Thank you to everyone from the Club who came down to Brooklands in the sunshine to support the Ladies 1’s v Brooklands in the IWHL North Conference show down game of the season ! With a combined crowd of over 170 people there was a great atmosphere bouyed on by a living crowd of ‘blues’ supporters ! It was one of those days when it felt very special to be part of a club, surrounded by your hockey mates, watching a really full on game with a smattering of banter chunked in too !

Our girl’s played out of their skins and the investment in extra training and coaching with Albert joining Mike and Danny has really paid off. This was a performance from a team full of fight and took the game the Brooklands who needed to win to be crowned champions. Its not been an easy few months and learning to play at this level has taken time but we certainly kept the best til last and gave Brooklands a real run for the their money. After going 1 – 0 Leonnie scored a fantastic cool headed goal to level the score – see Danny Higgin’s Facebook page to view the video of the goal and some very amusing match commentary !

So the big news was we lost the game 2-1 - but the post match emotions based on the performance alone and then the score from Liverpool where Sefton had beaten Belper 2-1 in the relegation battle, brought relief, pride and much more as we got confirmation that finishing 9th in the league we would enter the relegation play off’s to live to fight in another two games to try and secure National League Status.

The 9th placed team from the three Conference Divisions now play each other on a round robin basis and the winner retains a place in the North Conference. Lose and its straight back to North Premier. At the other end of the table as Champions Brooklands now go into the play off to gain a place in the IWHL Premier Division against the other Conference Champions and Bowdon who finished 9th in the Prem. We wish both club all the best and for the region hope we can retain one if not two Northern club in the top flight of womens hockey.

Relegation Play Off draw:
Sun 2nd April – West Herts Ladies 1 v Exe Ladies 1
Sun 9th April – Exe Ladies 1 v Timperley Ladies 1
Sat 22nd April – Timperley Ladies 1 v West Herts Ladies 1

So the #GreatEscape3 is now on ! The girls are back in training on Saturday’s and Wednesday’s and have a warm up match away at Alderley Edge on Tuesday 4th April 7.30pm push back. Thanks also to all our 'blues' supporters who have already arranged to come to watch the match at Exeter on the 9th April.

Do support the fund-raising this weekend at the Dinner Dance as we need to raise additional income to help with the non planned for coaching and support for the to keep National League Hockey at Timperley.

Vets, Vets and a little more Fitness for all !

Or Masters to give hockey for older folks its ‘Sunday name’ ! Last Sunday we ran another super Men's Vet’s Tournament and thanks to Col Taylor and his small band of helper who made the day a success, laid on excellent weather and raised some cash for the section.

The Ladies Vets (O35’s) are fully committed and training weekly with coach Carole Savage ahead of the National Finals at the end of April. The Men's Vets (O50's) are taking a more tailored personal approach to preparation according to captain Colin Taylor, with many having a good run out at the Vets Tournament and individual performance programmes!

There was a good first show at Rick Pool’s first fitness / strength and conditioning session on Tuesday 7.00pm - 8.00pm this week. These sessions suit any ability / fitness level, only cost £2 and are open to all club members. Session's will run until Tuesday 24th April and then depending on interest resume pre season.

We’ve also got a number of our men and women training with, and hopefully selected for, North Vets age group squads over the summer. In addition to John Donnelly, our resident International Master's player who currently we believe if favouring the Welsh Dragon to England, two other players have been selected for the respective England Masters training squads – Sarah Impey (over 50) and Shelagh Everett (Entwisle) (Over 55’s) who joins her son Ben, who is in the England Under 16’s squad. Congratulations to all our ‘Master’s’

More Greater Manchester Junior Hockey League success !

There was more good news and more smiley faces on Sunday at the University as this week it was the turn our Under 11 Boys who won the GMJHL, this comes on the back of the Under 10 and 12 Cheshire mini’s success. This is our second GMJHL league title this season as the boys join the Under 15 Girls as age group champions. At this rate we’ll need to extend the Nick Burnett Trophy cabinet just for the Academy’s trophy’s and shields !

Dinner Dance

We have three Dinner Dance tickets still available, if interested contact Shelagh on 07810 854197. A welcome glass of fizz will be served from 7pm and we will be sitting down to eat at 7.30pm prompt – so don’t be late ! If you’ve not seen the fund-raising auction and raffle have a look at the News item and don’t forget you can bit in advance if you fancy any items and can’t make the Dinner.

And finally a few dates and notices …..

Sun 2nd April – don’t forget its Marathon Day so roads will be closed (see news item) and Academy training is at the earlier time of 9.00am – 10.30am (10.00am for cubs)

5th / 6th April – closing date to book places on our Easter Hockey Camp (10th – 12th April) and order your Lee Valley finals merchandising

Sat 8th April – Timperley will be hosting this years Mens and Ladies cup finals

Sun 9th April – first Play off game away at Exeter for Ladies 1

Mon 10th - Wed 12th Easter Hockey Camp