2011 – 2012
Officers: Men’s Captain Jonah Miller; Women’s Captain Cathryn Shannon
Men’s and Mixed Hockey
After a disappointing season last year, in which a lack of numbers saw Queen’s drop to the fourth division, a strong fresher intake and the continued presence of most of last year’s team brought fresh optimism. Undented by a couple of sobering defeats, enthusiasm was rewarded as the squad began to gel and results started going its way. This resurgence led to a dramatic last match of Michaelmas Term against L.M.H. in which victory or a draw would have secured promotion. Sadly, justice was not done: as a scrappy opposition winner in the closing minutes saw a gritty and able performance go unrewarded.
Hilary was a term of mixed emotions. Repeated cancellations due to snow left the team frustrated, but default results and one solid victory over Wadham/Corpus, in which the debutant Joshua Claxton scored twice and thus became the term’s top scorer, saw Queen’s gain the promotion that the efforts of Michaelmas Term deserved. Short of match practice and up against an impressive St Catherine’s side, in mixed Cuppers the team was defeated in the first round despite goalkeeping heroics and the best attempts of those who stepped in due to a shortage of numbers.
Moderate success and a platform to build upon might be said to characterise this year’s performances, and everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves. Off the pitch, Ed Potts must be thanked for carrying the disintegrating keeper kit to matches near and far, an issue which will fall within the jurisdiction of the newly created Director of Team Clothing and Kit Development. Other changes will see Dan Geer take on the (also new) office of Social Secretary, while Mark Holmes will take over the captaincy.
Women’s Hockey
Women’s hockey has enjoyed another strong season. A shortage of freshers made it difficult for Queen’s to field a full team without resorting to combining again with St Hilda’s who were experiencing similar problems. Yet what the Queen’s freshers lacked in quantity was more than made up for in quality. In the Michaelmas Term league Quilda’s pulled off a fantastic effort and even when playing seven against eleven showed great spirit in defence and some fantastic attacking displays, leaving the team with a final goal tally of 31 for and 13 against over six matches. In a testament to a great term’s work Quilda’s finished top of Division 2 and can look forward to promotion for next year. With such a great start to the season, the team seemed set for Cuppers success again in Hilary Term. After dominating in the qualifying rounds to reach the finals for the second year in a row, a repeat of the previous year’s showdown found the team squaring up to a bitter New/Pembroke team again. Sadly, the double victory was not to be as the formidable opposition team, enriched with several high-level players, proved too strong for the team, which unfortunately lacked several key players. Nonetheless, the team should be proud of the season’s significant achievements. It is to be hoped that next year under the captaincy of Stephanie Jackson, and supported by the arrival of keen freshers, Queen’s women’s hockey can return to its earlier strength.