On Saturday 12th May the Maidstone Hockey Club came together to round off the season and celebrate the adult award winners.
The mood was sparkling as 100 members joined together. This was preceded by champagne, canapés, and a super pig roast supper. And everyone danced the night away.
Of particular note was the honouring of Chris Daniels for many years outstanding service for the Club, now she is formally stepping down. She had a long and distinguished first team playing record (and captaincy), established the junior section plus the Ladies’ 3rds starting the player flow from junior to adult, coached the Ladies’ 1sts through from Kent Leagues to the Nationals, melded the entire Ladies club before and during her role as Hockey Manager, and the list could go on…..
All in all a superb achievement, and her efforts and inspiration will be sorely missed. She is already a Life Vice President. Chris, of course, continues in a major role in Kent sport as Captain of the County Ladies’ Golf Association.
Other headlines are:-
• the stepping down from the Ladies’ 1sts of Sue Smith and Donna Shalders after many superb playing seasons. Sue has been responsible for guiding numerous players into the sport, and Donna has completed over 25 years in the first team;
• Laura Thompson and Jimmy Christmas are players of the year; • the brothers Jimmy and Mark Christmas pick up two key awards;
• the Emery family picked up the clubman of the year award for their dedicated services to the Club and in particular the junior section;
• Jimmy Christmas and Wendy Emery picked up two awards each, and
• four new Vice Presidents were announced for their long services to the Club – Lizzie Daniels, Matt Evans, Mark Bourne and Mark Gibbons.
Ladies Young Player of the Year Rebecca Grove
Top Goalscorer Lesley Price
Most Improved Player Serena Manners
Player of the Year Laura Thompson
Men Young Player of the Year Joe Drake
Top Goalscorer Nigel Swaffer
Most Improved Player Mark Christmas
Player of the Year Jimmy Christmas
Clubman of the Year The Emery Family
The Team Players of the Year were-
Ladies 2nds Ellen Vigar 3rds Helen Brown 4ths Wendy Emery
Mens 2nds Mark Christmas 3rds James Beacon 4ths Adie Lake 5ths James Graham 6ths Ian Linstead Vets Dominic Angear
Junior Awards A few weeks ago the junior section met to receive their presentations too.
Girls U10s Player of the Year Rachel Davies
Most Improved Player Hebe Bowley
U12s Player of the Year Alex Penry
Most Improved Player Isabella Ramiro
U16s Player of the Year Rebecca Grove
Most Improved Player Tara Fothergill & Emily Beacon
Boys U10s Player of the Year Zach Quinn
Most Improved Player Samuel James
U12s Player of the Year Harry Bone
Most Improved Player Finn Robson
U14s Player of the Year Jamie Graham
Most Improved Player Zach Stiff U16s
Player of the Year Daniel Pearson
Most Improved Player Tom Starling
Junior Clubperson of the Year Sarah Ward
Administration Manager, Mike Evans, said “As with every year, the club members come together to formally celebrate individual and collective endeavours. Everyone has fun, but there is a serious side too – recognising effort and achievement. All award winners have put a lot of energy and commitment into the club, and are to be thanked for that. Now it’s the Olympics and then an exciting new hockey season”
Our congratulations to them all.
Picture – (l-r: Chris Daniels, Donna Shalders, Sue Smith)