A SPIRIT OF DYNAMITE!
Rain could never daunt the 92 teams at the Penguin Mixed Hockey Festival over the weekend. "It's what the Festival is all about," joked organising club's first-team coach Dave Thompson. The Festival slogan of this huge, unmatched international mixed event is unimpeachable: "The most fun you can have with a hockey stick," it proclaims.
Last year, there was a heatwave and, indeed, this year, co-organiser Elouise Spencer sneaked time off duties and got sunburn on Saturday.
Club East, in Worthing, got it's first taste of the Festival night life on Sunday - the never-ending fancy dress would not look out of place there either - following the disco at The Assembly Hall, on Saturday.
Island outfit, Wight Dynamite once again made their sartorial mark by arriving this year as Penguins in either honour, impersonation or derision of their hosts - who cares which? They won the new Gus Gillespie award for Best Festival Spirit, donated by the Chatsworth Hotel in memory of the immensely popular character who has died since last year.
FEEL THE BUZZ! No insecticide now!
Cofrutos donated £500 to the Chesnut Tree Trust and the teams raised their own cash, £176 of it from Surrey side Insatiables.
For the second year, as well as a Veterans Tournament, containing five sides, there was a Junior one, won by the Festival side made up of younger players from visiting teams, ahead of teams from Merz Schule in Germany, Worthing, Hailsham and two from Penguin, the Juniors and the Rockhoppers.
THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY? Wight Dynamite as Penguins, won the Spirit Award.
The Celebrity XI in Sunday's festival match featured the most energetic Mayor, Nick John, almost recovered from his London Marathon but suffering a cut chin when removing his mayoral chain the previous day. It also provided a live stage for TV folk Michael Absalom, of Best of Friends and Exchange, and Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes, the Newsround and Sportsround presenter who brought a team last year.
GO MAYOR! Nick John (left) leading the chase in the Celebrity XI against the Festival XI.
England Hockey representative, ex-International keeper John Hurst, was among the many fascinated spectators.
Taken from: The Worthing Herald
Thursday, May 4, 2006
