midlands hockey · coming off back to back national championships in 2016 and 2017 there were high...

MIDLAND HOCKEY Issue 2

Chairman’s Report:

IN THIS ISSUE: Chairman’s Report | Performance Manager Welcome/Staff Update | NHL Trials | Vantage U21 Tournament | Athletes

Corner | An Interview with Aidan Sarikaya | Wintec Midlands U18 Squads | Q & A with Wintec Strength & Conditioning

Trainers | Midlands Explore | TigerTurf - Trophy multi-sports courts spark passion for sports at Whangamata Area School

8th – 14th July

2018 Vantage Under 18

Tournament

Midlands

Hockey

June

2018

Midlands Board 2018 Stephen Stafford-Bush

Jon Tanner Richard Graham

Doug Sommerville Dave Potter

Dean Armstrong

Association Delegates BOPHA – Daniel Hazelton CMHA – Phil McConnell

THA – Clinton Butler TVHA – Sue Bear

WHA – Declan Wyndham-Smith

It is my pleasure to write the forward to this June newsletter. Quite a lot has happened since our last one. Firstly is huge congratulations to Steve and Nicky Smith – Nicky gave birth to a girl a couple of weeks ago – Kennedy Sienna Smith. Both are doing well. Given her genes, we look forward to seeing her in Orange in the not too distant future. I’m sure you will all join with me in also offering our congratulations to them all. Second, it with great pleasure that we welcome Mark Borgers to the role of Performance Manager. Mark has come from one of the largest hockey clubs in the Netherlands. Mark brings a wealth of experience, skills and enthusiasm to the role. I met with Mark a couple of weeks ago and I know he is keen to make a difference and add to the Midlands Region legacy.

He has huge passion for our sport and I’m sure you will all welcome him when you come into contact with him. Thirdly, we are about to co-opt onto the Board, Jeff Freeman. He brings both a sporting and non-commercial background to the board and fills some gaps we believe we currently have in the Boards broad skillset matrix. He is a former Chair of Northern Districts Cricket. He will be a welcome addition to the board. The U21 men had a great tournament and were finalists and desperately unlucky not to win. The women had a challenging start to the week with a positive finish, placing 5th. Well done to both teams. Finally, the U18 teams have been announced. We wish them all the very best for their upcoming tournament.

Stephen Stafford-Bush

Chairman

MIDLAND HOCKEY | Issue 2 2

I arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday 30th May and two days later I started my new position as Performance Manager of Midlands Hockey. When you say Midlands, you say 'ORANGE'. The orange colour makes me feel at home. This is because it is the national colour of the Netherlands, where I am originally from. For me hockey is all about feeling at home. Every club I have either played or worked for (as a coach or performance manager) felt like my 'second home'. It is my aim to bring this message across to all Midlands players and staff – both current and future. When you are with us you should feel comfortable and excited, meet interesting and diverse people and built networks and social relations. We are one big 'orange' sports family; one that brings companies, associations, clubs, schools, players, coaches and parents together.

We have one shared objective: "grow hockey in our community", and my priority is to help our athletes develop as both hockey players and as individuals. We are here for you - the athlete! We are your support and will provide a pathway to realise your dreams and ambitions. I believe all Midlands staff should be available for you whenever you feel like having a chat and I will lead by example. Let's work together on the growth of hockey in the Midlands region, both for the benefit of Hockey in New Zealand and yourselves! Let our performance be the result of your personal growth. Explore, develop and perform! Good luck to you all and hope to meet you somewhere soon.

Mark Borgers

Performance Manager

Staff Update

Mark Borgers - Performance Manager Welcome

As per the Chairman’s report, Nicky is on maternity leave for the next few months with her beautiful daughter

Kennedy. Matt Rees-Gibbs will be covering her role as Operations and Development Manager during this

time – welcome back Matt!

The new members of the team are Mark Borgers – Performance Manager (as above) and Kathryn Chapman,

who joined us at the end of January, working part time in the role of Office Administrator.

We would like to welcome the new members of the team and if you are in the Hamilton area, please feel free

to come and say ‘hi’ at our office at St Paul’s Collegiate.

Matt Rees-Gibbs

Mark Borgers

Kathryn Chapman


NHL will look to be an exciting one this year! Our women will give it their all to make sure the national title will stay in the Midlands region for another year. They will have their opening game in and against Auckland on the 9th September and then a week later travel down to Wellington for the rest of the tournament. The men will be determined to try and win the Challenge Shield back after a year of absence in our beloved orange region. They will start their tournament on home ground playing against Auckland in Hamilton. Both teams will have open trials on the 1st of July in Tauranga at the below times:

Women 3.30pm – 5.30pm Men 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Registrations are now open. Visit www.midlandshoockey.co.nz

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MIDLANDS

SPONSORS:

Silver Level Bartercard

University of Waikato Wintec

Bronze Level

Fairview Ford

The Woods Family

McConnell Stafford-Bush & Associates

YouthTown

Supporters Club

Mike Bignell

Truman Wee & Associates

Fluid & General

Monkton Charitable Trust

David Kana

Gold Level

Bayleys

Grassroots Trust

Tiger Turf

The Southern Trust

Carigs Investment Partners

Jon & Sue Tanner

Bayleys Midlands NHL Trials

http://www.midlandshoockey.co.nz/


Vantage National U21 Tournament University of Waikato Midlands U21 Men: The Midlands Under 21 Men started their campaign back in March, with a large majority of players returning to the side from 2017. Having placed 4th in 2017, the goals were set and the team environment was competitive. An unbeaten run through the warm up games set the squad up for a good start to the Tournament week. In game 1 Vs Capital, Midlands dominated for large patches of the game. Capital managed to find themselves back in the game. At 2-2 and a penalty corner to finish the game, Reuben Andrews flicked the ball into the goal to seal a 3-2 win. In game 2 Vs Northland, the boys showed good structure and commitment to the game plan, winning 6-1. In the final pool match against 2017 winners North Harbour, it was a must win in order to carry points through to the next round. An end to end spectacle with a very high standard of Hockey saw the deadlock broken in the third quarter by Maks Wyndnham-Smith deflection. The game remained at 1-0 to Midlands and finishing top of the pool put the finals in sight. In the crossover round, the first game was Vs Auckland. Again, Midlands dominated from the start and put themselves 2-0 up before the half time. In the second half, Auckland bounced back and pushed forward, scoring once. The score line finished 2-1 and at the final whistle, due to other results it was announced Midlands had qualified for the final. With that in mind, the focus still remained on winning every game. Ensuring momentum, Midlands Men continued to play their game but unfortunately came up short with a. 3-2 loss to Canterbury. Immediately the mind switched focus to the final. With North Harbour in their sights and the mental preparation commencing, Midlands Men knew the final was going to be tough. In a first half of mixed play by both teams, the score line was 0-0. Both teams had opportunities and both teams knew that the trophy was close. Midlands broke the deadlock in the 3rd quarter through a Maks Wyndnham-Smith deflection. Midlands continued to dominate through the third quarter. With 8 minutes remaining, North Harbour equalized with a penalty corner flick. A minute later they responded with another well worked penalty corner routine to put themselves 2-1 ahead. Midlands continued to fight back, putting North Harbour under a lot of pressure. At the final whistle North harbor were crowned champions with Midland’s receiving a Silver Medal. A fantastic tournament and effort through the whole campaign by Midlands Boys. Particular mention to Reuben Andrews, Maks Wyndnham -Smith, Te Hiraka Chase and Tim Neild for their selection in the New Zealand Under 21 Men’s squad. Thank you to all the families and friends who supported the team, and also thank you to the management staff, Joe Hank (Head Coach), Steve Smith (Assistant Coach), Jamie Carrol (Manager), Ben Park (Physiotherapist) and Naresh Kana (Video Analyst) and of course a huge thank you to our sponsors.

Photos: Kim Wihare


Photos: Kim Wihare

University of Waikato Midlands U21 Women: Coming off back to back National Championships in 2016 and 2017 there were high expectations for the Midlands Under 21 Women. With the core of the team from the past 2 years having moved on and with 7 U21 debutants in the 2018 squad, it was going to be a tough ask for the team to win a historic 3rd consecutive championship. Game 1 Vs Central was a messy affair. Both teams had the ‘first game of tournament’ jitters and in a game with a large number of turnovers from both teams, goals were hard to come by. The style of hockey being displayed proved more beneficial for Central, who broke the deadlock late in the third quarter going up 1-0. The Midlands girls pressed hard to find an equaliser, creating a handful of opportunities but Central held strong in defence to finish on top. After losing to Central, game 2 Vs Harbour was a must win to progress to the top 4. The game started well for Midlands, converting on early pressure to go ahead 1-0. After conceding, Harbour stepped up their intensity and began to assert their dominance. They capitalised on this and by 3rd quarter time were leading Midlands 4-1. For the last quarter midlands pulled their keeper for an extra striker and lifted the intensity of their play. They clawed back one goal, but the final effort was not enough to close the gap, Harbour winning 4-2. Having been knocked out of the top 4, Midlands had two rest days to refocus and readjust their goals, with their sights now on finishing 5th overall. Game 3 vs Capital was an evenly fought tussle. Both teams were able to move the ball from end to end early on but were stifled by solid defensive play. Capital were the first to score in the second quarter, with Midlands replying soon after half time. There were chances for both, but it was Capital that made the breakthrough winning 2-1. Game 4 vs Southern was a much-improved performance. Midlands controlled the early stages of play going up 1-0 from a penalty corner within 8 minutes. Midlands continued to control the game but were unable to turn pressure into goals. Late in the game it looked as though Midlands might rue the missed scoring opportunities as the southerners rallied hard, but Midlands were able to stave off the Southern surge with good defensive work to take the game 1-0. Game 5 was a rematch against Capital. Again, the game started evenly matched with a scoreless first quarter. As the game progressed, Midlands gained the upper hand with a formidable high press suffocating the opposition. They soon opened the scoring in the second quarter then doubled their lead with another well finished goal in the third. Midlands continued to apply pressure throughout the remainder of the game and while Capital did score with time winding down, Midlands were secure a 2-1 victory and 5th place. A positive end to a week that did not start out in our favour. The team stuck together and were able to improve game by game. The performances at the end of the week showed the team made some clear strides forwards. A massive thanks to all the players for being a great bunch to work with and for all the hard work you put in throughout the whole campaign. Thanks also to family and friends for your support and a special thanks to the management team: Nicky Smith (Head coach), Stuart Pitu (Assistant coach), Cherie McCleery (Manager), Kate Savory (Physio) & Cam Collins (Video analyst).


Silver for Black Sticks Men!

Black Sticks Women Win GOLD!

Photo: Vantage Black Sticks Commonwealth Games

Photos:www.photosport.nz

Women's Under 21 Player of the Year

Frances Davies

NZ Under 21 groups named for camps

Congratulations to our Midlanders Alex Lukin, Tegan Muraahi, Reuben Andrews, Te Hiraka Chase, Tim Neild, and Maks Wyndham-Smith for being identified into the wider Hockey New Zealand U21 programme! Well done! Also a special mention to our former Midlanders Tori Robinson and Declan Keaney, great job! They will attend the development camps in Hawkes Bay from 16th – 20th July.

Pathway to Podium Athlete & Coach Selection

Congratulation to Tim Neild & Sophie Morrison on their selection as Pathway to Podium Athletes & Reiner Vellinga as Pathway to Podium Coach for 2018/19.

Photo: The University of Waikato


How did you first get into hockey? Coming from a hockey family, mum got me into playing at a young age starting with 6-aside at the Ngatea turf when I was about 5. What is your best hockey memory/moment before making the Vantage Blacksticks? I’ve had a lot of good memories playing but the most stand out moment would be Winning Rankin Cup for the first time in 2013 with Hamilton Boys High School.

Who was your sporting idol when you were growing up?

A bit of a home town hero - Lloyd Stephenson.

What do you do when you’re not playing hockey?

If I’m not playing or training I'm studying at the University of Waikato or watching tv series.

What are your aspirations for your hockey career?

I would like to represent New Zealand at an Olympic Games and continue improving on my own game.

Describe what is was like representing New Zealand at the

Commonwealth Games

It’s hard to put into words but it made it special having family and friends come over and have a huge amount of support from people at home. After the initial nerves of Game 1 I started to settle in and feel a little more comfortable. What was one thing at the Commonwealth Games you were not expecting? It was my first major tournament so one thing I wasn’t expecting and couldn’t really prepare for were the crowds at the games and how much they influence the pace and tempo the games played at. What were the expectations for the team going into the Commonwealth Games and do you think you achieved them? I think leading into the games we were feeling pretty good as a team and winning a medal was a very realistic goal. The biggest thing for us was getting through pool play as well as we did. If I had of been told before it had started that we were going to win a silver medal I would have been pretty happy with that.

What is next for you and the Vantage Blacksticks Men?

I'm currently out with an injury so for me it's doing all my recovery well and getting back training to build up for the World Cup at the end of this year.

An Interview with Aidan Sarikaya

Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac

Source: Heath Johnson/Photosport


Wintec Midlands U18 Squads 2018

Men’s Squad: Women’s Squad:

1. Patrick Begley 2. Sam Britain 3. John Clayton 4. Reuben Crawford 5. Malcolm Curley 6. Matt Deller 7. Alex Deo 8. Connor Garner 9. Will Gourley 10. George Greenhill 11. Bailey Harrison 12. Ethan Larsen 13. Cam Maclean 14. Matt Pinkerton 15. Callum Prosser 16. Jacob Soo Choon 17. Haeata Taylor 18. Tai Wihare

1. Rosanna Bedford 2. Emily Carlson 3. Morgan Clayton 4. Meila Eades 5. Ruby Evans 6. Madeline Flemming 7. Abbey Halpin 8. Leah Hodges 9. Isla Johnson 10. Emilie Logan 11. Destiny Hope Moke 12. Sophie Morrison 13. Kendra Peart-Anderson 14. Aliesha Reeves 15. Sharnae Taylor 16. Madison Tims 17. Santi Tyson 18. Eva Zylstra


Q&A with Frans Van Der Merwe and Manaaki O’Brien Frans Van Der Merwe looks after strength and conditioning for all Midlands Hockey Association’s athletes. In this role, he is supported by a number of Wintec postgraduate students including Manaaki O’Brien. We asked them a few questions about working with Midlands Hockey. How did you first get involved with Midlands Hockey? Frans: In 2011 the physiotherapist for the male Midlands Hockey team withdrew from the tournament so I stepped into the role of athletic trainer. Since then my role has grown somewhat! Manaaki: As a third year Wintec student I helped with programming and facilitating gym sessions for the development boys squad. What exactly do you do in this role? Frans: I provide strategic direction for Midlands strength and conditioning programme across all age groups and genders. I write and supervise gym sessions for the senior and some junior teams. I am also helping to establish the sport science direction for hockey in the Midlands region as well as establishing the long-term athlete pathway. Manaaki: I'm something of a handy-man and fill in wherever my expertise is needed. I have worked with a number of Midlands teams providing strength and conditioning, injury prevention, game preparation and recovery interventions. What do you enjoy most about working with Midlands Hockey? Frans: I love working with a great bunch of athletes who are driven to achieve and improve themselves. Manaaki: I enjoy working with a range of athletes whom are all considered to be top tier athletes in their respective grades. What are your aspirations for Midlands Hockey? Frans: To regain the mantle of the best hockey region in New Zealand. Manaaki: To help our athletes perform to their highest potential. Are there any challenges to the role? Frans: Working with athletes from all over the region can be challenging at times Manaaki: Plenty! Although I back myself, there are anxious moments especially when delivering something that I know a lot about but haven't implemented before. Do you play hockey? Frans: I was a hockey player at primary and intermediate but had to choose between hockey and rugby when I started high school. I chose rugby which I played representatively. Manaaki: I can’t play hockey to save my life, but Simon Cowell can’t sing so I think I'm OK as long as I do my research! I grew up playing rugby and rugby league.

Q & A with WINTEC Strength & Conditioning Trainers -

Frans Van Der Merwe & Manaaki O'Brian


Midlands Explore Roadshow

2018 saw the introduction of the Explore Roadshow! Having previously connected with our Under 15 age group players across the associations with two training days in one location, we decided to get out on the road and visit the Associations. As the first stage of our Talent Development Squads, Explore is designed to “explore” the performance area of hockey by introducing players to how to train, what to train and how they can increase performance. Across the roadshow all associations were visited twice with huge success in Bay of Plenty who hosted in Whakatane and Taupo. In the opening visit to Thames Valley, the roadshow was ignited with 15 players making their way to Ngatea. From there on in, weekly visits to Waikato, Tauranga, Counties Manukau, Whakatane and Taupo generated over 100 players in attendance to the roadshow. The roadshow was a great success with valuable coaching by top quality coaches from around the region who are involved with Midlands. The players were also very lucky to have current Under 21 and NHL men and women attending and providing insights into their Midlands experiences and passing on knowledge they had gained from being part of this programme. Special thanks to the coaches; Lincoln Churchill - Current Blacksticks Performance Analyst, Kate Savory - Midlands NHL 2017 Gold Medalist and Midlands U21s Physiotherapist, Reiner Vellinga - Midlands Women’s NHL and U18 Head Coach, Matt Rees Gibbs - Midlands Men’s U18 Head Coach and Joe Hanks - Midlands Men’s U21 Head Coach.


TigerTurf Trophy multi-sports courts spark passion for sports at Whangamata Area School

Coromandel, New Zealand The dazzling colours of the TigerTurf Trophy multi-sport courts at Whangamata Area School captivate passers-by and visitors to the school.

Rejuvenating tired grey asphalt sports courts with TigerTurf Trophy in energetic, clear colours immediately rekindled the students’ love for sports. The vibrant multi-sport courts showcase the lively pulse of Whangamata Area School, which is just as it should be.

The multi-coloured, multi-functional TigerTurf courts not only look fabulous, but include all the most popular sports in one outstanding facility. Our TigerTurf Trophy multi-sport surface provides the performance features required to support several sports codes.

Trophy multi-sport meets international standards for three sports

TigerTurf Trophy is certified as a national level hockey surface by the Federation of International Hockey (FIH) when it is installed with a shock pad; as a fast tennis surface by the International Tennis Federation (ITF); and meets all standards of the English Netball Association (AENA). A genuinely talented all-rounder, the Trophy multi-sport court at Whangamata Area School provides an outstanding hockey surface for junior play. The hockey pitch encompasses three tennis courts that are also clearly marked for netball and basketball, and used for vigorous futsal games too. And of course, general PE classes are now much more fun on the new Trophy courts.

Date project completed: May 2018 Surface: TigerTurf Trophy

Area: 2,040m2 Base construction: Existing asphalt base


Multi-functional TigerTurf courts extend student playing hours

We provided new netball posts and safety pads for the courts, and the portable tennis nets make it easy for students to set up different sports very quickly.

The courts provide a level, all-weather surface for recreational outdoor activities year-round, draining quickly after heavy rain, with safe traction underfoot even in rain.

TigerTurf Trophy multi-courts provide long-lasting value for schools

Trophy is an excellent investment for schools, being an incredibly durable surface manufactured from an advanced TenCate yarn that outlasts any similar product available in the world today. It is soft, non-abrasive, and allows the ball to roll freely in all directions, as the blades are without bias.

TigerTurf sports turf systems need little maintenance

The courts need very little maintenance, with permanent markings on an easy-care surface that only needs debris removed and quarterly sprays for moss and algae.

Trophy requires a low level of sand infill, which is held within the turf surface by the textured blades. Therefore, sand doesn’t migrate into classrooms from the surface, or from a wet turf to ball to hand.

Dynamic Trophy courts engage students

The combination of red netball/basketball courts with three green tennis courts are set into a vivid sea-blue border – a striking picture and a brilliant improvement on the worn old tarmac courts.

midlands hockey · coming off back to back national championships in 2016 and 2017 there were high...

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