We’ve entered men’s and ladies’ sides (4 of each) into the local Oxford summer leagues, based at Banbury Road North, plus one additional ladies’ team in the White Horse league in Abingdon. The first women’s games are on 14th May, while the men start the following week on 22nd May. All the leagues run until late July.

The schedules are now on our website, under the Men’s and Ladies’ drop-down menus, along with contact names if you’d like to sign up to play and haven’t done so already. New players are very welcome – summer’s always a good time to come and try out the club. Let us know by filling out the form on the Join Us page.

Here are the links for more information about:

• ladies’ summer hockey
• men’s summer hockey.

Our next set of ‘Back to Hockey’ sessions start this Tuesday (8th May) – from 8pm to 9.30pm on the astroturf pitch at Oxford Brookes Centre for Sport (click for directions).

‘Back to Hockey’ is a national scheme, aimed at encouraging women to take up sport again after a break. Complete beginners are also very welcome to come along to these sessions and give hockey a try. ‘Back to Hockey’ is suitable for all abilities and fitness levels, and the emphasis is on having fun and learning new (or brushing up on old) hockey skills in a sociable, friendly environment.

Oxford Hockey Club is running six weeks of sessions at Brookes, every Tuesday evening starting on 8th May, except for 5th June (which is half-term week), so the final session will be on 19th June. Your first session is free, with the rest costing just £15 in total.

Sticks are provided for those who need them!

Please help us to spread the word to women who might be interested in taking part. We’re aiming these sessions both at total beginners and more experienced (if a little rusty!) players who’d like to get ready for next season. You can find out more information here or contact Helen Dudgeon with any questions:

• dudgeonh@yahoo.co.uk
• Tel: 07941 052609.

Jasper, the GB hockey mascot, and Oxford children take on the Big Dribble course

The aim of the Big Dribble was to raise awareness of hockey in the run up to the Olympics, and to give people the chance to try out the sport on a 100 metre course, complete with obstacles. It was an 18-day tour, calling in at Oxford Brookes astro on its penultimate day.

The Big Dribble was also an attempt to set a world record for the longest collective hockey dribble – and the target of 2012km was reached in Oxford!

On the starting line of the Big Dribble course in Oxford

As well as the dribble course, there was a penalty flick challenge and an inflatable pitch for some mini hockey games. The GB mascots, lions Jasper and Jess, were also in attendance and very popular with the crowd.

Local children took part with a lot of enthusiasm, racing round the course repeatedly. For many of them, it was their first taste of hockey.

In the afternoon, Oxford Hockey Club organised some skills sessions for some of the schools, followed by fun games.

Mascots Jasper and Jess with local school children and the giant hockey ball

The roadshow team also brought along a giant hockey ball, for people to sign with good luck messages for the GB men’s and women’s teams.

Thanks to everyone who gave up their time to help organise and run the event. We had a great turn out of volunteer ‘Hockey Makers’.

Oxford's enthusiastic Big Dribblers

The GB roadshow team brought along an inflatable pitch so that local children could try playing a game, with help from Lizzy Totten, England U21 and Oxford Uni player

GB mascot Jess finds the Big Dribble course trickier than expected...

Oxford goalie Laura in action for the ladies' 2s

CALLING ALL POTENTIAL GOALKEEPERS – NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!!!

We’re aiming to hold some Tuesday night sessions for any ladies interested in having a go in goal, with a view to people being able to step in during the winter league season if we’re ever short of GKs.

Numbers will be limited to 3 or 4 people per session because of the amount of kit available, so please reply asap if you want to have a go. Beginners welcome – this is definitely for you! Existing OHC players and new people are equally welcome!

It’ll be 8-9.30pm at Brookes astro and we’ll decide which Tuesdays once we know who’s interested (so it doesn’t clash with summer league games). There may be a small charge of about £3 per person to help pay for the pitch – TBC.

Oxford Hockey Club offers weekly specialised training sessions for goalkeepers, during the hockey season, so there will be plenty of opportunity to develop your talent if you get the goalkeeping bug!

Any questions, please contact Emma Forrester – 07951 909 888 – or emma [at] yseki.co.uk.

You’ll have the chance to take part in the record-breaking attempt to dribble 2012km, by dribbling a hockey ball around the 100 metre course. There will also be a giant hockey ball you can sign to wish the GB teams good luck ahead of the Olympics, plus lots of fun, free roadshow activities.

Everyone is welcome – please just come along, or visit www.thebigdribble.com to find out more.

The play-offs take place on Sunday 29th April at Haslemere Hockey Club – Woolmer Hill Sports Ground, Woolmer Hill, Haslemere, GU27 1QA. Supporters are welcome! It involves two semi-finals and a final on the same day.

The schedule is:

10.30am – semi-final 1: Horsham 1 v. Fareham 2

12.30pm – semi-final 2: Maidstone 1 or Purley Walcountians 1 v Oxford 1

2.30pm – invitation match: Richmond 1 v South League Select XI

4.30pm – play-off final – Winner Match 1 v Winner Match 2

Good luck to our team! If the 1s do secure promotion, it also means that our men’s 3s avoid relegation!

OHC 1s - runners-up in the EHB Investec Women's Trophy

You can read the full match reports by following these links:

• the 1s lost 1-2 to Tulse Hill & Dulwich
• the 2s lost 0-4 to Maidenhead 2a.

Big thanks to everyone who travelled to Reading and/or Cannock to support our teams!

OHC 2s - proud to be the second best second XI who happened to enter the second XI Trophy this year...

Oxford Ladies’ 2s 0-4 Maidenhead 2a

The ladies' 2s with their runners-up medals

On Sunday it was the turn of the ladies’ 2s to appear in a final, as they travelled to Cannock to try and win the EHB 2nd XI Trophy, where they faced Maidenhead, the runners-up for the previous two years.

Maidenhead on the attack at a penalty corner

A dedicated band of OHC supporters accompanied the team, armed with their blue & white scarves, a large picnic, an air horn and one noisy dog. Thanks to everyone who came to support – we’re just sorry that we didn’t give you much occasion to use the air horn…

Oxford started a little nervously, but some strong tackles from Ruth Bedford in the centre of the defence kept out the opposition. Hayley Card then put early pressure on the Maidenhead defence at the other end, forcing an error and driving into the D, controlling the ball well until it hit an opposition foot. Unfortunately, the umpire did not see the offence and Oxford were denied what seemed a clear-cut penalty corner, setting the tone for their luck throughout the rest of the game.

Oxford push forward with Tinny on the attack

With about 12 minutes gone, Maidenhead scored their first, and made it 2-0 just a few minutes later. Oxford rallied well, however, and won a couple of short corners, but were unable to convert them. Kim Haynes used her pace and skill to good effect, and linked up well with Helen Backhouse and Tinny for Oxford to drive forward. From one of these attacks, a ball deflected into the air and Tinny took a swing and missed. She made no mistake at the second attempt, volleying the ball spectacularly into the net, but the goal was sadly disallowed for the potential danger of the first air shot!

Against the run of play, Maidenhead then broke down the pitch and scored just seconds before half-time to make it 3-0 and a very uphill task for Oxford.

Oxford goalie Laura in action

Oxford did start the second half brightly, with good work in midfield from captain Lucy Eddowes, but a much-needed early goal did not come. Laura Fyfe was still kept busy in the Oxford goal, and made several fine saves throughout the match, but Maidenhead finally forced a fourth goal.

Oxford did break down the other end again, winning a short corner where Bev Cousins took a good strike but the effort was well saved by the Maidenhead keeper. At the back, Ruth continued to make some crucial tackles, until the umpire decided to give her a 5 minute rest after a slightly mis-timed challenge!

Oxford were denied a consolation goal late in the game after a great run to the baseline from Tinny, who then pulled the ball back to Claire Hooper in the D but her flick went just wide of the post. 4-0 the final score.

OHC ladies 1s lined up against Tulse Hill & Dulwich in the final of the EHB women’s trophy on Saturday at Reading HC. OHC faced a testing run-up to the final, having played four of their five matches away from home and the final was to be no exception. Reading proved a great venue for the final with the added bonus of being able to watch the EHB play-off matches before the game for a spot of inspiration.

An Oxford deflection beats the Tulse Hill keeper but goes narrowly wide

As the game started, Oxford pushed aside any pre-match nerves to start brightly, Caro Harris and Hayley Sawyer breaking down the right to give early chances to both Caitlin Bailey-Williams and Rachael Lammey who narrowly fired wide. This pressure continued and OHC were able to build well through Vicky Quantrell and Sophie Shilston in midfield and keep Tulse Hill outside their attacking 25.

Sophie Shilston drives forward for Oxford

Good passing and good composure also won Oxford a number of first half penalty corners which forced a number of good saves from the opposition keeper. Oxford didn’t have it all their own way though, and towards the end of the half Phil Swindell and Clare Shaw managed to scramble the ball off the line to keep the score 0-0 at half time with everything to play for.

Tulse Hill then took the initiative towards the start of the second half, putting pressure on the OHC defence and an interception in midfield meant they were able to break early in the half and make the score 1-0. Oxford kept pushing forward however, and some nice passing by Jill Gordon and Lucy Eddowes meant that the opposition had to continue to soak up pressure and another penalty corner that Harris was unlucky not to be able to convert.

The Oxford defence somehow scramble the ball away to keep the scores at 0-0 in the first half

Tulse Hill were then able to put away a penalty corner of their own to make the score 0-2 and seemingly beyond Oxford. OHC had a final trick up their sleeve however, and leaving Shaw, Sophie Carter and Harriet Wilkinson at the back, keeper Phil Swindell came off and Oxford played with four up front. This enabled them to up the pressure on the opposition defence, and after a goalmouth scramble, Kim Haynes forced the ball over the line to pull the score back to 2-1 with only six exciting minutes to go. Oxford didn’t let up in this period and Becky Hibbert was outstanding, winning free hit after free hit just outside the D and safely taking the ball past numerous Tulse Hill defenders. Sadly it wasn’t to be, and the final whistle went to leave the score 2-1.

Scorer: Kim Haynes

Man of the Match: Caro Harris

Match report by Rachael Lammey

(More photos on the OHC Facebook group page.)

The ladies’ 1s are in the finals of the Investec Women’s Trophy at 2pm on Saturday v. Tulse Hill & Dulwich, at Reading Hockey Club (Sonning Lane). You can buy your ticket (adults £6 and concessions £4) online here, to collect on the day, which will save you £1! Visit that link also for all the information about the other games being played that day, which include some women’s promotion matches and other cup finals. You’ll also be charged for parking so it’s a good idea to lift-share – check out the OHC Facebook group as people are posting about this.

The 2s take on Maidenhead in the final of the Women’s 2nd XI Trophy at 3.15pm on Sunday at Cannock Hockey Club (directions here). Spectators will be charged £6 entry for adults (£3 for concessions) and parking is £3 per car. If you want to arrive early, your entry fee will also enable you to watch the other games (the warm-up act before the big match…), which are:

10.30am Men’s 2nd XI Trophy final (Lewes v. West Bridgford Monarchs)
1pm Men’s EHL Promotion tournament (2 matches).

Good luck to both our teams!