Helensburgh Hockey club started the season in style this year, by heading on a pre-season tour down to East London Hockey Club. The six brave Helensburgh players were joined down there by three ex-players and three East London ladies to enter East London’s hockey festival. The weekend was filled with hockey on both Saturday and Sunday, with the Beerhunters playing both days to test out some early season skills, and see how the fitness was holding up.

The games were being held at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, the home of England’s senior hockey teams! The standard of hockey was very high and the Beerhunters struggled to keep up with pace. There opening game was against the London metropolitan police, which they lost quite convincingly. However it improved gradually over the rest of the tournament, with a close 2-1 loss in their second game against the Flower Shots, an East London team, with the goal coming from Gordon Black. Another close game was against NSF, one of the many German teams present at the tournament, with the Beerhunters struggling to score much. The fourth game of the day was by far the most impressive. They were up against another German team from Karlsruhe, who had some incredibly talented players in their ranks. ‘Burgh played very well and were denied by a top form keeper. David McGregor, in the Beerhunters goal was playing really well and the game finished in a 1-0 defeat. The final game of the day was against another East London side, and it ended in another close 1-0 defeat, with the ‘burgh struggling to score up front. Alan Bowman had the best chance of the match but just missed the goal.

After losing all there games on the first day, the Beerhunters started the second day in the bottom group. However much hockey was still to be played and they started the Sunday with a win against Navan Hockey club. Four goals for loanee East London player Chloe Russell and goals from Morris Kelly and David McGregor saw the ‘burgh side win 6-2. The second game was crucial and the Beerhunters came up against ‘East Just Us Three’, from London. A close game saw the Beerhunters loanee goalkeeper pull off an unbelievable save late on to keep the score at 2-2. Goals came from Gordon Black and Chloe Russell. The final game saw Helensburgh take on East London’s ‘Fifty shades of Hockey’ and it was a must win if they were to progress through to the finals. Sadly it wasn’t to be as they struggled to score in a very open game. The opposition did however manage to score and it finished 2-0.

The real victory of the tournament came off the pitch however, as the Beerhunters excelled at socialising – as the only Scottish team present, naturally they proved winners. The fancy dress saw the team dress up as a flamboyance of flamingos (the theme being the letter ‘F’) and on Sunday, the ‘burgh side were awarded the trophy of best social team! Helensburgh Hockey Club have always been known as a good social club and the younger generation seem to be keeping up the tradition.

Pictured are the team accepting there trophy; however the team captain, Alan Bowman, ironically missed out on the presentation as he was too busy off socialising with other teams!

Helensburgh Beerhunters team – (from burgh) Alan Bowman, Gordon Black, Calum McMenemin, Morris Kelly, David McGregor, Kim McCallion, (ex-players) Iain Isaacson, Fiona Isaacson, Matt Payne, (East Londerers), Sarah Wilson, Chloe Russell, Ella Brown.

Next up for the pre-season tour includes Helensburgh annual tour to Huddersfield, teaming up with Loch Lomond Hockey Club; they set off for glory on the 4th of August.

If you’re interested in playing Hockey, do get in touch with us via email (helensburghhockey@outlook.com) or find us on Facebook!!