End of Season Presentation Dinner 2024-25

Following an excellent meal, served by Number 7 restaurant from Warrenpoint and entertainment provided by local comedian Darren Matthews, the Club Chairman Andrew Baird announced the 2024-25 prize winners.

• The Ivan Toombs Memorial salver for the Club Member of the Year was presented by Norman Toombs to the Chairman Andrew Baird. The award recognised the amazing effort Andrew has put into the club throughout the season. This not only included his leadership at committee meetings, but also playing for the Men's 1s and when needed for the 2s, being one of the main coaches at youth hockey on Saturday mornings, looking after deliveries for the club bar, organising the maintenance of the club grounds and successfully applying for grant aid for our new club heart defibrillator.

• The Norman Hanna Memorial trophy for Outstanding Achievement was awarded to Chrissie McAuley. Chrissie showed fantastic determination and personal strength during the season, battling a cancer diagnosis, treatment, chemotherapy, etc and was still playing on the Ladies 2s as Vice Captain throughout this difficult journey. Chrissie's achievement was also recognised at the prestigious annual NI Women in Sport Awards held in the Europa Hotel in Belfast when she was nominated in the final of the 'Local Hockey Player of the Year' category.

• The Joe Ferris Memorial salver for the Club Team Of The Year was deservedly won by the Mens 1st XI. After finishing mid-table in the Intermediate League, the team reached the final of the Linden Cup. In an exciting game played at Playball in Stormont, the 1s were very unlucky to lose out on run-ins to the Intermediate League winners Mossley, after drawing 3-3 at the end of normal time.

The Player of the Year trophies were awarded as follows:

• Marshall McConnell shield for Men's Young Player of the Year – James Macauley
• Women's Young Player of the Year – Robyn Harpur
• Women's 1st XI Player of the Year – Hilde Rabe
• Women's 2nd XI Player of the Year – Diane McMinn-Johnston
• Mens 1st XI Player of the Year – David England
• Mens 2nd XI Player of the Year – Simon McCafferty

• The John Arlow Memorial Cup for the Club Top Goalscorer was won by David England with 15 goals for the 1st XI during the season.

The official awards ceremony concluded with the presentation of the President's Salver to Norman Baird, which was accepted by Andrew in Norman's absence.

Before the after dinner celebrations got underway in earnest, Ladies 1st and 2nd XI Captains Rebecca Murdock and Laverne Inns presented gifts to coaches Brian Lockhart and Francesca Santoro Ferrer as a token of appreciation from the entire Ladies squad.