HOCKEY

MEN'S SQUAD

Following a storied promotion season in 21/22, theUniversityofBristolHockeyClubmenhave taken on the highest level of challenge in our history, in both England Hockey outdoor and indoor leagues, with exceptional grit, determination,intelligenceandskill.

Outdoors, in England Hockey National League Division One, the 2nd tier of national competition, the M1s have risen to the challenge of being a newly promoted team in a high level environment, winning a total of 11 points, with three to play for After being bottom of the table on 2 points after Term 1, some excellent wins against rivals Oxford Hawks HC, Brighton and Hove HC as well as entertaining and engaging draws against league winners Southgate, and 2nd place Teddington, where the men again proved they belong at this level as well as with local rivals Team Bath Buccaneers, meant we took our chance of survival until the end While ultimately, it was not to be, we will reflect on a special season, full of learning opportunities andexcellence,inequalmeasure.

Indoors, despite only a handful of training sessions and a number of players new to the indoor game, the men won promotion from both the West Conference and Division 2 South Region in an exciting England Hockey tournament held ‘down the road’ at UWE We then took on National Division 2 at Repton, competing against some of the best indoor sides in the country, including Southgate, Beeston and Guildford all of whom include current and former GB internationals Another exhilarating experience and excellent performances from the Bristol group saw us finish 4th of 6, though we fell just two goals shortongoaldifferencetoproceedtothenext stage for 2023/24 We will once again attack the indoor game with renewed vigour next season.

Finally, and not least, the M1s have also continued to go from strength to strength in BUCS competition, not allowing the ‘off-field’ disappointment of last season to deter us. Top of the table after Term 1, we continued this run, remaining unbeaten for the entire campaign with 7 wins from 8, conceding only six goals all season (two of which were against our own M2s!). These including excellent, professional 10 and 2-1 wins against our biggest rivals Exeter 2sandCardiffMet,respectively Asaresult,the M1s have secured promotion to BUCS Premier Divisionforthe2023/24Season!

Despite only losing two games all season, the M2s currently sit 2nd in the England Hockey West Division 1 table, 1 point behind top with one game remaining. In a league with only one promotion slot, the final outcome may somewhat hide the high levels of consistent performance, skill, determination and dedication exhibited by the group. Once again, we will learn from all our experiences - good and adverse - and go again to be the one side to bepromotednextyear

In BUCS, following promotion to National South Division (joining our M1s), a very young M2s side have had an excellent, if challenging, season With draws against Oxford Brookes and Reading, and a win vs KCL alongside entertaining and high performance games vs our own M1s as well as Cardiff M1s, the 2s have secured survival at their first attempt at a level where few university programmes have a secondteam.

Credit: SmifSports Photography