Petersfield Hockey Club’s adults celebrated the end of the 2023-24 season in style.
They held a charity hockey match at Bedales, where mixed teams of men and women of all abilities were pitted against one another on a warm afternoon. Raucous support from the sidelines ensued as the teams battled it out, often with parents and offspring on opposing teams. The match was an honourable 3-3 draw. Match fees for the game were donations to the Petersfield Food Bank.
The evening then saw the seniors awards event at the Folly Wine Bar, with players recognised for their individual contributions to the club. Petersfield also celebrated some superb performances by the club’s senior teams. The women’s first team finished top of their league with a 14-point lead over second place having lost only one match and achieved a goal difference of plus 96, which should see them promoted. The men’s first team were second in their league, while the men’s second team won their league and were promoted. The men’s third team and women’s second team both finished fifth in their respective leagues. These two teams are seen as the club’s development sides, who bring juniors into senior hockey leagues under the steady stewardship of more experienced players while still allowing players to enjoy hockey at a competitive level.
Among the awards winners on the night were Daisy Day (most improved women’s first team player), Millie Virtue (most improved women’s second team player), Marie Cook (services to the club), Kate Day (Lynn Sinclair Trophy for commitment to playing, women), Laura O’Sullivan (women’s second team top scorer), Anna O’Kelly (women’s first team top scorer), Anna Stratton-Brown (women’s second team captain’s award), Sam Hulme (men’s first team captain’s award), Toby Young (men’s second team top scorer), Ben Hughes (men’s third team captain’s award) and Mattthew Sabben-Clare (Ben Steppel Award for commitment to playing, men).