Happiness is J-shaped
Field hockey players past and present joined forces in May to celebrate the past and plan for the future.
When you play for a sports team, it’s not only time you invest into your club, it also takes passion and determination to deliver at your best. It’s no wonder then, that friendships formed among club mates continue well beyond university.
Last month saw returning alumni from as far afield as the Netherlands and Hong Kong join current students to celebrate their shared sport, hear about the teams’ progress and learn about how they can support the future of the clubs.
Reliving the Hockey Club spirit
Getting to know your club mates well can pay dividends on the pitch, so socials are an important part of any team sport. With this in mind, the Club captains kicked off the reunion at Malone’s Irish Pub with an informal gathering.
With the sun shining over Peffermill Playing Fields the following day, the sevens tournament saw alumni and student players battle it out at on the water-based pitches for boasting rights to a soundtrack of old hockey favourites.
Celebrating successes past and present
The weekend’s activities culminated in a dinner and ceilidh at which alumnus and former Sports Union (EUSU) President Joe Gray introduced the evening’s speakers – a mixture of former and current stars and staff.
There was a focus on the women’s achievements during a Q&A session hosted by the men’s manager, Eugene Connolly and featuring current student and Great Britain player Sarah Robertson, Olympic medallist Alison Ramsay and Scotland international and Edinburgh player coach, Sam Judge.
Looking to the Clubs’ futures
While guests fuelled up for a night of ceilidh dancing, Graham Moodie, Head of Men’s Performance Hockey, and Sam Trett, former EUSU President headed up a lively auction. A highly sought-after item was the blue opening ceremony shirt worn by Moodie at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. All proceeds of the auction went to the hockey clubs.
Women’s club captain, Kirsty Abraham and incoming men’s captain, Calum Adamson concluded the event with an invitation to take part in an alumni challenge, which aims to provide the clubs with a steady income and encourage greater ambition. Please watch the challenge video for more information.
Finally, with the music playing, the alumni showed that they were as skilful on the dancefloor as on the hockey pitch.
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