Club of the week THIS WEEK: COLWYN BAY HOCKEY CLUB
WHEN and where was the club formed and who by?
Colwyn Bay Hockey Club has been running for a long time, and we currently have five senior teams, three men’s, and two ladies, and a very successful nationally respected junior section. WHERE do you play and train?
Summer training for the junior section (U11) is at Rydal School 6pm to 7pm on Tuesdays.
From September, junior training is at Eirias Park from 9am to 10.30am on Saturdays.
Ladies training during the season is at Rydal School, 7pm to 8.30pm on Tuesdays and men’s Wednesday 7pm to 8.30pm, also at Rydal School.
Out-of-season (summer training) is 7pm-8.30pm for men and ladies. WHAT level do you play at, and how has your season gone?
Our men’s first team, many of whom are under-18, have just been promoted to North West Division One, playing at a level way above their years.
Men’s second and third teams play in North West Division 4 South and Division 7 South West respectively.
Our ladies first team were promoted last year to North Wales Division One and have retained their place.
The Ladies second team, who are nearly all U18s, this year won Division 3 and are promoted to Division 2 next season.
All our juniors aged 14 and above are eligible to play in these seniors teams. Below the age of 14, the juniors play regularly over North Wales in U11 and U13 competitions.
The U11s are North Wales champions, and came third in the Welsh National Finals, and the U13s were runners-up in North Wales, and fourth in the nationals. Both these age groups were mixed teams.
The U15 girls and U15 boys both won the national finals, and U18 boys were North Wales champions and runners-up in the nationals. HAVE any players who have gone on to bigger things?
We have had at least 20 junior players in the last few years play for Wales at U16 and U18 level.
One has made the senior national squad. WHAT are the biggest achievements the club has won or been awarded?
We have won Conwy Junior Sports Club of the Year numerous times recently, and Hockey Wales Junior Sports Club in 2011.
We are a recognised Disability Sport Wales club, the only hockey club in North Wales to achieve this. WHO are your team sponsors?
We don’t currently have any team sponsors, but are always open to offers from local companies. ARE you looking for new players?
The club is always looking for new players of all ages and abilities.
We run a Back 2 Hockey session for adult beginners aimed at fun and fitness. There are a number of parents who now join in instead of just watching their children.
The club aims to be fully inclusive and doing its best for all players and would love to be the club of choice.
We are speciifically recruiting U11 players as a number of our current team are moving up age categories.
We don’t operate a waiting list, everyone is welcome to come and try it out whenever they like. Sticks can be provided, and first session is free.
For anyone wanting more information, see our website colwynbayhockey.com, where there is a full list of contacts, or our facebook group ‘Colwyn Bay Hockey Club’. We take players from age four. From football to rugby, snooker to dominoes, if you are involved with a sports team or club and would like to take part in this question and answer feature, please get in touch.
Email joy.burgess@trinitymirror. com or on twitter @JoyBurgess7