During June the u14 boys took a trip to Dysynni Hockey Club in Wales for a few games.
Photos from the boys trip can be seen on site now in the photo section
The boys played a 3 team tournament with Dysynni and North Wales, with the Rovers boys coming away with 2 wins! Thanks to coach Niall Denham and all those who accompanied them away
We hope all our players are enjoying our wonderful new surface! Given the huge investment and fundraising that went into this project we feel it cant go unnoticed!
Along with a new pitch the clubhouse has also seen a complete re-vamp, with the Wooden Spoon cafe opening up for public and member use. The cafe and clubhouse development is a hugely positive step for the club as we look to attract more people into our venue to use the fabulous facilities that we have to offer.
When the pitch and clubhouse changes are combined theres a huge difference in the club that was left at the end of the last season. Over the last few years council, committee, staff and all club members, have worked hard to bring about these huge changes and more. We certainly wish to celebrate the massive steps we have taken and so September 21st will be our official pitch and clubhouse opening day!
The junior boys and girls will open the day with a tournament before the mens 1sts take on Avoca in their 3rd league game of the season. Sponsors, Leinster and Irish officials will hopefully be on site to help us open our venue. The Wooden Spoon will be offering up its delicious food, while the bar will also be open for the reception.
We would like to invite all members up to the club on this day to experience the massive changes for themselves and to celebrate the club effort that went into making it happen. Our registration day will now also tie in with this event, so please come with the attached form filled out in order to pay your sub and receive your bar tokens in time also.
We look forward to seeing everyone on the day!
This Sunday we welcome all our juniors onto the new pitch for the first time as we a run a mixed Blitz day to start their season off! All kids are welcome for the fun mixed games, and to meet all their coaches for the season ahead!
Times are as follows:
12.30 – 2.30pm: u8s and u10s
3 – 6pm: u12s, u14s and u16s
Our mens 1sts sponsors Impact Gumshield will be there to provide a service for anyone that wants it with no obligation at all. Ed Sports will also be open for all of their back to hockey needs!
While the kids enjoy the pitch and the hockey in the afternoon, our coaches will be there from 9am to run through this seasons plans.
Niall Denham will be introducing his coaching handbook to each of our junior coaches to ensure that all players are receiving the same consistent message, and are being taught to the highest standard possible. Ali Keogh will briefly run through tips for umpiring junior hockey and will be on hand all day should anyone like to practice.
We are delighted to take this opportunity to standardise our junior coaching under Niall. Niall brings a wealth of experience to this role and will be on hand all season for coach development to oversee the technical aspects of our junior hockey.
Sunday will also see our TY programme kick off. Our 4th year girls and boys will be introduced to the junior set up and will have a chance to meet each other prior to the start of the season. The girls will be mentored by Aideen Dowling, while the boys will be mentored by Stephen West.
All round, an exciting start for our juniors before their usual weekend hockey kicks off officially on the weekend of the 13th/14th of September!
Database
Over the summer the club database system has been updated. To ensure we are reaching all of our members and have all our information up to date for this new system, please ensure that you complete the attached document at the end of this page when paying your subs.
The form can also be sent directly to Jess Rule at jess.rule@live.ie
Subs
Please note that all subs are due to be paid by the 1st of October. We will be running a registration day on September 20th where subs can be paid, and bar tokens noted.
Bar tokens will only be available this year to those that pay in full prior to the 1st of October.
Please be aware that you are not insured to play unless you have paid part of your sub. All rates can be seen on the subs page in the information section of this website.
Payments can be made via cash, cheques payable to Three Rock Rovers Hockey Club or via bank transfer. Please reference your name and keep proof of payment should you pay electronically, so that we ensure we are not chasing people unnecessarily.
IBAN: IE10BOFI90008443634986
Paper form: IE10 BOFI 9000 8443 6349 86
Branch: Dublin – St Stephens Green
BIC: BOFIIE2D
Masters Home Nations
Congratulations to Paul Fitzpatrick who won the Masters Home Nations with the Irish over 40s last week in Lisnagarvey. They beat England 4-2 to take the title
Well done also to David Gilmore who came 2nd with the Irish over 50s.
Leinster Panels
Congrats to all our u18s who have made the Leinster training panels for the u18 squads. The boys squad has been cut to 25 and will be cut further in a few weeks. Currently no less than 8 of the players on the side are Rovers: Freddie Morris, Daragh Walsh, Andy Keane, Harry McMahon, Conor Empey, James Walker, Sam Grace and Gavin Gibney.
On the girls side Aoife McNulty is still with the u18s panel which will also be narrowed down soon.
Well done to all and best of luck with the remaining trials!
Ladies training times
Next week all ladies teams return to pre-season. Please be reminded that training times for the season are as follows:
Monday
7pm – 8.30pm: 3rds & 4ths (with their coaches)
8.30pm – 10pm: 1sts & 2nds (with their coaches)
Wednesday
7pm – 8.30pm: 1sts (with coach)
8.30pm – 10pm: 2nds, 3rds & 4ths (with Niall)
Thursday
6.30 – 7.45: 1sts (optional training)
The Division 1 league fixtures, and IHL games for the mens 1sts team have now been uploaded onto the website, to match the ladies fixtures which were previously announced.
The men kick off their season on September 6th away to Rathgar, before playing host to Pembroke at home the week after. The season starts early for the men this year, in order to facilitate the busy international catalogue, including World League round 2 in February. To that end, senior mens coach Craig Fulton announced detailed plans of this calendar for anyone interested on www.hookhockey.com
The IHA also this week announced the IHL pools for this season, which sees our men pitted against two other of last years semi-finalists: Banbridge and Lisnagarvey. Railway Union, Cork Church of Ireland and UCD have also been drawn in this pool. The format of the competition has returned to that of previous years, with games being interspersed throughout the season. Our men have 3 home games: Railway, UCD and C of I, while they travel up North for their final two group games.
Its been a busy summer in HQ!
We were delighted to see that our new AstroTurf pitch was completed a full 2 weeks ahead of schedule and so has been in use from day 1 of pre-season! The pitch comes up updated water guns and covers, and includes the removal of the surrounding tarmac, making it much safer and clearer, as the surrounds are now blue!
There will be an official opening day for the new surface in late September with detail to be announced soon.
Along with the pitch, our clubhouse has also seen a revival! The clubhouse now displays new paint, lighting, radiators, toilets, carpet and tv! We are in the process of replacing some of the furniture too, with the overall aim to improve the atmosphere and comfort of the clubhouse.
The new venue will play host to the Wooden Spoon cafe which will be open Wednesday – Sunday from September onwards. The cafe will be open to the public as well as our members, making it a fantastic business venture for the club, along with providing delicious, fresh and regular food to members at weekend games.
More details on the official opening of our pitch and cafe will come in the next few weeks!
As we rapidly approach a return to hockey, we would like to notify everyone of some important dates to take note of to ensure we start back as we mean to go on!
July 31st
Deadline for junior girls forms to be returned. Anyone without a form should contact Siobhan Madeley at shivmade@msn.com or 0879066379
August 5th
The mens 1st/2nds return to pre-season training on the back pitch Tuesday and Thursdays from 7.30pm – 10. Once the new pitch has been finished they will return once again to the front.
August 11th
SMART training pre-season bootcamp starts! Anyone interested in participating, please see attached the information leaflet, and contact Mandy Bools at ladies.captain@threerockrovershc.com for a spot.
Camp runs 7.45-8.30pm on the back pitch initially.
Pre-season training for the ladies 1sts will also start back on this day after Bootcamp.
August 25th
Pre-season training for all ladies teams will commence.
August 30th
The ladies development committee are running a ‘Bring a Buddy’ day between 2 and 4pm on the back pitch for ladies teams. We would like to take this opportunity to invite all members to bring along a friend who may be interested in hockey for a relaxed day of games etc., so they can have a taste of Three Rock! More details to follow
August 31st
Junior coaching blitz day! Our junior coaches will work together to ensure continuity of coaching with our kids.
September 6th
The mens 1sts kick off their first league game of the season
September 13th
Selection Saturday for the ladies teams from 11.30 – 1pm
September 20th
Registration day for all members. Please note subs are due in by the end of September in line with club rules and to ensure all players are insured to play prior to the start of the leagues. This will be a day for both men and ladies players. More details to follow
September 22nd
The ladies vets kick off their first league game
September 27th
First league games for all ladies teams and for the mens 2nds – 5ths. All ladies league fixtures are now on the club website. Mens fixtures will be up as soon as they are announced
We will follow up with more details and dates as they come through!
The club is delighted to announce that the Wooden Spoon cafe will soon be opening in the clubhouse!
The Wooden Spoon Cafe, is run by Kate Dillon, Irish Senior international and Railway Union player. Her first cafe opened in Blackrock a few years ago and has been a great success. She has catered for numerous Irish Hockey events including the Olympic Qualifiers in 2012, and also operates at weekends at Pembroke Wanderers.
Kate is getting ready to move into our kitchen as our new club caterer in a few weeks and is excited to hit the ground running for the upcoming year.
For more info on The Wooden Spoon please visit their website at thewoddenspoon.ie
We are delighted to announce our senior ladies coaching staff for the upcoming 2014/2015 season!
Ladies 1sts: Jody Hosking
Jody returns for his 3rd season in charge of our ladies 1sts team. Jody is a well known club member, coming into his 5th season in the club, having joined us from South Africa, his native country.
Jodys hockey experience speaks for itself, coaching numerous ladies teams in South Africa, representing his home province on many occasions, and also more recently, his country as a Senior International.
Despite disappointing results last year the ladies 1sts team have under gone a huge transformation under Jody, with younger players increasingly stepping up, to join our youth players who have progressed to this level within the last few years.
Jody will be joined on the sideline again by Emer Keogh as manager in her 4th season.
2nds: Chris Steele (pic to come)
Chris started playing hockey in Milton Keynes after taking his school, where he worked as a PE coach, to the county finals. Following this he moved to the North West of England and started playing for Crewe vagrants, where he soon took on coaching of the u18s, reaching the last 8 of the England Cup. At the same time he also coached the Cheshire squad, whamming 3 northern championships in 5 years, as well as one national title. Last season he led his team to the league title with 2 gams to spare. His philosophy is simple; if you have the ball keep it, if you don’t have the ball get it. His target – league champions.
3rds: Luke Chadwick
Luke comes fresh as a UCD graduate in chemistry. For the past few years he has played for UCD mens 1sts team, helping them make the jump from 9th place to last seasons IHL position, and Mills Cup final. He has been a regular on the scene of Division 1 mens hockey for years, bursting into the league as a schoolboy for YMCA. Currently, Luke trains with the Senior Irish mens panel.
4ths: Stephen Roberts
Stephen returns for his 2nd year in charge of the ladies 4ths this year. He has been an active and engaged club member since u12s, progressing through the ranks until stepping up to the senior sides. Injury has forced him to explore other avenues in the sport and coaching comes naturally to him! He achieved his level 1 last year with a glowing recommendation and was a solid, enthusiastic and consistent coach last year, helping with numerous teams.
Trainer/ Skills developer: Niall Denham
Niall needs no introduction. A level 2 coach and a coaching assessor for Irish Hockey, Niall has done it all. He is an invaluable club member, coaching all ages and genders throughout his years with the club. He left briefly to coach in Holland for a year, and has also been in Wales where he held the position of development officer. Niall has recently coached the Leinster and Irish u16 boys, Railway Union mens 1sts team, and Genesis Hockey club. Recently he has been announced as Loreto 1sts coach in Division 1.
He has a wealth of knowledge and experience and we are lucky to have him in the role of skills developer for our 2s-4s once a week. He is also currently working to progress our coaches within the junior section, and is liaising closely with Siobhan Madeley for the redevelopment of our junior girls. Linking Nialls role as junior development and senior skills development will help us brudge the gap between senior and youth sides and ensure greater continuity of skills for years to come.
We hope all players are as excited about this group of coaches as we are. As can be seen Niall offers us a new role of skills development which will be provided for our 2s-4s once a week. To accommodate each of our teams and coaches needs as best as possible for the upcoming season training times can now be confirmed as follows:
Monday
7pm – 8.30pm: 3rds & 4ths (with their coaches)
8.30pm – 10pm: 1sts & 2nds (with their coaches)
Wednesday
7pm – 8.30pm: 1sts (with coach)
8.30pm – 10pm: 2nds, 3rds & 4ths (with Niall)
Thursday
6.30 – 7.45: 1sts (optional training)
Within these training times there will be some flexibility, with coaches working closely together to ensure the best fit for all possible. Pre-season is just a few weeks away, so start dusting off the kit! Should you have any queries please contact our ladies captain Mandy Bools
INTRODUCING THE
30 DAY
PRE SEASON
BOOTCAMP PROGRAMME
WITH
WWW.SMARTTRAININGDUBLIN.COM
Are you fed of turning up each year at the start of the season only to take weeks on end to get in shape?
Are you fed up of being stiff, sore and in pain anytime you play hockey?
If so, then this offer is ideal for you…
Here’s what you get:
• Four weeks of Hockey Specific Sessions with a Certified Personal Trainer to make sure every minute you spend exercising produces incredible results. 2 Sessions per week (€250 Value)
• A Smart Training Nutrition Manual to make sure you’re getting rid of any excess body fat, all while maintaining and toning muscle to leave you feeling stronger (€50 Value)
Session Details
Sessions will incorporate Hockey Specific Exercises which are designed to increase:
• Mobility
• Strength
• Speed
• Agility
• Power
IMPORTANT: Sessions are catered FOR ALL LEVELS as we give baseline and progressive exercises for everyone
…All this – a €300 Value – for ONLY €50!
Details
Start Date: Monday 11th August
End Date: Wednesday 3rd September
Times: 7.45pm – 8.30pm (Monday and Wednesday)
Venue: Three Rock Pitches
Cost: €50
NB: To be paid on the 11th August
BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW
Call Mandy (Ladies Club Captain) on 0876458047 or email
ladies.captain@threerockrovershc.com to get your name down
SPACE ARE LIMITED
