisnagarvey.
“Probably the most improved performance of the year came from our third team, sponsored by James Bowman Hair and Beauty, who last year only just managed to avoid relegation. This year the team completely turned things around finishing up third in their league, a staggering thirteen points clear of fourth placed Knock. They also produced an excellent effort in the Junior Plate eventually going out to Ards in a penalty shoot-out".
Norman continued: "And our newly formed fourth team did the club proud in their very first season in the UWHU league. Carrick Ladies Hockey Club has been growing steadily year on year and we were delighted this year to be in a position to field such a competitive new squad. Out first, second, and third teams all came within touching distance of league and cup honours and even more significantly, not a single team in the club was at any risk whatever of relegation. Few clubs of our size can make that claim.
“We also of course have an extremely successful Junior Club with almost one hundred members. Junior Club will be holding its own Prize Night shortly and we're expecting a really big turn out of players and parents to celebrate the successes of our Under-14 and two Under-12 squads".
"As I said at the outset", concluded Norman, "we've had yet another good year but there's always room for improvement and we're already well under way in finalising our plans for next season. We know it will be every bit as difficult next season for the club to sustain the considerable success we've enjoyed over recent years. But we've a fantastic bunch of talented and loyal players who've already proved they'll never let their club down under any circumstances.
“So we're expecting a big turnout for the re-commencement of senior club training which will start on Saturday 1st August. More details of our pre-season training schedule and friendly fixtures will be issued nearer to the commencement date," concluded Norman.
Carrick Ladies Hockey Club 2008/2009 individual awards:
1st XI Top Goalscorer : Christine Waide
1st XI Most Improved Player: Lois Passmore
1st XI Player of the Year : Christine Waide
1st XI Players' Player of the Year : Kelly Campbell
2nd XI Top Goalscorer : Lynsey McMaw
2nd XI Most Improved Player : Caris Greenwood
2nd XI Player of the Year : Jenna Holmes
2nd XI Players' Player of the Year : Danielle Hall / Lynsey McMaw
3rd XI Top Goalscorer : Amy Cross
3rd XI Most Improved Player : Laura Evans
3rd XI Player of the Year : Rebekah McKinley
3rd XI Players' Player of the Year : Jodie Lennox
4th XI Top Goalscorer : Julie Moore
4th XI Most Improved Player : Lauren Carroll
4th XI Player of the Year : Julie Moore
4th XI Players' Player of the Year : Christine Clarke
Best Newcomer : Clare McCormick
Club Member of the Year : Stacey McGookin
*See pics on Page 34

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