THE FINAL whistle of the hockey season may have gone but one Solihull club has played on into extra time.
Olton And West Warwickshire Hockey Club not only welcomed a touring team from Argentina for a triangular tournament but the teams also went head to head in a charity tournament.
The Solihull club girls under 18s and under 16s junior squad took to the astroturf alongside the local Warwickshire under 17 county team and Grilli Canning College, who travelled all the way from Buenos Aries for the triangular tournament.
Despite hard fought matches Olton came out on top as champions winning both of their games.
With the tournament over, the remaining players headed to the middle of the pitch to receive awards and thank the organisers of the event.
Former Olton and ex-England player Sally Walton, presented the Man of the Match awards that had been chosen by the ladies first teams vice captain.
The club’s teams then went head to head in aid of Molly Ollys Wishes, which grant wishes and donate therapeutic toys and books to terminally ill children and their families across the UK.
The charity is close to the club’s heart as Tim Ollerenshaw, who founded that charity alongside his wife Rachel in 2011 in memory of their daughter Molly, has helped out in the junior section by being one of the two adult players who play in the badgers matches – a league to transition junior players to adult hockey – at the club.
Sophie Chalkley, from Olton And West Warwickshire Hockey Club, said: “To commemorate our clubs relationship with the charity, we aim to hold multiple fundraising events throughout the hockey season calendar including a fun morning of games at the start of the season, an inter-club tournament at Christmas that involves fancy dress and most recently, an inter club morning of game.
“The morning kicked out off with 11 aside games from the women’s side of the club with a mix of players from first team players all the way down to sixes, helped out by five male players to pick up our numbers.
“As the women headed up to the clubhouse, the men took over the pitch for their share of hockey fun, ending their session with a series of penalty flicks to tire out the goalies.”
