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Report from Jacky Murray 7 a side tournament
Barry Coe22 Apr - 19:58
Another successful weekend.
Jacky Murray 7-a-side Tournament 2025
2025 celebrates the tenth anniversary of this truly amazing event which is still growing with 12 teams from across England, Scotland Wales and Alliance taking part this year including Bill’s O80’s men’s teams.
Our grateful thanks for the outstanding contribution made by members of Kettering Hockey club who volunteered their services and made the whole two days happen and run so smoothly.
What a weekend it was with over 100 players enjoying the opportunity to make new friends and renew friendships made during the past ten years. The amazing atmosphere generated during the weekend was extraordinary and hockey must be the only game where players from the age of eight to well over 80, men and women, boys and girls can play together and against each other in the same game with total respect and consideration for each other.
Behind the scenes work and pre-planning preparation always guarantees a successful event and many thanks go to Mary Schwier and Anne Hunter (LX Ladies) who ensured the playing pitches and a playing programme for the whole weekend were firmly in place.
A huge thanks to Pam Farr who bought along two teams to the tournament. Mainly under 14 with a few adults and the two teams were absolutely brilliant and entered the competition with a great attitude to be competitive but exceptionally fair and considerate to others. They were all amazing and we really hope they enjoyed the experience and we really can’t thank them, and Pam, Millie and Dan enough.
No competition runs without umpires and our grateful thanks go to Nick Cusk, Dom Cusk, Dan Carter, Lee Paris, Mark Stevens and Keith Knight (from Alliance) for umpiring throughout the whole weekend. Without their input the tournament would not have happened, so thank you guys and absolutely everyone I spoke to told me what an excellent job you all did. Certain members also rotated between playing and umpiring with little, or no rest for two whole days – so hopefully you are all having a good rest now. We would also like to thank Del Bowie (Saints coach and umpire) who rocked up just to see what was going on and ended up umpiring numerous matches for us. Many thanks Del – and see you next year, hopefully
The Brading family were awesome as well. Cheryl spent two whole days in the kitchen catering for well over 100 attendees and although it was never our intention to raise money her efforts did see a profit made of just under £200.00. This will go to our chosen charity – “The British Heart Foundation” in memory of Jacky Murray one of the founders of LX Ladies Hockey Club. Thanks also to Paul Brading who set up the playing rota and results table with the help of the brilliant Matt Bennett and they both kept everything on track. Matt collecting all the umpires’ cards and recording the results helped keep things moving along and Paul setting up the big screen in the club house made it so much easier for everyone to follow the progress of the various teams. Carla Bennett arrived for a quiet weekend but was soon drafted into a “scratch team” which was pulled together on the day due to the late withdrawal of a team. Once again it was Carla and KHC who stepped up to help out and they played 10 very competitive games over the weekend. Sorry Carla – hope you can move today!!
The evening meal was arranged by Mary and was a great success with 80 attending the hot buffet meal and it goes without saying that without the hours of hard work put in by Ian and Sue Russell that would not have happened. Thanks also to both for marking the quiz which was won this year by the Welsh team.
Grateful thanks to Jake Randle (Musical Instruments and Repairs) who donated £324.00 to cover the cost of our volunteers’ meals and for taking many photos during the weekend alongside Paul Brading whose photos were on show during the evening meal. Photos can be found here and on the LX Ladies website lxladies.wordpress.com
AND - If you donated a raffle prize once again many thanks as the raffle raised £285.00 which will also go to the British Heart foundation.
This was not intended to be a hugely competitive competition ------------ but hey-ho we are all extremely competitive people or we wouldn’t still be running around like crazy folks. Some of you have been asking about the results so here goes
Saturday Sunday
Pitch 1Pitch 2Pitch 1Pitch 2
1st Kettering A1st Bedford1st Kettering A1st Thistles
2nd LX Men2nd LX White2nd LX Men2nd Kettering B
3rd LX Yellow 3rd Alliance=3rd LX Yellow3rd O80 Men
=3rd Bedford
Finally, thanks to our president Jean Smith who supported the tournament both days and gave an excellent speech to round off an excellent weekend
We are exceptionally grateful to the LX Ladies committee who agreed to continue organising the event this year and the tournament flourished yet again thanks to LX Ladies and all the help and consideration of so many members of K.H.C. We hope you all enjoyed the weekend either playing, umpiring, catering, organising or simply supporting.
FYI
LX is an England Hockey touring side and if anyone out there approaching the age of 60 who would be interested in joining LX and would like more information the links are as follows
LX Ladieslxladies.wordpress.com LX Menlxhockeyclub.co.uk
2025 celebrates the tenth anniversary of this truly amazing event which is still growing with 12 teams from across England, Scotland Wales and Alliance taking part this year including Bill’s O80’s men’s teams.
Our grateful thanks for the outstanding contribution made by members of Kettering Hockey club who volunteered their services and made the whole two days happen and run so smoothly.
What a weekend it was with over 100 players enjoying the opportunity to make new friends and renew friendships made during the past ten years. The amazing atmosphere generated during the weekend was extraordinary and hockey must be the only game where players from the age of eight to well over 80, men and women, boys and girls can play together and against each other in the same game with total respect and consideration for each other.
Behind the scenes work and pre-planning preparation always guarantees a successful event and many thanks go to Mary Schwier and Anne Hunter (LX Ladies) who ensured the playing pitches and a playing programme for the whole weekend were firmly in place.
A huge thanks to Pam Farr who bought along two teams to the tournament. Mainly under 14 with a few adults and the two teams were absolutely brilliant and entered the competition with a great attitude to be competitive but exceptionally fair and considerate to others. They were all amazing and we really hope they enjoyed the experience and we really can’t thank them, and Pam, Millie and Dan enough.
No competition runs without umpires and our grateful thanks go to Nick Cusk, Dom Cusk, Dan Carter, Lee Paris, Mark Stevens and Keith Knight (from Alliance) for umpiring throughout the whole weekend. Without their input the tournament would not have happened, so thank you guys and absolutely everyone I spoke to told me what an excellent job you all did. Certain members also rotated between playing and umpiring with little, or no rest for two whole days – so hopefully you are all having a good rest now. We would also like to thank Del Bowie (Saints coach and umpire) who rocked up just to see what was going on and ended up umpiring numerous matches for us. Many thanks Del – and see you next year, hopefully
The Brading family were awesome as well. Cheryl spent two whole days in the kitchen catering for well over 100 attendees and although it was never our intention to raise money her efforts did see a profit made of just under £200.00. This will go to our chosen charity – “The British Heart Foundation” in memory of Jacky Murray one of the founders of LX Ladies Hockey Club. Thanks also to Paul Brading who set up the playing rota and results table with the help of the brilliant Matt Bennett and they both kept everything on track. Matt collecting all the umpires’ cards and recording the results helped keep things moving along and Paul setting up the big screen in the club house made it so much easier for everyone to follow the progress of the various teams. Carla Bennett arrived for a quiet weekend but was soon drafted into a “scratch team” which was pulled together on the day due to the late withdrawal of a team. Once again it was Carla and KHC who stepped up to help out and they played 10 very competitive games over the weekend. Sorry Carla – hope you can move today!!
The evening meal was arranged by Mary and was a great success with 80 attending the hot buffet meal and it goes without saying that without the hours of hard work put in by Ian and Sue Russell that would not have happened. Thanks also to both for marking the quiz which was won this year by the Welsh team.
Grateful thanks to Jake Randle (Musical Instruments and Repairs) who donated £324.00 to cover the cost of our volunteers’ meals and for taking many photos during the weekend alongside Paul Brading whose photos were on show during the evening meal. Photos can be found here and on the LX Ladies website lxladies.wordpress.com
AND - If you donated a raffle prize once again many thanks as the raffle raised £285.00 which will also go to the British Heart foundation.
This was not intended to be a hugely competitive competition ------------ but hey-ho we are all extremely competitive people or we wouldn’t still be running around like crazy folks. Some of you have been asking about the results so here goes
Saturday Sunday
Pitch 1Pitch 2Pitch 1Pitch 2
1st Kettering A1st Bedford1st Kettering A1st Thistles
2nd LX Men2nd LX White2nd LX Men2nd Kettering B
3rd LX Yellow 3rd Alliance=3rd LX Yellow3rd O80 Men
=3rd Bedford
Finally, thanks to our president Jean Smith who supported the tournament both days and gave an excellent speech to round off an excellent weekend
We are exceptionally grateful to the LX Ladies committee who agreed to continue organising the event this year and the tournament flourished yet again thanks to LX Ladies and all the help and consideration of so many members of K.H.C. We hope you all enjoyed the weekend either playing, umpiring, catering, organising or simply supporting.
FYI
LX is an England Hockey touring side and if anyone out there approaching the age of 60 who would be interested in joining LX and would like more information the links are as follows
LX Ladieslxladies.wordpress.com LX Menlxhockeyclub.co.uk
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