SportGibraltar

End of year round for hockey in Gibraltar

SG HAMBROS TROPHY
A very exciting finale to a great competition; thoroughly enjoyed by all teams. The men’s competition was in fact decided on the last match on the last day when Collegian Vets defeated a depleted Grammarian Oldies team by 8 – 4 and thus top the table. In the ladies final Eagle ladies completely demolished the Hawks Ladies by 5-0, quite a surprising result after earlier thrilling encounters in the group stages (see final table). The committee will shortly issue the new fixtures for the league & cup competitions to be held after the xmas festivities (see final table below)

BARCLAYS WEALTH JUNIOR HOCKEY
Our Youth Hockey programme still continues every Monday & Wednesday. Our last session of this term was held yesterday Monday 15th Dec & will commence on Monday 12th January 2009. During the month of January we will once again draft all juniors into teams and then start the ever popular junior leagues. (see above under 7’s photo) Our juniors will once again be travelling this Christmas. On the 29th December we will be fielding both an Under 10 & under 16 boys teams for the Seville Christmas Hockey Tournament. After Xmas our boys & girls teams will commence their travels to Cadiz , Malaga & Jaen . As mentioned in the past, the possibility of competing in a junior league with Andalucian teams now looking more of a possibility. Watch this space.

Another event that will soon feature (early February) is the new Under 16 leagues where each of the local first division sides will be asked to field a team (boys & girls) to compete under their club name and to be held mid-week.

SG HAMBROS LADIES / DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
So as to further enhance competition both for our developing youngsters and our two surviving ladies teams the GHA is contemplating a competition which will feature 2 ladies & 2 youth teams in a four team competition which we hope will serve to (a) Give the ladies teams a chance to field their young girls, (b) ensure everyone plays at least one game every weekend and (c) The developing teams will now be further motivated as they will compete in an official capacity and be able to win the competition. The highest ranking ladies team will obviously decide which ladies team Represent’s us in Europe . Further ideas are currently being juggled with, including the running of a development scheme for umpires which will hopefully be run in conjunction with this competition and the boys under 16 league.
GHA MEN'S SENIOR SIDE
Preparation of the men’s national side for next year’s nation’s trophy in Slovakia is well under way. This past Sunday 14thsaw the final training camp of 2008. The squad were put through a gruelling session based both on physical preparation and tactical awareness, ending with a session for 3 of the 5 hopeful keepers who are competing for the 2 available goalkeeper slots.(see photo)

From the 2nd to the 6th January 2009 we will once again play host to the England training camp for their boys & girls Youth Squads. The GHA will use this opportunity to field two varied men’s squads and test some of under 21’s and other players hoping to make the final men’s selection. All of our top senior players will obviously not be fielded for these games. The following schedule has been prepared for them, in case anyone wants to pop down and see them :

Saturday 3rd Jan 2009
Training on Main pitch from 9.30 am to 2.30pm
2.30 pm : England Girls v GHA Ladies
4.00 pm : England Boys v GHA Men’s X1

Sunday 4th Jan 2009
Training on Main pitch from 9.30 am to 4.00pm
4.00 pm : England Boys v GHA Men’s X1

Monday 5th Jan 2009
Training on Main pitch (full size) - 9.30 am to 4.00 pm

Sg Hambros Trophy Final Standings: