Ladies Hockey Club in Dublin, Ireland - Botanic Hockey News - Irish Hockey's Emerging Club of the Year 2008
News
4ths in the CUP FINAL!!
Huge congratulations and well done to the 4ths who won their semi final match against Pembroke yesterday. 1-0 down for the majority of the match the 4ths showed fantastic character to hold on until the end and snatch the 2 goals that secured them a place in the final. A superb effort from everyone involved and it was fantastic to see such club support at the match as well. The final is on April 17th and we hope there will be a huge Botanic contingent there to cheer them onto to lifting the cup. A great day for Botanic and best of luck in the final girls! Everyone is right behind you!
Next Car Boot Sale March 7th
Congrats and well done to everyone who took part in the car boot sale on 31st January. It was absolutely freezing but it was totally worth it because it made a fantastic €1200 for the club. Well done again to everyone involved, these fundraisers are so important for the smooth running of the club, and its great to see people down lending a hand and having the bit o craic for the day.
The next car boot sale is on March 7th in St.Marys Secondary School car park from 8.30am until 2pm. Cars are €20 and Vans are €25. Contact Helen through email or on 085 7666541 for more details.
Botanic's New Mascot!!!!!
As if we didn't already know we were on the up and up with a new pitch this year Botanic has taken one step further towards total legendary status.. we now have our own MASCOT!!!!!!!! We're made!!
A bit like supermans start in the world the mascot doesn't yet have a name so we're taking all suggestions!! Put it on the noticeboard or tell someone down in the club!
The new mascot came bounding down to the pitch today and had a great impact with all the teams.. everyone at home today won their match! What a start!! Stay tuned.. we're hoping to get an interview with the new mascot in the near future, see what she has planned for the club! Rumour has it she'll be making the trip to Belfast with the 1st for the Irish Hockey Trophy in November! Check out the gallery for the pics of today! Come on Botanic!!!!!!!
Great start to the new Season
Major Congrats and Well Done to everyone on a wonderful opening to season 09-10 for Botanic. It was a super day with lots of family and friends around to cheer on and support all the teams throughout the day.
Special mention to those who baked and brought food for the pavillion for the day, they went down a treat! (Crackin Giant Twix btw!!) Lots of music and craic created a wonderful atmosphere and a great feeling being back at home on our own pitch.
The results went well also with the teams clocking up a massive 11 goals between them during the day. Check out the results page for details.
Congratulations to Miriam Horan who scored the first (and second) goals of the season on the astro!!!
And so season 09-10 begins. Lets keep up the wonderful Botanic spirit for the next matches, the support on the side really makes all the difference. This could be a fantastic year for Botanic if we can keep it going. Onwards and Upwards! Come on Botanic!!!
Some pictures from the day have been added to the site.. check out the gallery to see them!
Season 09-10 Kicks off Saturday 3rd October
In the words of our club secretary...
"THERE WILL MUSIC, THERE WILL BE LAUGHTER, THERE WILL BE CAKES, THERE WILL BE TEA, THERE WILL BE AN ASTRO.....BUT MOST OF ALL THERE WILL BE GREAT HOCKEY AND YOU!!!!!!"
A great full day is planned at home to welcome the new season on our new pitch. Make sure you come down early and stick around for the day as there is sure to be great craic and fun throughout.
Match Times are as follows: (all at home)
10.00am - Botanic 4ths v. Newbridge
11.30am - Botanic 1sts v. Diocesan 1
1.15pm - Botanic 3rds v. Genesis 6
2.30pm - Botanic 2nds v. Loreto 5
4.00pm - Botanic 5ths v. Suttonians 3
And after all that madness we're heading on a club night out to mark the day. We will be heading to the Tolka in the evening time so see you there! C'mon Botanic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goalkeepers Needed!
Botanic are on the look out for some new goal keepers for the coming season! If you are interested just drop us an email botanichockey@hotmail.com.
Or if you are currently playing outfield with us and would like to try a spin in the goal, just let any of the selectors know.
AGM Weekend away great success!
A great weekend was had by all in Blessington for this years AGM trip away. For those of you who could not attend here are the list of prize winners of the night. Congratulations to all involved!
- Club Person - Marie McDonnell
- Committee Person - Siobhan Reilly
- Top Goal Scorer - Carmel Ryan
- Best Defence - 4ths team
- Young person - Maedhbh Donnelly
- 1st team player - Gillian McAuliffe
- 2nd team player - Orla Kelly
- 3rd team player - Lorraine Byrne
- 4th team player - Anna Summons
- 5th team player - Mary Healy
Pitch of Dreams
Well as you might have guessed, (though the banners are subtle enough..) the pitch of dreams has finally been opened! What an unbelievable day it was too. April 25th 2009 - a date that will live long in the hearts of all of us in Botanic Hockey Club. Siobhan did up a few words to describe the greatest day ever, here they are..
It was a definite sign that it was meant to be when the sun emerged and shone brightly for the opening. Botanic descended on the pitch just before 7pm, to discover that the Steering Committee had locked themselves on the pitch and were celebrating their success in style with champagne and some chips. As the Botanic crowd grew bigger, the excitement and anticipation grew. People began to count down the time 'til 7pm aka 'Pitch-time'. Champagne was popped open and balls were thrown over the fence to prepare us for our arrival onto the glistening green surface. Just before 7pm a count down was started; everybody waited anxiously at the gate.
The Steering Committee had holed themselves up at the further end of the pitch out of sight and weren't afraid to keep the excited crowd waiting. At a few minutes past seven, the four Steering Committee members, Digger, Murph, Philo and Grainne emerged from the dug out area with their sticks and balls and raced down the pitch to greet the onlooking crowd. Cheers arose from the waiting spectators. Eventually Philo whipped out the all important key, and the gate was opened to allow everyone to rush onto the pitch and get their first hit with a ball and a stick. It was a memorable moment for all Botanic members from young to old-er. It was a great feeling being back at home and being back in our lovely pavillion (which had been immaculately cleaned that day by Helen and Orla). The Opening concluded with a presentation of flowers to the four Steering Members and to the school representative, Margaret Lennon, to thank them for all their trojan work over the past few years.
As the sun began to set and people began to leave the pitch for that day, everybody remarked that it was a great surface and that we're going to be playing some brilliant hockey on it for many years to come! Bring it on!!!
Freedom!
I'm sure you'll all be DELIGHTED to hear that our beloved mascot Fez is now free of the astro cage! Rumour has it he gobbled up all Mo's bird food, took a sip or two to wet his pallette and took to the skies again for freedom. There may have been involvement from the infamous Bob, our other Botanic mascot, who is to be seen perched high on the floodlights most days of the week keeping a watchful eye over proceedings! The word is that he told Fez to stop with all the messin', the quality of the pitch is top notch and doesn't need to be checked anymore, there are people only dyin to play on it!! Good work Bob and Fez! We're nearly there, can't wait for the snagging to finish so we can finally get on the pitch of dreams!! Fez, we hope you'll be back very soon, when we get playing on the new pitch! (just don't forget you can fly next time please!!) Go Fez! ..and Go Astro!
Awards Night
On 31st May 2008 in the Ballsbridge Court Hotel, Botanic Hockey Club picked up the Irish Hockey Association's 'Emerging Club of the Year' Award. A great night was had by all and we were thrilled to receive such a prestigious award. It's a credit to the dedication and commitment of ALL club members and we should all be very proud to be part of this wonderful club.
Thanks to the IHA for putting on a wonderful awards night and for the honour of making us Irish Hockey's Emerging Club of the year.
Pictures from the night are in our photogallery
Club Botanic Draw
Congratulations to Margaret Lennon, this month's Club Botanic Draw winner.
Previous winners of the CLUB BOTANIC DRAW are......
- Janueary 10: Margaret Lennon
- December 09: Marie Lynch
- November 09: Carmel Ryan
- October 09: Veronica Elliot
- September 09: Paul Caffrey
- August 09: Fran McVeigh
- July 09: Mo Smyth
- June 09: Niamh Morrissey
- May 09: Dana Kelleher
- April 09: Emma Fitzpatrick
- March 09: Katrina Drea
- Feb 09: Nicole Dowdal
- Jan 09: Mary Gormley
- Dec 08: Debbie Ryan
- Nov 08: Matt Doyle
- Oct 08: Fran McVeigh
- Sept 08: Margaret McLoughlin €500
- August 08: Bernie Seberry €500
- July 08: Karen Fitzell €500
- June 08: Fran McVeigh €500
- May 08: Sahra Mc Cauley €500
- April 08: John Owens €500
- March 08: Angie Boran €500
- February 08: Helen Pender €500
- January 08: Cathy Daly €500
- December 07: Orla Donnelly €500
- November 07: Ann Barry €500
- October 07: Brenden Cowman €500
- September 07: Siobhan Reilly €555
- August 07: Miriam Horan €555
- July 07: Rachel Fallon €555
- May 07: Alyson Mc Garey €555
- April 07: Louise Boughton €555
- March 07: Helen Stacey €555
- February 07: Helen Stacey €555
- January 07: Helen Reddy €555
- December 06: Bernie Seberry €555
- November 06: Anne Murphy €535
- October 06: Kathryn Deignan €500
To be in with a chance of winning like all of the above simply download the standing order form here and give it to Jan or any other committee member! For just the price of one cup of coffee a week you could be in with the great chance of winning a few hundred euro and supporting your club at the same time! Go on! Dooooooooooooo it! :)