Dear Member,

We will all have our personal stories of how we managed THE PANDEMIC. We have all had to find new ways of living and working. The effects of Lockdown have been felt throughout the country. Many have been severely impacted. We are all “war-weary” but I hope you and your families have stayed safe and well. As restrictions lift, we are cautiously planning how to re-open The Club-for our core activity since 1893- PLAYING HOCKEY!

Our aim is to gradually restart as specified by the FIH, Hockey Ireland, and SDCC. The Club
Captains will be communicating this to you in greater detail as we go through the phases.
Lockdown came abruptly, leaving some Teams with League schedules unfinished, still
contenders in Cups and so on. However, behind closed doors, Our Club has been busy.

A huge amount of work and planning has been undertaken led by our Club Captains, Club Manager, Groundsmen, key office-holders, Committee members and Volunteers – working remotely or observing social distancing.

Our groundsmen have continued to maintain our pitches as normal, which leaves us ready and compliant with FIH directives for preparing pitches for use after the lockdown. We will also fully comply with the criteria as set out by Hockey Ireland for a safe return to hockey. While this will place restrictions and extra work on many members and volunteers, plus additional expense for the club, the safety of everyone is our priority.

Work has commenced on the replacement of our team dugouts and TD shelters, with
assistance from Sports Capital Grant funding that was awarded to the club during the 2018
grant scheme. Other works have also been completed during the lockdown, and essential
maintenance has been carried out.

The 2020-2021 season will be a challenge for the club in many ways. There will have to be new ways of doing things that will take some getting used to. Financially, we have achieved a lot over the past few years, and plans were made for the coming years. Plans that included the replacement of the front pitch. The full impact of the losses and costs of the Covid-19 crisis can’t be estimated at this time, but with the support of members and volunteers we will all work together with a view towards getting back on track as soon as we can.

I am confident that with the support and goodwill of all stakeholders in this great Club we can come through this period stronger and better. As we return please all keep in close contact with Club News and each other. Make life as easy as possible for everyone. Be thoughtful, kind and understanding and look to be helpful. Minding our facilities and equipment, thanking our Volunteers, Coaches, Managers and Officers -who are the oil in our Club Engine-even completing forms correctly and paying your correct subscription promptly will help.

I look forward to seeing you all again in TRR, and please bear with the Administration Team
over the coming weeks until the directives are fully known, and we can have our compliance systems in place.

As soon as we have further information, we will update you all.

Best wishes,
Cedric Christie
Club President

Hockey Ireland return to play protocols

Once government plans for a phased reopening were announced, a Covid 19 committee was put together, chaired by our Ladies Captain, Louise Callan, and including current captains, incoming captains, club manager, treasurer, and a representative of the junior section. The purpose of this committee was to plan towards the eventual reopening of the club from the perspective of both club members and outside stakeholders, and also taking into consideration the severe financial repercussions of the Covid 19 lockdown on club finances.

The Covid 19 committee are working hard to put in place protocols recommended by Hockey Ireland, FIH, Sport Ireland and the government. In order to do our part and minimise the risk of the virus spreading we ask you all to help us as we return to hockey.

Peter Hinds, incoming Mens Captain for the 2020/2021 season, has kindly volunteered to fill the role of Covid-19 officer. We are obliged to appoint a Covid-19 officer as part of the criteria for reopening. It would be very much appreciated if all members could support Peter in this role.

We need volunteers to take on the roles of Deputy Covid-19 officers, one for each team, as a Covid-19 officer MUST be present at all times while the facilities are in use. It isn’t practical or feasible for one person to be on site at all times, so before returning to hockey it will be necessary for each team to have a designated Covid-19 officer who can liaise with Peter during the season.

MEMBERS/PAVILION MEMBERS/PARENTS/MANAGERS/CAPTAINS/COACHES, AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS ARE ALL ELIGIBLE TO FILL THESE ROLES. PLEASE HELP OUT IF YOU CAN.

Once we have the details finalized, we will send out updates which will include Peter’s
dedicated email address (above) for any Covid related matters. As soon as you receive that update, please forward your name and contact details to Peter, letting him know which group or team you will be representing as a Covid officer.

• In line with Hockey Ireland protocols and current Government travel restrictions members can pre-book summer hockey slots for groups of 15 or less. All participants

must be members of TRRHC.

• All groups will be asked to complete a booking form with the names of all members in attendance so that we can comply with Covid 19 contact tracing.
• A contribution to the club of €45 for 1.5 hours – will be required. This is due to both the club having had no income for several months and facing a tough financial year, and to the extra preparations and protocols that now have to go into place when anybody enters the facilities.
• Contact the club manager to check for available slots club.manager@threerockrovershc.com

In line with Hockey Ireland return to play protocols, showers cannot be used. We have arranged to have our shower facilities chemically flushed out to avoid potential contamination with bio films during the lockdown, as outlined in the FIH document.

This will be done closer to the time when the use of showers is again allowed. So please bear with us for now and don’t turn on shower heads.

Toilets are not meant to be used, but if necessary, only one at a time. If using toilet facilities;

• PLEASE WASH HANDS FOR 20 SECONDS USING THE SOAP PROVIDED IN EACH TOILET AREA,
• DRY HANDS, AND USE HAND SANITIZER PROVIDED AT CHANGING ROOM ENTRANCE AREAS.
• (HAND SANITIZER IS NOT EFFECTIVE IF HANDS ARE SOILED, HAND WASHING REMAINS THE SAFEST METHOD).

During the lockdown, Bernie (club manager) has been working on updating the pavilion
membership database. Many contact details are now obsolete, and some members were not receiving notifications of events etc. If you have not received a call or email from Bernie in relation to confirming contact details, and if you are a pavilion member and wish to be included on future notifications, please get in touch now by emailing club.manager@threerockrovershc.com or by phoning 087 6575297.

The gates were locked, but work went on behind closed doors, as can be seen from the
attached photos.

1. Dugouts. The team dugouts and TD shelters on both pitches have been removed. They

will be replaced by new dugouts and shelters that have been purchased with assistancefrom the Sports Capital Grant Scheme 2018 . While current protocols prohibit the use ofdugouts, we have proceeded in the hope that we will have the new shelters installed bymid-August and ready for the new season.

2. Don Gray, and his assistants, have done tremendous work in clearing the ivy from the

wall behind the video tower.

3. Don and his assistants have also finished painting the clubhouse upstairs toilets.
4. Many thanks to Sam Cogan and Scott Williams for donating their skills during the lockdown to help with a tech issue.
5. Thanks are also due to Arul, who helped the groundsmen to clear some neglected areas in the club where rubbish had built up over the years, (see article photo).
6. Our loyal and dedicated groundsmen, JJ and Sylvie, worked during the lockdown to maintain our pitches so that they would be safe for our return. Their commitment to their roles has enabled us to avoid any extra and costly preparation for reopening. Our pitches have been sprayed for moss and algae, and also regularly watered and maintained.
7. Pitch Cleaning. The annual deep pitch cleaning was completed on both pitches recently by Pattersons (see article photo).
8. Unfortunately, as per the guidelines, we will be unable to open our bar and clubhouse facilities for the foreseeable future. During the lockdown, each brewery sent staff to clean our lines and to uplift unsold kegs. Our bar had to be safely closed, and stock sell by dates checked.
9. Our summer camps which are being run as a club fundraiser are starting on Monday 22nd June. They have been really well supported by TRR members!

Olly MConnell, son of Peter McConnell and Sue Gray, has taken on his 100 KM cycle challenge during the month of June to help raise much needed funds for Enable Ireland. Best of Luck Olly!!!

If you would like to help Olly, please click on the link below.

SUPPORT OLLY HERE

You can also support Enable Ireland by using the clothing bank located in the front car park.