Cathy Gilliat-Smith, the ex GB and England Hockey International, is to formally open the Maidstone Hockey House on Sunday 29th July, at 6.30pm.

This will be Maidstone Hockey Club’s important contribution to the Olympics – open free to everyone.

Cathy played at international level between 2005 and 2007, and clocked up 62 caps for England and 3 for GB. She won bronze medals at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, and at the Champions Challenge in Baku. A true Kentish girl, she plays for Sevenoaks HC, the club she rejoined after a spell at Canterbury HC.

This is the only ‘Hockey House’ in Kent. Maidstone Hockey Club has the honour of being chosen by England Hockey Board (EHB – the governing body) to be one of 11 ‘Hockey Houses’ nationwide.

As readers know, the London Olympics are from Friday 27th July to Sunday 12th August. Hockey takes place from Sunday 29th July to Saturday 11th August. Before most GB matches there will be all sorts of hockey demonstrations, coaching and matches on the pitch in South Park – free junior tasters, bring a friend, charity 7s, free adult tasters, adult mixed game, ladies’ and men’s local triangular tournaments, and a sponsors’ event. There will also be challenges against the Maidstone Harriers (who meet at the clubhouse) – hockey and athletics!

This is your big chance to give hockey a try.

The clubhouse is decorated in suitable bunting (see the attached photo). At GB matchtimes there will be themes to reflect various opposition – like a ‘braai’ (bar-b-q) when we play South Africa; and Sumo wrestling when we play Japan! Plus there will be big socials some weekend evenings.

EHB has a very useful website which gives information about all olympic hockey activity, including hockey houses – www.englandhockey.co.uk

The whole aim is to have fun and get more people interested in the sport. So, everyone is very welcome. There is a special hockey house page on the Club website. It has details of the GB match schedules, results, the events on the Armstrong Road pitch, and activities in the clubhouse. Plus a HH countdown clock– www.maidstonehockey.org

The icing on the cake would be for the two GB teams to win ‘gold’. Go for it!