Hockey WA

Hockey WA is the organisation responsible for the sport of Field Hockey in the state of Western Australia, Australia. Hockey WA is represented in the Australian Hockey League competition by the SmokeFree WA Thundersticks and the SmokeFree WA Diamonds. Hockey WA also run the top club competitions in Australia, the AHG League for both Men and Women.

In late 2003, Hockey WA was formed from a merger between the Western Australian Men's Hockey Association and the Western Australian Women's Hockey Association. It is approaching 100 years since the establishment of the individual Associations and it is anticipated that the amalgamation will be of major benefit to Hockey in Western Australia.

Contents

Early history

Early records indicated that hockey matches were taking place in Western Australia around 1903 and that by 1906 four Teams existed in the Perth area. In 1906 an inter-club competition had begun and by 1908 the Western Australian Hockey Association had been formed.

Games involving women and particularly schoolgirls were reported in the early 1900s and the Western Australian Women’s Hockey Association was officially formed on the 14th June 1916.

The Western Australian Association decided to adopt the Rules and Regulations of The Hockey Association and sought affiliation with that England based body in 1907.

The early Western Australian teams were mainly located in the Perth area. However the Wilberforce Club Team emerged in 1906 and carried the name of the Hamersley Farm and Homestead, which was situated near York. The Wilberforce team was a family affair and for many of the matches the team mainly comprised the members of two families. The opposing teams were required to travel (by train) back and forth to York and to the City (some 100 kilometres each way) to complete their match programme.

The condition of some of the playing surfaces that were available in these early times was reported to be "poor". However, this may have been partly acceptable to the match participants who were often referred to as being "enthusiastic and robust". The "Association Ground" was the W.A.C.A Cricket Ground of today and was one of the better pitches and regular venues for the hockey matches. Matches were also played at the Royal Agricultural Society's Claremont Show-Grounds and at the South Perth Zoological Gardens.

In the first few years up to six teams including Perth, Wilberforce, Fremantle, YMCA, Claremont and Guildford engaged in hard fought games in an endeavor to win the Hope Cup, which had been donated by Dr. Hope and was contested by the top grade teams from 1908. Early honors were shared between the Perth and Wilberforce Clubs. In the five-year period from 1908 to 1912 Wilberforce won the Cup three times and Perth won twice.

Inter-Club matches continued until 1915 when World War I intervened and it was in the early 1920s before hockey resumed on a competitive basis. The formation of an Australian Hockey Association had been under consideration and was formalised on 29 June 1925 when the first Annual General Meeting was held in Sydney.

In 1928, Western Australia participated for the first time in an Australian Senior Championship. The Team traveled by Ocean Liner across the Bight to Adelaide to contest the Title, which was ultimately won by the Home Team. Following this, the other States agreed to travel to Perth to take part in the 1929 Carnival, which coincided with this State's Centenary year. Western Australia had its first Title victory in that special year and went on to win the Championship twice in the 1930s and was a strong contender thereafter.

After the Second World War and in the late 1940s, the hockey standards in Western Australia and to a lesser extent in other parts of Australia were strengthened by an influx of skillful and promising young players and coaches, particularly from India, who came to settle in Australia after Independence was gained.

The Senior Inter-State Championship was held annually and the venue rotated among the States. Western Australia was a prominent force. In the period from 1928 to 1992, Western Australia won 29 of the 61 Championships held and this included a nine-year period (1962-70) when eight titles were won. Since 1992, the National Hockey League has become the major annual inter-state competition and Western Australia has won six of the twelve Titles contested to date.

The Western Australian Women's Teams have also been successful at National Championship level. After first competing in 1921, Western Australia won the Championship on 43 occasions including 30 wins in the 35-year period (1957 - 1991).

These successful State Teams made strong contributions to the development of players and aided selection in Australia's Men and Women's National and International teams. In addition, Perth has been be acknowledged to be the center of strong top-level inter-Club competition.

National Championships

Men

AHL

1991-Present
Champions: 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2009
Runners-Up: 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
3rd: 2005

Open

Champions:
Runners-Up:
3rd:

Under 21

Champions: 1983, 1988, 1989, 1996, 2002, 2005
Runners-Up: 2000, 2003
3rd: 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2008

Under 18

Champions: 1984, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005
Runners-Up: 1994, 1997, 1999, 2003
3rd: 1995, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009

Under 15

Champions: 1983, 1996, 1999, 2001
Runners-Up: 1993, 2003, 2004, 2005
3rd: 1998, 2008

Women

AHL

1993-Present
Champions: 1994, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
Runners-Up: 1996, 2005
3rd: 1993, 1995, 1998, 2009

Open

Champions: 1991
Runners-Up:
3rd:

Under 21

Champions: 1985, 1988, 2008
Runners-Up: 1994, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007
3rd: 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003

Under 18

Champions: 1985, 1987, 1996, 1997, 2006
Runners-Up: 1998, 2002
3rd: 1991, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2005

Under 15

Champions: 2005, 2008
Runners-Up: 2003, 2004
3rd: 2006, 2007

Domestic

Men's Competition

AHG League

Consists of 12 teams, who play each other on a Home & Away basis covering 22 rounds. At the completion of the season the Minor Premier is awarded the Guth Ardagh flag.

Following the regular season a finals series is played by the top 5 teams to determine the Premier, who is awarded the L.R. Connell Trophy.

Challenge Cup A mini-final i splayed between the top 2 teams after the completion of round 11, the winner is awarded the Challenge Cup.

Promotion & Relegation The bottom 2 teams at the end of the Regular season play a round robin series with the top 2 teams from the 1B competition. The top 2 teams from this series will play in the AHG League the following season, while the bottom 2 will play in the 1B competition.

Year Premier (L.R. Connell Trophy) Runner-Up Guth Ardagh Challenge Cup
1908 Perth
1909 Wilberforce
1910 Wilberforce
1911 Perth
1912 Wilberforce
1913 Cottesloe
1914 Claremont
1919 Claremont
1920 Claremont
1921 Suburban
1922 Suburban
1923 Suburban
1924 Suburban
1925 Suburban
1926 Suburban
1927 Suburban
1928 Perth
1929 Perth
1930 Suburban
1931 Perth
1932 Guildford
1933 Perth
1934 Perth
1935 Perth
1936 Perth
1937 Cricketers
1938 Cricketers
1939 Cricketers
1940 Cricketers
1945 The University of WA
1946 Cricketers
1947 Guildford
The University of WA
1948 Cricketers
1949 The University of WA
1950 Fremantle
1951 Cricketers
1952 Fremantle
1953 Cricketers
1954 Cricketers
1955 CBC
1956 CBC
1957 Perth
1958 Perth
1959 Perth
1960 Cricketers
1961 CBC
1962 Cricketers
1963 Cricketers
1964 YMCA Perth
1965 Cricketers
1966 YMCA Perth
1967 Cricketers
1968 YMCA Perth
1969 Old Modernians
1970 Old Modernians
1971 Cricketers
1972 YMCA Perth
1973 Cricketers
1974 Old Aquinians
1975 YMCA Perth
1976 Cricketers
1977 Cricketers
1978 YMCA Perth
1979 Cricketers
1980 Cricketers
1981 Old Aquinians
1982 Suburban Nedlands
1983 Suburban Nedlands
1984 Suburban Nedlands
1985 YMCA Perth
1986 Cricketers
1987 Suburban Nedlands
1988 YMCA Perth
1989 Westside Wolves
1990 WASPS
1991 WASPS
1992 The University of WA
1993 The University of WA
1994 Old Aquinians
1995 The University of WA Victoria Park Panthers
1996 Victoria Park Panthers Old Aquinians
1997 Curtin Trinity Tigers YMCC
1998 Curtin Trinity Pirates YMCC
1999 YMCC Westside Wolves
2000 Curtin Trinity Pirates The University of WA
2001 Curtin Trinity Pirates The University of WA
2002 The University of WA Westside Wolves
2003 WASPS The University of WA
2004 The University of WA WASPS WASPS WASPS
2005 The University of WA Westside Wolves The University of WA The University of WA
2006 Fremantle The University of WA The University of WA Not Contested
2007 The University of WA Hale The University of WA Westside Wolves
2008 Victoria Park Panthers Fremantle YMCC Victoria Park Panthers
2009 YMCC Westside Wolves The University of WA YMCC
2010 Hale The University of WA WASPS

Awards

Olympians' Medal Awarded annually to the Fairest and Best player in the men's first division competition. Umpires award one set of votes for each qualifying season game on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis with votes confidentially tabulated by Hockey WA and awarded at the Annual Dinner.

Eric Pearce Top Goalscorer Award Named in 2009 after prolific West Australian and Australian Striker Eric Pearce. Is Awarded to the top Goalscorer from the AHG League regular season.

Just Hockey Top Goalkeeper Award Is awarded to the goalkeeper from the AHG League that polls the most votes in the Olympians' Medal.

Paul Gaudoin Youth Award Is awarded to the player Under 21 years of age, who polls the most votes during the AHG League regular season. Is named after former West Australian and Australian Captain Paul Gaudoin.

Merv Adams Medal Is awarded to the fairest and best player from the AHG League Grand Final.

Year Olympians' Medal Eric Pearce Top Goalscorer Just Hockey Top Goalkeeper Paul Gaudoin Youth Award Merv Adams Medal
1976 Steve Hayward The University of WA
1977 David Bell Old Aquinians
1978 David Bell Fremantle
1979 David Bell Fremantle
1980 Ric Charlesworth The University of WA
1981 Michael Nobbs Suburban Nedlands
1982 Steve Hayward The University of WA
1983 Craig Davies Fremantle
1984 Geoff Bott YMCA
1985 Terry Lecce Fremantle
1986 David Bell Old Aquinians
1987 John Bestall Trinity Tigers
1988 Bryan Zekulich WASPS
1989 Warren Birmingham Fremantle
1990 Michael Nobbs The University of WA
1991 Geoff Bott YMCA
1992 Paul Lewis North Coast Raiders
1993 Peter Haslehurst Westside Wolves
1994 Paul Armitage Westside Wolves
1995 Graham Reid Victoria Park Panthers
1996 Lee Bodimeade
Graham Reid
WASPS
Victoria Park Panthers
1997 Matthew Wells Old Modernians
1998 Graham Reid Victoria Park Panthers
1999 Ian Wishart YMCC
2000 Ian Wishart YMCC
2001 Paul Armitage Westside Wolves
2002 Tom Kavanagh Hale
2003 Andrew Smith Hale
2004 David Hennessy
WASPS
Steven Boyce
(The University of WA)
Steven Boyce
(The University of WA)
2005 Alistair Park
(Westside Wolves)
2006 Phil Hulbert
Victoria Park Panthers
2007 Darryl McCormick
(Fremantle)
Dylan Roe
(Victoria Park Panthers)
Chris Munro
(WASPS)
Eddie Ockenden
(YMCC)
Geoff Boyce
(The University of WA)
2008 Phil Marshall
(Fremantle)
Matthew Naylor
(WASPS)
George Watts
(North Coast Raiders)
Travis Taylor
(Victoria Park Panthers)
Darren Parkes
(Victoria Park Panthers)
2009 Craig Boyne
(YMCC)
Brent Dancer
(WASPS)
Nathan Eglington
(Westside Wolves)
Nathan Eglington
(Westside Wolves)
George Watts
(North Coast Raiders)
Craig Boyne
(YMCC)
Tyler Lovell
(YMCC)

Women's Competition

AHG League

Consists of 9 teams, who play each other on a Home & Away basis covering 18 rounds, 16 matches each. At the completion of the season the Minor Premier is awarded the May Campbell flag.

Following the regular season a finals series is played by the top 4 teams to determine the Premier.

Challenge Cup A mini-final i splayed between the top 2 teams after the completion of round 9, the winner is awarded the Challenge Cup.

Promotion & Relegation The bottom team at the end of the regular season plays a two match series with the top team from the 1B competition. The winner on aggregate from tis series will play in the AHG League the following season, while the loser will play in the 1B competition.

Premier Runner-Up Guth Ardagh Challenge Cup
1965 Surf
1966 Surf
1967 Fremantle
1968 Surf
1969 Pirates
1970 Pirates
Surf
1971 Graduates
1972 Surf
1973 Surf
1974 Surf
1975 Surf
1976 Surf
1977 The University of WA
1978 Graduates
1979 The University of WA
1980 The University of WA
1981 Graduates
1982 Graduates
1983 The University of WA
1984 Graduates
1985 Surf
1986 Pirates
1987 Westside Wolves
1988 The University of WA
1989 Westside Wolves
1990 The University of WA
1991 Pirates
1992 North Coast Raiders
1993 North Coast Raiders
1994 The University of WA
1995 South Perth
1996 Pirates
1997 Westside Wolves
1998 Curtin Trinity Pirates
1999 Westside Wolves
2000 Curtin Trinity Pirates
2001 South Perth
2002 The University of WA
2003 Curtin Trinity Pirates South Perth
2004 Westside Wolves Curtin Trinity Pirates Curtin Trinity Pirates Curtin Trinity Pirates
2005 The University of WA Westside Wolves Curtin Trinity Pirates Westside Wolves
2006 Westside Wolves The University of WA The University of WA Not Contested
2007 Westside Wolves Curtin Trinity Pirates Westside Wolves Westside Wolves
2008 The University of WA Westside Wolves Westside Wolves The University of WA
2009 Westside Wolves The University of WA The University of WA The University of WA

Awards

Charlesworth Medal

Is awarded Awarded annually to the Fairest and Best player in the women's first division competition. Umpires award one set of votes for each qualifying season game on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis with votes confidentially tabulated by Hockey WA and awarded at the Annual Dinner. The Medal is named after Ric Charlesworth, Former Captain of WA & Australia, and Hockeyroos Coach from 1994-2000, where he guided them to 2 World Cups (1994, 1998) & 2 Olympic Gold Medals (1996, 2000).

Jackie Pereira Top Goalscorer Award

Named after prolific West Australian and Australian Striker Gordon Jackie Pereira. Is Awarded to the top Goalscorer from the AHG League regular season.

Just Hockey Top Goalkeeper Award

Is awarded to the goalkeeper from the AHG League that polls the most votes in the Olympians' Medal.

Rechelle Hawkes Youth Award

Is awarded to the player Under 21 years of age, who polls the most votes during the AHG League regular season. Is named after former West Australian and Australian Captain Rechelle Hawkes.

Grand Final Fairest & Best Medal

Is awarded to the fairest and best player from the AHG League Grand Final.

Past Recipients:
Year Charlesworth Medal Jackie Pereira Top Goalscorer Just Hockey Top Goalkeeper Rechelle Hawkes Youth Award Grand Final Fairest & Best Medal
1999 Lianne Tooth
(Westside Wolves)
2000 Kim Walker
(The University of WA)
2003 Nicole Dalby
(South Perth)
2002 Simone Wallington
(YMCA Coastal City)
2003 Nicole Dalby
(South Perth)
Emily Halliday
(Curtin Trinity Pirates)
2004 Shayni Buswell
(The University of WA)
Jemma Buckley
(Westside Wolves)
Naomi Walker
(Curtin Trinity Pirates)
Kia Mansell
(Willeton)
Michelle Hinman
(Westside Wolves)
2005 Kim Walker
(Curtin Trinity Pirates)
Robyn Jilley
(South West Strikers)
Donna-Lee Patrick
(The University of WA)
2006 Shayni Buswell
(The University of WA)
Katrina Powell
(Westside Wolves)
Roberta Tacey
(YMCC)
Kate Denning
(Curtin Trinity Pirates)
Libby Charlesworth
(Westside Wolves)
2007 Jayde Taylor
(Westside Wolves)
Sian Smithson
(Westside Wolves)
Roberta Tacey
(YMCC)
Chantelle Ciallella
(WASPS)
Elouise Buckley
(Westside Wolves)
2008 Shayni Nelson
(The University of WA)
Sian Smithson
(Westside Wolves)
Rachel Lynch
(Hale)
Kate Denning
(Curtin Trinity Pirates)
Shayni Nelson
(The University of WA)
2009 Lisa Eglington
(Westside Wolves)
Lisa Eglington
(Westside Wolves)
Carla Hunter
(North Coast Raiders)
Stephanie Andrews
(WASPS)
Gemma Kendall
(The University of WA)
2010 Kate Denning
(Curtin Trinity Pirates)
Sian Nelson
(Fremantle Hockey Club)
Toni Kronk
(WASPS)
Kate Denning
(Curtin Trinity Pirates)
Shayni Nelson
(The University of WA)
2011 Airlie Ogilvie
(WASPS)
Chantelle Ciallella
(Curtin Trinity Pirates)
Sophie Fitzsimons
(Old Aquinians)
Nisha Fernandes
(Westside Wolves)
TBD

External links

Hockey Australia [1]
Hockey WA [2]