Hockey is For Everyone!

I have always loved this video since seeing it at the women's World Cup in Madrid back in 2006.

I think it sums up hockey pretty well and is put together very well. Enjoy.

New Zealand Defeat

It was a little bit disappointing to lose 4-1 to New Zealand, especially after such an amazing opener from England.

I understand there may be some sickness in the England camp, so that could account for a few problems - but on the day you had to say Katie Glynn was in fine form, scoring a hat-trick.

Charlotte Harrison also played some good hockey, and it is a credit to Mark Hager, their Australian coach, and the work the team have put in over the summer - getting a result against the number five ranked international side.

South Africa drew with Australia, another big result today 1-1 - so the semi spots are quite wide open going into the last women's pool matches.

Above: Me outside, there is plenty of police and army soldiers to protect visitors like me.

Above: The Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium in New Delhi. A sign up says it is only the second best hockey stadium in the world! This is crazy, this is the best purpose built stadium only for hockey in the world. No question. With out a doubt. Could do with some roofs on the stands to protect visitors from the sun!   

Above: England after the match against New Zealand, it's no way near finished yet.

England's Hockey World Cup 2010

Danny Kerry on Winning Bronze

Ex-Las Leonas star - Ayelén Stepnik

A special treat for English and Spanish readers, ahead of the final between Argentina and Netherlands.

Ex-Las Leonas star Ayelén Stepnik, Olympic silver and bronze medal winner and was part of the Argentina team that won the World Cup in 2002.

She is now the president of Mas Hockey, the official charity of the Hockey World Cup, here in Rosario and they help young people take up the sport and support players trying to make the Las Leonas.

Ayelén Stepnik on Mas Hockey in Spanish



Ayelén Stepnik on Retirement from Playing Hockey (In Spanish)

And there will be a little more from Ayelén about how the tournament has gone for Argentina over the next few days.

BBC TV Interviews with Beth Storry and Danny Kerry

Check out Beth's interview and Danny Kerry after the match.

And it is an Argentina - Netherlands final, the Argies have just won against the Germans.

Rain and Scoring First

It rained very heavily today in Rosario, I spent the morning going to buy waterproof clothes and umbrellas.

This caused a lot of mud around the stadium today, below TV trucks at the World Cup on a sunny day!

I am now able to say to people: 'come and stand under my umbrella, 'bella, 'bella, 'ella' according to Candy, an Argentine person here in the press centre!

We also decided that the chant during Argentina's 1-0 win over Korea, (although that was a clear penalty flick on the stroke of half time) is a little bit like 'Vamos, vamos Lady Gaga' roughly translated 'Go, go Lady Gaga'! I think they mean 'Go, go Las Leonas!' The reason being the Spanish for 'Argentina' sounds like Lady Gaga -  'Argen -taga'

Above: Leicester's Hannah MacLeod, got the goal early and it proved to be the thing that separated the teams.

The England match was a nervous affair, apart from the first minute - that was great. China dominated the second half and Beth Storry pulled off some amazing saves, do hunt down the footage on the internet and watch her performance - really excellent.



Remember: 'How do you make Lady Gaga cry?'

Answer: 'Pok-er-face'

Chloe Rogers on Hockey's World Cup

Above: 'Roger the dodger', 'dot net', 'Ginger', 'The Rogde' all the nicknames came out! Chloe Rogers with her Champions Trophy bronze medal.

A very special win, and some brilliant attacking hockey from England. Well done to Danny Kerry and the team.



Above: The medals being handed out. There was a very funny bit (IMO) when Luciana Aymar and the Argentina team shook hands with all the other medal winners. It was like Aymar holding court and putting all the other nations in their place!

'Thank you for coming, bad luck' I bet she was saying to the other players.



Above: Something a bit special - the England women's hockey team and coaching staff, following the presentation to HRH The Countess of Wessex. Highfields, Nottingham July 2010.



Above: Former England and GB, and Leicester player, Jennie Bimson, a lovely lady. Bimmo has been commentating on the TV feed, what's that Jenny some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over. Well, it is now!

Now I saw Jane Sixsmith talking to Chris Mayer, Leicester coach in the food cafe area - and I asked Jane this, and she didn't squash the rumour either, but would she be moving to Leicester for the start of the new season?

Jane Sixsmith said: "Yeah, exclusive news!"

Seriously, when Jane's name was read out by Howard on the PA the crowd gave her the biggest clap of the medal presentations - just showing how well loved and respect she is within the hockey family.



Above: Me and Naomi Van As, one of my new favourite players! At the end of the tournament I had to go to the Adidas stand to pick up some pictures of players for a Field Hockey Forum person, and Naomi was there.

Well, she recognised me as the guy who had been hassling her for interviews in English all week, so I took the opportunity to get a catalogue signed by her.

Oli: Would you mind signing this 'to Oliver' please.
Naomi: Sure, no problem
(Writes 'to Oliver' and signs the picture of herself)
Naomi: How do you say 'thanks' in English?
Oli: Er... Like that?
Naomi: No, like in a pub?
Oli: Oh, like 'cheers'?
Naomi: Yes, that's it (Puts on posh English accent) - 'Cheers guv'na'.

Very funny, and very good of her.



Above: Jules and Georgie by the Champions Trophy.



Above: Me and the Champions Trophy, it was very heavy and I struggled to lift it. So quite how the Countess of Wessex and Luciana Aymar managed it, I don't know.

All the signs are pointing the right way... !



Above: The Hocktupus is predicting an England victory...



Above: Yan from the presentation team was able to read the flakes in his Chocolate milkshake and reckons England too.



Above: Juliette, James Tindall, and Georgie - nice photo after GB's victory over New Zealand men 5-1.

England 2-1 China, fantastic second half and Charlotte Cradock's goal was such a relief!

These comments by Jason Lee, the Great Britain men's coach, caused quite a lot of debate among our screen presentation team.

He says he is against video referrals himself on moral, sporting grounds. But then goes on to say: "[There are] times when we would be more competitively hardened." towards making use of the video referrals.

The debate around it centred on the use of video referrals for tactical advantage in a game of hockey.

Compare these comments to what Helen Richardson was saying after England beat Germany 2-1 in the women's Champions Trophy.

Helen made the referral about Germany's Nina Hasselmann's feet both being on the pitch for injecting the penalty corner, she says in her interview (see below) they had been studying video footage before the game about this positioning of the feet by Nina.

She seems to be suggesting England have used the video referral system for tactical advantage.

Now Jason is against this, but then says the quote above.

If it is the difference between us winning and losing, and video referrals are a part of the laws of the game - I say let's use them to our advantage.

I want (as a fan of GB and England) more victories and for us to win.

Kate Walsh suggested in the press conference after that Germany match, that other top international hockey sides have been doing this for some time, and that we needed to make more of this competitive edge.

Very interesting and let's get more 'competitive hardening' into our game - this is my new favourite phrase.

Some interesting talk about injury situation with the GB Men's side from coach, Jason Lee. A very fun press conference, Barry Middleton seemed to be buzzing after the 6-4 victory over Japan.

The game was a thrill to watch and Japan came back in the second half to level the scores at one point! Shame about the day long rain.

Some of the filming I've been doing whilst at the Champions Trophy 2010 in Nottingham.