Big night out at Presentation Dinner

For the first time in a number of years, the annual dinner was attended by honoured guests from Ulster and Ireland hockey circles, who also helped to present the trophies.

The awards ceremony was hosted by Club Chairman Brian Lockhart, who welcomed everyone to the event and extended a special welcome to the President of Ulster Hockey, George Wilson and to the President of Hockey Ireland, Ann Rosa. In his opening remarks Brian also outlined the many achievements within the club during the year, both on and off the pitch.

In thanking the club for the invitation to the event, the Ulster Hockey President recounted memories of a few bruising matches playing against Brian in schooldays, between Bangor Grammar School and Newry High. He also congratulated the club on its achievements over the years, both on and off the pitch and commended the grounds and superb clubhouse.

In starting the presentation of awards, the President presented 2nd XI Captain, Simon McCafferty with the Junior 3 League Cup  they won in May against his own home club Bangor. The UH President then made a very special announcement that the Ulster Hockey Children's Coach for 2021-22 had been awarded to the club's Youth Coach, Colin Henning. A well deserved recognition and great honour for both Colin and the club. (Read more on Colin Henning is UH Children's Coach 2021-22)

The Ivan Toombs Memorial salver for the Club Member of the Year was presented by club trustee Nevin Gray, to Club Chairman Brian Lockhart. The award recognised the fantastic contribution Brian had made throughout the season, especially towards building and coaching the Ladies Senior and U18 Girls teams, forming links with the schools within the Newry area and the time and personal effort he made in successfully obtaining grant aid totalling over £100,000 from various bodies, including Sports NI, the Education Authority and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

The remaining club awards were announced by Brian Lockhart and handed out by the Ulster President:

• The Norman Hanna Memorial trophy for Outstanding Achievement went to the Newry Olympic Youth Team and was collected by Colin Henning on behalf of all the youth coaches for their support in coaching the youth members on Saturday morning, entering a girls Under 15 team in the Ulster Hockey League for the first time in the club's history and entering girls and boys U13 and U11 teams in Ulster Hockey Blitzes for the first time.

• The Joe Ferris Memorial salver for the Club Team Of The Year was won by the Newry Olympic 2nd XI who won the Junior 3 League Cup and finished third in Junior 3 League.

The Player of the Year trophies were awarded as follows:

• Marshall McConnell shield for Men's Young Player of the Year – Noah Lutton
• Women's Young Player of the Year – Rose Clarke
• Womens 1st XI Player of the Year – Katie McCullough
• Mens 1st XI Player of the Year – Richard McGivern
• Mens 2nd XI Player of the Year – Richard Henning
• Coaches award for Player of the Year – Colin Henning

• The Club Top Goalscorer was won by Simon McCafferty with 16 goals.

A special part of the evening was the presentation of Irish senior international caps by the Irish Hockey President, Ann Rosa, to Ivan Steen, Erroll Lutton and Robert (Bob) Poots. Ann highlighted the long and successful international history that Newry has at school and club level. (Read more on Irish Caps presented at Club Dinner).

The awards ceremony concluded with the presentation of the President's Salver to Norman Baird and a memento of the evening from the club was presented to both the Ulster Hockey and Hockey Ireland Presidents. Ladies captain Kathryn Baird, also presented the Chairman with a gift from the Ladies team in recognition of all the support he gave to the team throughout the season.