Helensburgh and Loch Lomond Hockey Fling: Teams vie for Clyde Bar Cup

The weekend was full of fun, skill and the odd bit of dancing, ensuring an excellent time was had by all.

Teams from Dublin, London and Thurso all travelled to Helensburgh in the hope of getting their hands of the Clyde Bar Cup.

There was plenty of good hockey on display on the Saturday, with teams finding the grass pitch a great leveller. The hockey on the astroturf was more akin to what the majority were used to.

Thurso Hockey Club’s Glebetrotters came away on the Saturday without having lost a game and they sat top of the table after day one. At the bottom of the table, Oban Lorne Mowers were propping up the table but there was plenty of hockey still to play on the Sunday.

The Beerhunter winners (Image: Helensburgh & Loch Lomond Hockey Clubs)

After a round of early morning fixtures on the Sunday which saw the Ginhunters start a game with only two players (the rest of team yet to surface), the day moved toward the playoffs.

Oban Lorne Mowers, The Hockey master’s and Rotten Sox all competed for the coveted Wooden Spoons, which Rotten Sox took home on goal difference.

At the top of the table, the Glebetrotters finished the tournament unbeaten and took on the Beerhunters in the final, after they only lost two games themselves.

The final was well attended by all the touring teams, watching on as the two sides fought through a tricky game.

The match was evenly contested, with Gordon Black scoring for the Beerhunters. Kenny McElroy scored the equaliser shortly after meaning the game would go to penalty flicks. The flicks decided the game in four attempts, as the Beerhunters scored four, compared to the two that the Glebetrotters scored.

Navan and London teams aimed to win (Image: Helensburgh & Loch Lomond Hockey Clubs)

On the social side, it was an excellent weekend hosted at the rugby club, with Friday night being slightly quieter than Saturday’s ceilidh.

Crowded Croft entertained the crowds on Saturday with a ceilidh and music to see the night away. It was particularly amusing watching some of the Londoners learning to ceilidh dance.

Thanks must go to Helensburgh Rugby Club for allowing the use of the grass pitch and camping area, as well as hosting the functions and keeping everyone fed and watered all weekend.

Thanks also to Lomond School for the use of the AstroTurf, to RB Steel for sponsoring the event and to StormHockey who travelled up with a pop-up hockey shop.

Runners up from Thurso (Image: Helensburgh & Loch Lomond Hockey Clubs)

The final positions after the playoffs were:

1st – Beerhunters

2nd – Thurso Glebetrotters

3rd – Oban-Wan Kenobi

4th – Navan

5th – Ginhunters

6th – HHYT

7th – The Hockey Masters

8th – Oban Lorne Mowers

9th – Rotten Sox

The final in action (Image: Helensburgh & Loch Lomond Hockey Clubs)