President Report April/May 2019
Well, this is the last report I will be writing for the website as UHU President…….Where did the last 12 months go? I would like to start by thanking Terry Templeton, Vice President, and the UH Management Board members who have supported me in my role as President. The Ulster Hockey staff have also been brilliant – thanks to all. I have gone to as many venues as possible, watched as many different levels of games as possible and enjoyed the camaraderie, if not the travel! I’ve also had the opportunity to travel to Cork twice (for the boys U16/18 interpros and the junior interpros) and Dublin for the girls U16/18 interpros. It’s been a hectic year, and I’m looking forward to a break before picking up my whistle for one last season!
Here is a flavour of the activities for the President and the Vice President over the past 2 months:
On 3rd April I watched Portadown v Raphoe and presented Senior 1 cup to Raphoe ladies, who are promoted to the premier league after a gap of 2 years.
Seven cup finals were played at NICS on Saturday 6th April and there were lots of thrilling matches, with some going right to the wire and completed on a shoot out!
On 7th April I attended the Linwoods U11 Super Sixes Boys Finals at Ballymena Academy. This was followed by the BDO Pearson Cup Finals (boys) at NICS on Monday 8th. 10th April – the John Waring U14 All Ireland competition was hosted at Friends School, Lisburn, and was won by Banbridge Academy. Terry umpired and I went along to support!
Also on 10th April the BDO McCloy Girls PS finals were played at NICS – I also spent some time there. 10th April – the Burney Shield final was won by Regent House and the Taylor Cup by Bangor Grammar (shoot out). Terry attended both at short notice!!
How did the President and Vice President cover three important competitions, at three different venues, in one day??? No problem to us!!
I was invited to the Bangor HC Dinner which was held on 12th April at Carnalea Golf Club – a fabulous night and a big thanks to Bangor HC for the hospitality.
I’m delighted to report that Ulster teams were represented in Irish cup finals:
Dromore ladies and Ballynahinch men won their respective Irish Hockey Challenge finals on 13th April in Dublin. Congratulations to both teams. Unfortunately Civil Service (m) were defeated in the Irish Hockey Trophy Final the same weekend. And in the Irish Junior Cup Instonians II (m) lost 4-1 to Three Rock Rovers II. Terry was there to cheer on the teams……having been a ‘winner’ with Instonians in the IJC a few years ago!
Congratulations also to the Ulster Umpires who officiated in Dublin – Julie Fisher, Phil Shields, Don Pearson, Noel McBride, Luke Chapman, Linda Johnston and James Wray.
Other games I watched were Queens v Randalstown ,Owls v Larne, Mossley v Ballymoney, Randalstown v Club KV (relegation/promotion) and Ballymena v Portrush (m) in the Intermediate
Cup.
I also spent the day at NICS for the Linwoods U13 Girls finals on Sunday 14th April.
I was an invited guest of Hockey Ireland at the EYHL Champions Trophy Weekend 4-5th May at Banbridge Hockey Club – there was good news, and not so good news. Banbridge men lost in the semi final against Three Rock Rovers, who went on to beat Lisnagarvey in the final. Pegasus beat Cork Harlequins in the semi on Saturday and went on to beat Loreto in a thrilling match in the final, but it took a shoot out to separate the teams (4-2). Congratulations to Pegasus for their second champions win this season in EYHL!
Unfortunately, it was not to be for Queens ladies who lost out on their second attempt to make EYHL – the score was 1-1 at full time but Muckross won 1-0 on the shoot out.
There were more finals played at NICS on Saturday 11th May – all the results are on the Ulster Hockey website – congratulations to all the teams who made it to the finals.
The U15 girls finals were played on Sunday 12th May – in the morning the development section was won by Pegasus, and the performance section in the afternoon was won by Coleraine.
I attended my last Board Meeting on 14th May, and then chaired the Umpire AGM. My penultimate duty involved travelling to Cork for the Junior Interpros, hosted at Cork Harlequins HC.
Congratulations to both Ulster teams who were runners up to Munster. An Ulster Hockey pin was presented to all the players who received their first Ulster cap. As usual, the Munster hospitality
was second to none!
And finally – the Anderson Cup Final between Banbridge and Lisnagarvey was played on 20th May – ‘Garvey won 3-1. A special award, Umpire of the Year, was presented to Ian Strange for his
achievements over the past season.
Best wishes to Terry Templeton, President, and Rosie Rea, Vice President, for the year ahead.
Adare Brady
UHU President
