Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

Totally Locally
 
 
Saturday, 13th March 2010

Wheels on fire!

Join the roller hockey revolution

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 31 May 2009
Local youngsters are being encouraged to get their skates on and join the fast-growing sport of inline roller hockey.

Cleckheaton Comets, formed just over a year ago, has teams in seven age groups from under 10s to adults and is now keen to attract more players.
The nearest other similar club is in Sheffield and enthusiasts travel from all over West Yorkshire and even as far away as York, Scunthorpe and Hull to play for the Comets.
Both boys and girls are welcome and no previous experience is necessary.
Teams play in the Central League at a purpose-built arena in Rother-ham, but training takes place at Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre on Friday evenings or Saturday afternoons, depending on the age group. The price is £3 a session for under 10's, under 12's, under 14's and under 16's and £5 a session for older players.
One local teenager who is already involved is 13-year-old Tom Markey, a pupil at Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School and Sports College, who like many other members previously played ice hockey.
His mum, Gill, of The Grove, Hipperholme, said: "He went to Bradford ice rink for about three-and-a half years, but when he heard about the new inline roller hockey club he enrolled and has now dropped ice hockey because he prefers this.
"The sports are quite similar, in fact players use an ice hockey stick, but although it is fast and quite competitive it is friendlier.
"It is becoming more popular and the youngsters really enjoy playing, but we do need more. At the moment some of them are competing in higher age groups because we don't have enough players. Tom plays in both the under 14 and under 16 teams."
Gill herself helps with fundraising and is planning a stall at Brighouse Gala. She also sells merchandise at Ravenscliffe Special Needs School in Halifax where she is a support assistant.
Club secretary, Paul Wright, has a son, Sam, 18, and daughter, Jessica, 13, who have both been playing for about two years. Previously they had to travel to Hull to improve their skills, but living just minutes away from the sports centre their journey time is now vastly different!
Both are in the Great Britain squad at their respective levels and have played in America.
Paul said: "For such a young club we have done very well to get so many age groups already. We have about 10 players for each team, but there are only four players and a goalie taking part at one time. The matches are 15 minutes each way and players can come on and off as they want. It is a non-contact sport so there are very few accidents.
"We will take youngsters of all abilities. To give it a try you need a pair of skates, a helmet like that used in cycling or skateboarding, elbow and knee pads, if possible, and a hockey stick. We have some sticks we can lend out."
The head coach of Cleckheaton Comets is Lee Burdon, a member of the Sports Centre staff, who has been playing roller hockey since he was eight.
"It is becoming increasingly popular," he claimed. "Unlike ice hockey, where you can only play on an ice rink, you can train for roller hockey in any sports hall, even in the streets."
The club already has several kit sponsors, but is always on the lookout for more. One of them, Dance Unlimited, of Halifax, is staging a show at Brooksbank School in Elland on July 6 and among the routines will be a dance based on roller hockey.
For more information contact Paul on 07810 720179 or Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre on 01274 335130.

Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 31 May 2009 9:58 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Brighouse
 
 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.