Tour History

In January 1982, senior player Lionel Connor contacted a family friend in Holland about establishing a liaison with a Dutch Hockey Club. Following the appearance of an advertisement in ‘Hockeysport’, an invitation was received from Mixed Hockey Club Krimpen, to join in an International Tournament for boys and girls aged under 18, to be held over the Easter week-end.

The invitation was accepted and a squad of 14 boys from Maidenhead, accompanied by coaches Mike Cantrill and Brian Hunt, and a squad of 15 girls, 7 from Maidenhead and 8 from Windsor, accompanied by Sue and Mike Cheale, set off by coach for Krimpen A/D Ijssel near Rotterdam. The party arrived much, much earlier than planned the next morning, but were warmly welcomed at the clubhouse and given refreshments before going to their host’s homes. The boy’s side, captained by Mark Henley-King and including GB and Olympic Gold Medal winner, Jon Potter, won the Boy’s Tournament and the girls were runners-up to Eindhoven.

Despite the very cold and wet weather over the week-end the teams had a great time and this set the scene for future fun and comradeship between Maidenhead and Krimpen.

Boys and Girls teams from Maidenhead competed again the following year and then in 1984 Maidenhead held their first Easter Tournament. Thus began the close ties which still exist between Maidenhead and Krimpen and it was agreed to hold tournaments every other year in these two towns. Continued contact has been maintained with MHC Krimpen over the years and although other clubs, such as Wokingham, Surbiton, Windsor, Ascot and Ranelagh have taken part, it is Yateley (from 1986) and Brigg, South Humberside, (from 1988) who now compete each year with Krimpen and Maidenhead at the Dutch and English tournaments.

This has all been made possible by the devoted efforts of several club members all those years ago, including Brian Hunt, Mike Cantrill, David Everett, John Symons, Colin Raine, Mike Pearce, Sue Cheale and Jean Johnson.

Throughout the history of the tournament organisers have always strived to create an opportunity for the Colts to experience an additional aspect of hockey that isn't necessarily gained by training and playing on a Sunday. The Tournament provides the essential elements of sportsmanship, but also social interaction across the Easter Weekend that results in long-lasting friendships between players, coaches and the clubs involved.