Hockey Club Jubilee

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28700, 25 September 1958, Page 15

Hockey Club Jubilee

One of the leading hockey clubs in Christchurch for several years, Sydenham, recently celebrated its sixtieth anniversary.

The club has made a great deal of progress since it was formed by a group of hockey followers whose main assets were simple 3s 6d hockey sticks, and enthusiasm.

They may not have made an outstanding debut —the team of seven players lost its first Thursday match by 11 goals to nil — but early successes in the senior club championships soon came to Sydenham. Shortly after the turn of the century, Sydenham’s Thursday and Saturday teams headed their respective competitions for several years in. succession.

Successes Although the “middle generation” of the club’s players recalled the monotonous regularity with which Selwyn won the senior championship, the club’s later members can take pride, in their record. Sydenham won the senior competition from 1947 to 1952 inclusive and then after being relegated in 1953, won the second diVision the following year and then regained its place in the first division and won this for two successive years. In recent years, Sydenham has produced several New Zealand representatives. They are R. Peacock, I. Smith, K. Cumberpatch, M. Wall, P. Cotton, and M. McKinnon. H. Rhind and B. W. Hall were also chosen as emergencies for the 1952 New Zealand team. Other earlier players chosen for New Zealand teams were H. Snook (1922, 1923, 1925), R. Butler (1926), D. Woodfield (1926), R. Rushbridge (1938). In addition to the New Zealand representatives, there have been 36 players chosen from the Sydenham club for South Island teams and a very large numbier have gained Canterbury representative honours. Being the oldest club in Christchurch, it has been prominent for many years in the administration and umpiring of hockey and has produced several of Canterbury’s leading officials.