Anchs run of good fortune continues – ARRS Wobble 2016

Gillingham Anchorians Hockey Club brought their award-winning year to a close with a family fun run from their Darland Avenue headquarters on New Year’s Eve. It has been a momentous year for this family-friendly hockey club, starting with the relaying of a brand new artificial pitch costing in excess of £200,000 and culminating in Medway Sport’s Club of the Year Gold Award.

Over 75 runners and walkers, young and old, turned out to celebrate the Club’s achievements by completing a 5k or 10k route around Gillingham and Hempstead. Local fitness groups Medway Fit and Amazon24 Fitness joined in the fun to ensure a bumper turnout.

Club Chairman, Bruce Wayne, said “It’s been an amazing year for our Club and today’s family run has been a fitting celebration of all that we have achieved over the past 12 months. The turnout has been fantastic. It’s great to see so many people coming together to enjoy what the Club has to offer.  We are now raring to go for 2017 and can’t wait to see what the New Year has in store for us.”

ARRS Wobble 5k/10k fun run

A reminder that we have our annual ARRS Wobble 5k/10k fun run this Saturday – 31st December.
10am meet for 10.30am start – choose from a 5k or 10k route from the Club through Darland and around Hempstead. £10 for adults and £5 for juniors.
Runners, non-runners, Anchs players and friends/family welcome, but please be aware that this is a fun run and not an official, marshalled event. Juniors must be accompanied on the route by an adult.
Tea/coffee and cake for all finishers.

The Queen’s Christmas message – a preview

Dear subjects,

It truly has been an annus mirabilis. We have seen our new artificial pitch laid, we have all enjoyed an amazing Pitch Opening Ceremony with a host of dignitaries and faces old and new attending, we have witnessed the further growth of our amazing junior section, and we have run a highly successful Back to Hockey campaign.

In case you have been hiding under a rock (or just cannot stand Facebook or social media), our amazing year was capped off by Anchs receiving Club of the Year at the prestigious Medway Sports Awards on Friday evening. I am still absolutely blown away by the honour. I suspect that any upcoming photos of Gemma and me receiving the award will show just how surprised and delighted we were. Here’s an online report of the event:

http://www.medway.gov.uk/leisurecultureandsport/sport/medwaysportsawards.aspx

A massive thank you from me and my royal family (well, the Committee anyway) for everyone’s efforts over the last 12 months. We could not have achieved everything that we have achieved without each and every one of you.

It has been proven incorrect to say that royal blood is blue, it is in fact purple.

I would like to wish a merry Christmas and a happy New Year to the whole Anchs populace. I hope that Father Christmas brings you everything that you deserve. From a personal perspective, we have our new pitch and we are have been recognised as Medway Sports Club of the Year. I’m not sure that there is anything more that your ruler could ask for.

Here are a few reminders of what is coming up over the next few months:

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Burn off that Christmas excess with the annual ARRS Wobble 5k or 10k fun run/jog/walk on Saturday 31st December and end 2016 in style!

10am meet for 10.30am start – choose from a 5k or 10k route from the club through Darland and around Hempstead. All non-runners and non-Anchorians are welcome. Please note that we have no marshalls and it is your responsibility to navigate the course safely! Adults £10 and juniors £5 (juniors must be accompanied by an adult). Tea/coffee and cake at the finish. Helen Truffs Goddard is collecting names – hels_goddard@yahoo.co.uk

Then it’s the Juniors’ New Year Disco on Friday 20^th January, organised by Zoe Sindrey. Details to follow.

Band Night on Saturday 28th January – we’ve got a new band in called Mr Kite who cover classics from The Police, Jimmy Hendrix, Blondie and The Beatles. Entry is £10 adults, £5 juniors (children must be accompanied by an adult).

Followed by Quiz Night on Saturday 25th February that will be run by our experienced Quiz Master, Mr Richard Brewer.

Finally we have the Junior Players’ Awards Night on Friday 24th March and the Seniors’ Annual Dinner and Dance on Saturday 8th April.

Tickets for the Junior dinner are £10 each and all juniors under 16 are welcome. Tickets for the Senior Dinner are £40 – all senior players, parents and supporters of the club are welcome.

Please transfer money to the club account with your name and put “JuniorDinner” or “SeniorDinner” as the reference, then email Truffs at hels_goddard@yahoo.co.uk to confirm that you have sent the money. Alternatively, see Truffs on a Sunday morning to buy tickets after Christmas. All money for both dinners needs to be paid by the end of February.

HRH Queen Gary I

Anchs crowned Club of the Year!

We are delighted to report that Anchorians Hockey Club beat off huge competition to win Gold in the Club of the Year category at the Medway Sports Awards.

Up against a number of impressive clubs including our football counterparts at Anchorians and local hockey giants Holcombe, Chairman Gary Jackson and Gemma Smith were stunned when the club was announced as the winners, receiving their glass trophy from Olympic gymnast Max Whitlock.

However Anchs FC didn’t leave empty handed after they scooped Junior Club of the Year while Steve Williamson won an unsung hero award for his efforts at the football club and for the association.

Gary thanked the whole club and the wider community which has supported it over the past few years, raising over £200,000 for a new astro and helping it to grow through its youth and Back to Hockey sections.

Thanks to the Purple Army

As part of International Volunteer Day (5th December), we’d like to thank all the people who give up their time throughout the year to make our club such a thriving family.

Children from Anchs junior section played across Kent at the weekend – under 12 girls were hosted at home while the under 12 boys travelled to Sevenoaks and the under 10s went to Folkestone. This wouldn’t happen without a huge band of coaches, umpires, supporters and even someone to step in to run Truffs’ Tuck Shop while she helped manage a team!

Meanwhile, captains and crucial committee members work tirelessly to make sure the club’s four men’s teams and three ladies sides play each week – organising fixtures, pitch bookings, club finances, admin and social events.

We salute our entire Anchs army – #purplepower!