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 Melville Toyota 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.

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

Melville Toyota 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 Melville Toyota 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	The University of WA
2011	YMCC	Victoria Park Panthers	YMCC	Victoria Park Panthers

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 Melville Toyota League regular season.

Just Hockey Top Goalkeeper Award Is awarded to the goalkeeper from the Melville Toyota 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 Melville Toyota 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 Melville Toyota 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)
2010	Kiel Brown (WASPS) Greg Reece (Hale Hockey Club)	Sam Pike (The University of WA)	Leon Hayward (OGMHC)	Chris Bausor (The University of WA)	Matt Gohdes (Hale)
2011	Phil Hulbert (Victoria Park Panthers)	Sam Pike (The University of WA)	Tristan Clemons (Melville)	Nathan McGuire (Curtin Trinity Pirates)	Matthew Lim (YMCC)

Women's Competition

Melville Toyota 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 Melville Toyota League the following season, while the loser will play in the 1B competition.

Year	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
2010	The University of WA	Curtin Trinity Pirates	The University of WA	Fremantle
2011	The University of WA	Victoria Park Panthers	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 Melville Toyota League regular season.

Just Hockey Top Goalkeeper Award

Is awarded to the goalkeeper from the Melville Toyota 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 Melville Toyota 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 Melville Toyota 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)	Jessica Shakes (The University of WA)

External links

Hockey Australia
Hockey WA