England internationals James Tindall and Crista Cullen scoped the honours at the annual Hockey Writers’ Club Awards in Wimbledon this afternoon. Making the presentations was David Luckes, former England and GB goalkeeper, who earlier in the afternoon had been awarded the Friskin Memorial Award For Outstanding Services To UK Hockey. Although the name of Luckes may not be familiar to many modern players, he has played a major part in gaining the Olympic Games for London in 2012. In recognition of this achievement he had been awarded the MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours last year. Tindall and Cullen were both awarded the prestigious Player of the Year award. Cullen makes history, as she is the first player win the award in consecutive years. A full report will appear soon in our on-line magazine HockeyTalk. Go to our main web site at www.talkhockeyradio.co.uk for details.
In the men’s Premier Division the top three teams have drawn away from the pack, each on twenty-two points and only separated by goal difference. Leaders, Reading, put four passed East Grinstead for a reply of only one, whilst second placed Cannock managed to pull back a 1-3 deficit to beat visiting Canterbury 4-3. Third place Loughborough Students were also four goal winners against Surbiton – final score 4-1. Guildford’s dire season showed a glimmer of hope as they won 3-1 at Hampstead, but Beeston threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-3 to visiting Belper.
