Roller Hockey Photos

I’m sure we like to see the pictures of our Roller Hockey matches especially if there is a chance that we could be in them. Some people like to see the goals and some like to see the conflict but overall we have a great game and through the medium of the internet our images can be seen by many all over the world.

Four years ago I put together a compilation of photos taken from national and international competition, making up an album of pictures depicting players falls and fouls during that past year. After speaking to many site visitors it was made clear that they enjoyed looking at the cheeky antics that players will try to get away with. In these photos the offending players don’t always intend to inflict discomfort but as the shutter opens to capture the 500ths of a second image see the competitors pushing the boundaries with them usually denying any intent.

Over the last week I have been looking through the many pictures I took during 2004 and 2005 when I accompanied the England teams competing in International championships. This compilation album that I have put together shows just these physical actions of players, to be fair a large proportion of the photos depict England players but you must remember in the early years I was taking photos for the English only websites.

Have a look at this collection of larger than usual photos, I hope this will show you some of the detail in the images that I get to look at when I am in the office after the competition.

GO TO PICTURES

International Roller Hockey returns to Kent this month in the continuation of Herne Bay United’s run in the European Champions League. Over the last two months we have seen CP Vic from Spain and Prato from Italy square up to HBU giving us some great nights of Roller Hockey. The well known club of FC Porto will be coming to the Pier Pavilion this month in possibly HBU’s last home match in this year’s European League. To take advantage of this and see our boys in some strong International roller hockey at Herne Bay on Saturday 19th January.

Herne Bay United v FC Porto (Portugal) at the Pier Pavilion, Herne Bay on Saturday 19th January Doors open 7pm. The main match starts 8.30pm. Tickets, Adults £4 Child £2.50

A match not to have been missed, for those who saw it the entrace fee was worth it. Prato from Italy were an even match for the host team Herne Bay United in the latest European League game on the 15th of this month. The match play was so different from HBU’s match with CP Vic from Spain last month where the home team lost 14 – 0, HBU applied the pressure throughout the first half but the Italians found holes in the HBU defence and were rewarded for their efforts.

HBU did come out in the second half with a slight attitude adjustment and played the best I have seen for some time, Brendan Barker pulled all the stops trying to pull two goals out of the bag but only managed one more. If we had had another five minutes I think we could have seen a different final score. HBU 2 – 3 Prato. Lets hope lessons have been learned and the Brits can show the Italians we can be a force to be reckoned with at the return match on 15th March 2008 at Prato.

See the pictures from this entertaining match.

HC Prato – are the visiting team on this occasion. Their player coach is the only name familiar to us – Enrico Bernadini. A veteran now and we saw him recently in an exhibition game in Montreux at the World Championships. He may not have quite the speed he had in 1999 but he now has the experience to use his skills to very good effect. He also still has the trademark of wearing only one glove!

This match will have two Referees from Spain. One of them is female! Teresa Martinez is well know to our players in the England Team as she is often officiating at World and European Championships. She is a very respected Referee and one of the very few women at this level. So girls who would like to become referees should come and see how she officiates and maybe take some inspiration and encouragement from what she has achieved and take up the whistle yourselves.
By Aileen Barker

Herne Bay United v Prato (Italy) at the Pier Pavilion, Herne Bay on Saturday 15th December Doors open 7pm. The main match starts 8.30pm. Tickets, Adults £4 Child £2.50

Spain took the Junior World Roller Hockey Championship trophy last night in an all action final. Chile hosted this bi-annual championship over the last seven days and with Sixteen teams from all over the world including our boys from England.  Our England juniors were victorious in three out of their six matches played beating Ecuador, Australia and South Africa.

Championship Final Spain 2 – 1 Portugal

The day after photographing the Esfer Oviedo v FC Barcelona match we visited the home venue of Roller Oveido to snap their second division with Mieres. With plenty of action and with skylights in the roof giving me loads of natural light the pictures were bright and full of action. You could think that division 2 would be a low level of hockey but that couldn’t further from the truth. This match was full of passion determination and excitment and was well worth the trip across town. Well done to Roller Oviedo match winners.

See the pictures

Esfer Oviedo were at home to FC Barcelona in the Spainish premier league here in the north of Spain. It was expected to be a tough match for Oviedo but the home team held their own against the current league leaders. Oviedo are proping up the bottom of the top league and are desperate for a win. Barcelona pushed the newly promoted home team throughout the 89 minute match and take home another 3 points after their 1-3 win.

See the photos here on your favorite roller hockey website.

European Champions League at the pier pavilion Saturday 17th November.
Herne Bay United 0 – 14 CP Vic (Spain)
See the photos here on your favorite Roller Hockey Photo website.

CERS Cup Result
Viareggio 15 – 4 Bury

NRHA’s Head coach Carlos Amaral has named the under 20 team for this years Under 20 World Roller Hockey Championships. After months of preparation at national training weekends in Peterborough the successful players will start their journey to San Miguel, Chile on the evening of Wednesday 22nd November. The team will travel together on the 13 hour flight to Santiago via Madrid and will stay in a top class hotel during the championships. The 16 teams entered into this largest under 20’s World Championships are, Group A. Argentina, Australia, USA, Switzerland. Group B. Spain, Columbia, Angola, South Africa. Group C. Chile, England, Ecuador, Portugal. Group D. Brazil, Germany, Italy, France.

England under 20’s may play some of the newcomers to the age group on this world stage namely Ecuador and Angola, It may be an interesting outcome if our boys are positioned to play these teams as we have not seen teams from these counties for some years.

Carlos Amaral said he will be sending us reports of the Englands matches during the championships so watch this site and the progress of our boys. Good luck and enjoy the experience.

Head of Delegation – Keith Allen
Head Coach – Carlos Amaral
Coach – Darrel Pearce
1. Elliott Branford
2. Matthew White
3. Joel de Figueiredo
4. Sam Kay (Captain)
5. Joshua Dring
6. Jack Bishop
7. Joshua Bishop (Vice Captain)
8. John Taylor
9. Martin Walker
10. Jamie Williamson

Herne Bay United will take on the 2001 CERS Cup winners Club Pati Vic (Spain) in the Champions league match on Saturday 17th November doors open 7pm at the pier pavilion, Herne Bay. Last month HBU played their first “new format” Champions League match in Porto Portugal to approx 1000 spectators.

The Kent based club is having to finance entry into the competition which includes, travel and accommodation for the two referees (approx £1000) for each home match, travel and accommodation for the team on away matches, plus all of the smaller cost like hall hire for the home matches. It is expected to cost around £11,000 to compete in this years league. To fund their participation the club are having to raise money from ticket sales and local sponsorship, any short fall will have to be picked by the players themselves.

To have this type of competition in this country will be good for our sport and makes great entertainment so keep your calendar free for 17/11/07 (HBU v Vic, Spain), 15/12/07 (HBU n Prato, Italy) and 19/1/08 (HBU v Porto, Portugal). Tickets are available at the pier at £4 per adult and £ 2.50 for children. A three home match discount ticket is available at £10 for adults and £6 for children.