The Hockey Gods were feeling truly benevolent on Sunday and, like in the well-known Junior Certificate Irish phrase, the sun was splitting the stones. It was still cold, but we were all able to pretend that the Bull Ring was temporarily in the Bahamas.
Food had been ordered, a bouncy castle had been set up, bunting had been draped upon the four walls of the Clontarf Hockey Stadium and around 200 hockey players, from the age of 5 up to 45 (and that’s the just the McMullens!), had been feverishly collecting sponsorship from friends, family and co-workers. A great furore was brewing amongst the youngsters to see who would claim the coveted prizes supplied by our sponsors, AP Sports, for the most amount of sponsorship collected.
The hockey kicked off at 11.30, though some were more interested in the bouncing castle. A smell of burgers and sausages wafted about the Meadow of the Bull, and the barbeque could hardly keep up with the clamouring hands of both kids and parents alike.
A bake sale, which was vastly superior to the one that was foolishly held the morning after the Winter Formal, was dishing out a smorgasbord of tasty treats to all attendees.
The sun went into hiding at several points, but the quality of the hockey remained consistent throughout (average from all involved, of course), carrying on right up until the Men’s and Ladies’ 1st duelled it out as the day turned to dusk. No one knows who won the hockey, but that’s not what was important…
Between the bake sale, BBQ and sponsorship, the club raised almost €4,000 (our most successful fundraiser this year) which will be hugely important as the Club strives to replace its pitch. Many thanks to all involved for helping out on the day, raising money, cooking food, baking cakes, supplying the bouncy castle and, most importantly, playing hockey. A huge congrats to the whole O’Higgins clan and Alison Teeling who won the prizes supplied by our event sponsors, AP Sports.
We look forward to seeing you all next season (or in a few weeks if you are in attendance at the Club Dinner!).
Review: Hockeyathon, Club Fundraiser, 25/03/2018
Written By: Senan O’Mahony
Photos from the day are on Facebook and were taken by club member Bruno. Thanks Bruno!