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HOOK NORTON SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB UPDATE
Hi All, - gosh doesn’t time fly? It doesn’t seem so long ago I wrote the last newsletter piece during footy season - now cricket has started and it is the end of MAY.
Before I begin I would firstly like to send all our love to Colin Scarrett, our treasurer, who has sadly been in hospital since early February following a fall and the discovery of lots of unwanted ailments whilst he’s been in there - we wish him all the best and can’t wait to see him up the club again. The financial reports and VAT analysis aren’t the same without him!!
Also not naming names, but to 2 other very special people associated with the club (tennis) glad to see you both out and about and looking well. We hope you are better very soon!!!
Thanks to everyone who continues to support the club. Thanks to everyone who attended the ABBA night, - a complete sell out after only 6 days and a fab night it was. Sorry to all those who couldn’t get tickets - don’t despair we will be having them back again in the future. In the meantime, look out for when tickets go on sale for the Motown night with Mission Blue appearing September 12th .
Well, we’ve had a busy couple of months - our 2 Aunt Sally teams have started the season well with both teams battling out for the top spaces in the league (Thursday nights 8 pm onwards). Our senior cricket teams have dusted off their whites and began their league matches and as the junior football season draws to a never ending close, the junior cricketers are out in force.
Harriers had a fantastic turn out for their road relays last month. Thanks to Dee, Mick etc. for organising a fantastic day and special thanks to Alan who managed to keep up with the washing up for 400 people!!! He also dishes up a mean slice of cake.
Look out for Wimbledon tennis finals day on July 5th on the big screen, all the drama of the finals - Pimms, strawberries and cream hopefully no rain and if he’s not busy we may even have ‘Cliff' in the comfort of the club room.
We have also been very busy around the club house itself. With the kind donation we received 18 months ago from Chipping Norton Lions club we were able to purchase tubs and plants for around the building - thanks to them and Chris Tobin for his hard work in making the tubs for us.
The front of the pavilion is now framed by a nice new white picket fence - thanks to Jackie White and her efforts in getting this and to Terry for fitting it. Football has completed their latest list of 'to do’s' from the FA and all in all we are looking very smart indeed.
We are now used for a variety of classes in the day time, Pilates, Rhythm Time and Chipping Norton adult learning art classes. Throughout the year they are adding to this with fitness classes and line dancing.
Well done to all our junior footballers who have taken part in your football presentations this month and to all who attended, a very proud moment when my little Beckham got his first trophy (here’s to many more I hope). Well done to all managers etc. for this and especially to Dasher the ever proud Junior chairman. Well done also to all our senior HNFC teams (presentations 16th May) and to all who supported our end of season dinner - thanks to Pete Joiner for the fantastic food.
We are now open Friday afternoons from 4pm during the summer, so if you fancy a relax after a hard week's graft, a chat whilst the kids explore the back pitch with our chest of toys, or just want to get the best seats at Bingo come and join us. We now have Friday special menu’s too - basket meals and a drink from £ 3.95, kids hot lunch box meals £ 2.95 (through to September).
Hopefully we have something for everybody so hope to see you soon!!!
On another note - I would like to defend HNFC from the recent correspondence from CDC regarding the sounds of air horns at a recent home match,
HNFC ARE NOT AWARE THAT I AM WRITING THIS AND HAVE IN NO WAY INFLUENCED THIS PIECE.
We as a club take great care not to upset our neighbours and work within the boundaries set by all of our governing bodies - I feel that over the recent months of being in the new club we have achieved this with great pride. I was therefore extremely disappointed to hear that someone has reported the above incident without making a complaint to the club first in order that they may rectify it before anyone got the blame! That these same people felt the need to go direct to the council thus putting another black mark on HNFC. Although HNFC are too polite to complain I would like to point out that on this occasion it was youth members of the club that may be at fault (I say may as nothing is proven just in case) and not the supporters of HNFC that committed this crime. Youths that could, if they wanted to, walk up and down our streets every night of the week blowing air horns regardless of football matches or not, but they don’t.
We the club (social) have now explained the situation to them - and being the responsible youths that we have associated with the club they are now fully aware of the nuisance a bit of over excitement may cause and have promised to be a bit more sympathetic in future. If not, they have been told we will shove them up the first available chimney on Monday morning and feed them gruel.
I for one am very proud of our youth club members - an absolutely brilliant group of people that all of their parents should be proud of. In a day and age when they could be beating up old ladies, falling out of night clubs drugged up to the eyeballs or stabbing each other to death for the latest pair of Nike trainers, ours are not. They are within a community activity supporting their local club and taking part in good clean fun. So excuse them and us, as their club if the odd sound of an air horn takes place. I presume they, and we saw no wrong in it as car horns can sound till 11pm and the alleged noise took place 2 hours previous to this, if indeed it was at the match taking place. Please do not blame HNFC for everything that goes on - I’m beginning to think that next they will be blamed for the recent outbreak of swine flu or the middle east crisis.
I feel I had to say this as HNFC were again the victims of accusations regarding vandalism, by away fans, to the park a couple of months ago (which has since been proved not to be the case) just because there was a match going on. I know a very small minority were opposed to the changes the FC wanted to make and therefore would like to see their downfall - but I do feel they are slightly picked on. The people now associated with HNFC have the village's best interest at heart as well as the club's. I think along with cricket, tennis, harriers and all the other things that go on at the club it is a fantastic asset to the village and the envy of many others.
In future should anyone have a problem please call us or speak to us - we’ve achieved many things recently at the club but the art of telepathy is not one of them. Should you wish to contact us on any matter our no. is 01608 737132 don’t hide behind pieces of CDC paper if you are unhappy, be man (or woman) enough to tell us - we don’t bite, honest!!!!!!!!!
We the sports and social club have high regard and respect for ALL of our neighbours - I hope that one day ALL of our neighbours will treat us the same . Nuff said - thank you for reading.
HOOK NORTON (SENIOR SECTION) FOOTBALL CLUB
Once more The Bourne Playing Field has been handed back to the care of our Cricket Club, thereby giving rise to the crisp sound of leather on willow taking over from the exuberant shouts of football players and spectators as they either rejoice at, or bemoan the movement of the ball in the ‘beautiful game’. At this point, I am reminded that in our final evening First Team match of the season, one of our young supporters showed over enthusiasm by blowing an air horn. The club apologises for any disturbance that was caused by this incident and promises that it will do all within its power to prevent a recurrence. As most people know, we do try hard not to offend local residents.
Both our senior teams completed the season in comfortable mid-table positions, as looked likely to be the case when I wrote the last Newsletter article. The season, for me, was shaped by three main aspects: (i) the prolific scoring of First Team player Ricky Johnson, (ii) the potential and development shown by the Second Team and (iii) the unfortunate crop of serious injuries sustained by players from both teams.
Ricky Johnson scored 31 league goals and a total of 41 goals in all competitions throughout the season and, in so doing, he scored just about half of all the goals scored by the First Team – a fantastic performance! Whilst he was doing all that, Layi Olubaji and Andy Rogers were moulding a superb Second Team unit of mainly 17/18 year olds who competed more than competently with other teams in their division and, without doubt, this team will only get better. Then, on the down side, the club was be-devilled by an unbelievable extent of injuries that were sustained by players from both teams; no less than 5 players suffered fractured legs, including First Team Player/Manager Karlton Stratford. Whilst all of the injuries have caused concern to the players themselves and to the club which does its best to look after welfare aspects, the injury to Karlton has been particularly worrying. His playing days, certainly at this level, would now appear to be over and he is self employed relying on an ability to drive. We therefore wish him, and the others, a most speedy recovery.
Once again, I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the club throughout the past season and I thank, also, those residents who may not be football supporters but who have kindly tolerated our presence. Next season for the First Team begins in the week commencing on Monday 10th August but, as always, any matches played before the second weekend in September will take place away from home to allow for the continuation of the cricket season until that time. Not least because of the economic situation that is now affecting our country, I suspect that next season will present some financial challenges for our club and, indeed, for many others competing at this level. Up the Hooky!
BADMINTON
Join us for Badminton, Coffee and a Chat in the Memorial Hall
Tuesday evenings: 8.00 – 9.00pm £1.00
Thursday mornings: 10.00 – 12.00 £1.50
No Leagues – All games doubles
For more information, call Vicky.
NEWS FROM HOOK NORTON TENNIS CLUB
Matches - Summer League
We have now started our summer league matches.
To look at the status of the Banbury League matches, the web site address is: www.banburytennisleagues.com
Junior coaching - 2009
A primary schools mini-tennis tournament was held for the second year at Hook Norton Tennis Club on Thursday 24th April for children from three local primary schools. The year three pupils from Chadlington, Charlbury and Kingham primary schools received five weeks tennis coaching with four boys and four girls being selected to compete in the tournament. In total there were twenty-four pupils participating, the majority were playing tennis for the first time. The overall winners were Chadlington. Many of the children have now become involved in the coaching programme and are attending after school clubs.
We have had lots of new bookings for junior coaching, so our junior section is expanding, keeping our coach Marc Gilkes and his assistants Emma Rothwell and Rob Gore busy.
Junior Hook Norton Tennis Club members save £2 per coaching session, have the opportunity to use the courts at other times and will have the opportunity to participate in team events as they gain experience. We look forward to seeing as many Juniors as possible on our Play Tennis Day on Saturday, June 27th. Bring your friends and family along!
If you would like to book a place please contact Marc Gilkes marcgilkes@fsmail.net.
Adult Coaching
Ladies coaching happens on Tuesdays, 10.00am-11.30am. For more information please contact Marc Gilkes marcgilkes@fsmail.net
Steve Bone has re-commenced his weekend coaching every third Sunday - contact Sean Callery for more details. Email: sean@caller.demon.co.uk
For more information
For a copy of our leaflet, contact Sue Taylor at merrymoons1@aol.com - she will email you a pdf.
Future events
Saturday 27th June - Play Tennis Day – 10.00am - 4.00pm.
We are holding an open day on the middle Saturday of Wimbledon fortnight. Come and give us a try - there will be fun events in the morning for juniors and parents.
In the afternoon come and work on your forehand, backhand or whatever you like with one of our members. All standards are welcome so please come along and see how we can help you develop your game and have fun.
We are starting a "Rusty Rackets" adult coaching course after Wimbledon so if you'd like to sign up for this come along on the day or email us on marcgilkes@fsmail.net
July 5th - come and watch the Wimbledon Men's Finals at the Sports & Social Club. Refreshments will be provided.
July 11th - Club Tournament.
WOODSTOCK & CHIPPING NORTON GREEN GYM
We carry out practical conservation every Wednesday on sites around West Oxfordshire & everyone is welcome to come along. We provide all tools, training and refreshments.
Please email Jenny Harrington jennyharrington@btinternet.com before a project to let us know you're coming.
MORE THAN 100 OXFORDSHIRE WALKS TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT FREE!
There’s no doubt about it, walking is good for you. It’s good for your heart, it’s good for your lungs, it’s good for the muscle and bone growth of your children and it’s good for your feeling of wellbeing! Strong scientific evidence now supports the many benefits to health of regular walking – it is recommended that we take at least 10,000 steps a day. Studies show that walking can:
Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
Lower blood pressure
Reduce high cholesterol
Reduce body fat
Enhance mental well being
Walking offers a great way to help kids get the active habit. If parents express excitement about the prospect of a walk in the countryside, they are more likely to transmit this feeling to their children. It’s important to treat the walk as an exploration or adventure and to go at the child’s pace, no matter how often they want to stop and look at things; take treats to eat and plenty to drink; and head for some landmark that will appeal to them such as a castle, a playground, an ice cream van or a boating pond. If children experience walking as part of a fun activity they are more likely to want to go again.
So, how do you find out what is on offer? John Harris, a keen walker, got fed up with the lack of information on walks that were going on in the County. So, he decided that if he couldn’t find what he was looking for – he had better create it! So www.walkinginoxfordshire.co.uk came into being. www.walkinginoxfordshire.co.uk gives you all the information you need for the best walking in the County. Details of more than 100 walks to download and print free, details of all the Oxfordshire walking groups, maps and walk books – plus loads more information. So check out the website and get walking!