Maids host international rivals in 39th annual event
Club strengthens its 'special relationship' with MHC Krimpen over Easter weekend
Maidenhead Hockey Club were once again able to host their friends from MHC Krimpen as the two clubs took part in an international hockey tournament at Altwood School this Easter.
The two clubs have been playing tournaments against each other for the best part of four decades after the club responded to an advert placed by Lionel Conner in the Dutch Hockeysport Magazine more than 40 years ago.
Maids first travelled to MHC Krimpen, in the small town of Krimpen aan den Ijssel on the northeastern outskirts of Rotterdam, in 1982 and the tournament was such a success that they travelled to Krimpen again the following year before hosting them back in Maidenhead in 1984.
On Good Friday, they welcomed u18s squads of boys and girls from the Netherlands club and invited Basingstoke Hockey Club to take part in a what was a fun and full programme of hockey and socialising.
A series of mixed girls’ and boys’ matches took place on the Friday before a dinner was held at the club, while the official tournament got underway on the Saturday and culminated with an awards ceremony and celebration on Sunday afternoon.
The Dutch side took home both the boys’ and girls’ u18s trophies after a closely fought competition. The
boys team just edged Maidenhead 1-0 in their final match to win the event on goal difference, while their girls team scored a lastminute goal to snatch a draw with Maidenhead and also take the trophy on goal difference.
The Mike Pearce Memorial Trophy team award for fair play was awarded to Basingstoke Hockey Club, while the ‘Jeremy Hylton-Smith Individual Fair Play and Spirit of the Tournament Award’ was presented to Michiel Fikkert of MHC Krimpen.
Basingstoke’s Dylan Brockbank won the boys’ player of the tournament award with Lone Pietersma of MHC Krimpen winning the girls’ player award.
Emma-Grace Bowler,
Chair of Maidenhead
Hockey Club (and part of the Tour Committee) said: "The Easter Tournament has always had a special place here in Maidenhead. For me personally I have made some friends for life through this fantastic event, taking part firstly as a player and now as part of the organising committee. I’m thrilled that this weekend we were once again able to host our friends from MHC Krimpen.
“A huge thank you to our Director of Hockey, David Joshua and to the rest of the organising committee at Maidenhead for their diligence in ensuring the return of the Tournament was a huge success. It has been a
pleasure seeing a new era of hockey players from Maidenhead and Krimpen introduced to this valuable tradition. We hope to continue this special relationship for years to come."
David Joshua, Director of Hockey, Maidenhead Hockey Club added: "Having never experienced this event before, it was great to witness the tradition and respect amongst such long-term friends. This event truly showed the value of sport in our community. Sport will take you places and introduce you to people that you otherwise, would never meet. The true journey to success does not come easy, but the end result is more than worth it."
Since this international tournament began in the early 1980s, hundreds of colts’ players have enjoyed taking part with many competitive rivalries, as well as lasting friendships, developing.
Maids have thanked their sponsors Stubbings Property Marketing for making the event possible, as well as Bellway Homes and the Handmade Cake Company, who donated cakes for the event.
MHC Krimpen was founded in 1970 and has continued to flourish ever since.
For more information about Maidenhead Hockey Club visit www.maidenheadhc.org.uk or email: academy@maidenheadhc.org.uk