2/2010 x LJ x PRIVATE CLINIC

Here i am then. Lying in bed with a purple foot. This afternoon i had surgery on my heel which has bothering me on/off for the last 18 months. Instead of being round it was a little bit square at the top and this was causing a fair bit of pain as my achilles ran over this point just above where it connects to my heel bone. The doc had a look a week ago and calmly told me that the only way i could rid of the pain was to let him remove the bony point. So, now that its been done it should 4-6 weeks before i’m up and playing hockey again. I do have to add that it was a pretty strange experience. The anesthetist decided a full knock out was not necessary and that a needle in the back would be fine. Well, i have never experienced something as weird as looking at my own leg being lifted in the air and not being able to feel a thing. It was like my leg belonged to someone else! In any case, because i was the last patient of the day i’m staying the night so going to finish off watching the series ‘the pacific’.

On a hockey note i’m looking forward to the new season. After a tough season last year it was nice to qualify for the EHL which was a great reward for the playing group which had been through so much. With a new coach in Sjoerd Marijne, everyone is excited about the prospect of improving and taking the next step towards a dutch title. I’m also looking forward to reuniting with Anthony Potter, a great mate and the guy who invited me to come to holland in the first place, when he was the coach at EMHC.  Take it easy and i’ll let you know how the rehab goes.

Lucas.

UPS & DOWNS OF EUROPE x CHILD

ORANJE ZWART v HGC x HOOFDKLASSE PLAYOFFS x VIDEO

Hi All,

I’m over here in Holland playing with Oranje Zwart, a great team with a lot of pride from the south east of the Netherlands. We started our play-offs over the weekend with two matches against HGC, of Den Haag.

The Play-offs here are a “best of 3″ series, and we won the first at home 4-3 on Saturday but lost the return match on Sunday 1-3. This means we go to the third game on Wednesday, with the winner earning a spot in the Final against either Laren or Bloemandaal who are also playing their third match in the tied series on Wednesday.

The Gryphon boys of OZ, 6 in total, were in the mix of it all, so good to see them stand up and I reckon that there will be more to write about these guys come Thursday after the 3rd game. The atmosphere at these matches is heavy, with large numbers of supporters from each team crowding the sidelines and stands. Our first home game had  a 2500 – 3000 strong crowd, so its great to see the game is alive and well.

So the game highlights are below, although only a very, very short package which is a shame as both matches played were action packed. In the 2nd game, 2 Yellow cards to my team meant we played 20 minutes with only 10 men, a tough ask in modern hockey.

I’ll check back soon after the Wednesday match to let you know how its going. Hopefully the Oz machine can find that little bit extra for Wednesday, its all or nothing – Cheers, Rob

Game 1.

Game 2.

SEMI FINALS x HOOFDKLASSE PLAY-OFFS

Hey Everyone!

So… The moment we were waiting for finally arrived. The semi final of the Hoofdklasse! Training 5 times a week, doing fitness sessions, briefing before matches, debriefing after matches, team talks, physical trainings, training sessions with the national team, healthy food and drinks (except after a win offcourse!), giving up parties, giving up vacation, getting warm before training and cooling down after training, trying to arrange things with your school so you can do every training,….

It seems a lot but it is nothing when you get the chance to play a match in front of thousands of people, trying to win the title with your teammates and friends. Winning matches like that is the reason why you do all the hard work. I haven’t win a lot of ‘big’ matches in my life, maybe the biggest match I’ve played in and won was at the European Cup in Manchester against the Germany. We won 4-3 in the last second and qualified for the Olympics in Beijing. It was the first time in 32 years that Belgium qualified for the Olympic Games. That is a moment I will never forget, I still know how it made me feel and I know for sure I am willing to make the sacrifices to get this feeling again. I really hope we can have a similar feeling this season with Oranje-Zwart. All of the team worked really hard during the year and out of the last 9 matches we won 7 and drew 2. So everyone is really excited to play the first semi final against HGC.

For myself, I am really lucky not to miss the play offs. I sprained my ankle just 2 weeks ago in a competition match against HGC and tore 2 ligaments. The first week I had to walk with crutches and yesterday I could train 2 times! It is really amazing so I want to thank our legendary physio Frank Hagenaars for this!

The semi’s are a best of 3 set up. We are playing this Saturday at home against HGC and the day after we play away at HGC. If no team wins 2 times we have to play the third match on Wednesday evening to decide who will play the final. It’s not going to be easy, HGC has a good team with Guus Vogels, Ashley Jackson, Barry Middleton, Rodrigo Garza and Rob Short in their team! The final will be against Bloemendaal or Laren. If we make the final we are also sure to play EHL next year. That would be great offcourse and I hope we’ll make it!

I hope you are cheering for us, I will try to post some photo’s of the team and the atmosphere of the play offs in Holland when I get a chance!

PS. I am still kicking Sander and Marc ‘s asses at FIFA!

Take care,

Thomas

GRYPHON REPRESENTS x ORANJE ZWART v LAREN x EXTENDED VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

It was super Sunday in Laren, The Netherlands, today with #3 Laren taking on #4 Oranje Zwart in the Hoofdklasse. This is the third last match of the season and promised to be a special game with both Laren and Oranje Zwart undeafeated since the winter break.

Gryphon players in action and to watch out for are Thijs Maartens, Sander Baart, Lucas Judge (1st goal scorer) Thomas Briels (2nd goal scorer), Rob Hammond and Thijs Bams, all outstanding in this fierce encounter. All playing for the Orange shirts of Oranje Zwart, these guys are the cream of the Gryphon crew in Holland. There are now only two rounds left in the Hoofdklasse which are played this Thursday and Sunday. The race for the final four sports is the most exciting ever. Enjoy the extended highlights.

GRYPHON BOYS TEAR IT UP x ORANJE ZWART v AMSTERDAM x VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

The Hoofdklasse is heating up with the final four position in hot contention. Here we look at OZ who took on Amsterdam in Eindhoven on Sunday. It was a clash of the titans with both teams fighting for a top four finish. Only three rounds remain before the play-offs, so these points are key.

Gryphon’s Lucas Judge, Thomas Briels, Sander Baart, Thijs Maartens, Thijs Bams and Rob Hammond all starred in a tough, grinding encounter. Judge and Hammond were amoungst the goals scorers, while Briels and Bams were dangerous and tireless up front. Maartens and Baart had a huge impact in defence and make up one of the most fearsome units in the league.

CHILD DOMINANT IN ROTTERDAM v LAREN x VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

This weeks highlights are of Rotterdam against Laren. Both teams are fighting for a place in the top four of the league.

Gryphon’s Simon Child was a stand out in his teams drawn tie with Laren in the Rabo Hoofdklasse. The New Zealand Olympian was the main focal point up front for the team in green.

Enjoy the highlights courtesy of NOS

3D GOAL x VIDEO x ORANJE ZWART YOUTH

Hi All,

Its been a little while since I last checked in here. Well, its old news now but I have a Wold Cup to add to my Olympic Gold so I’m flying high at the moment. The WC in India was an amazing experience and one that means a lot to myself, especially having been a part of the Kookaburras team of 2006 that lost the epic final to Germany after being 2 goals ahead.

So I’ll speak more of the World Cup in my next post, but the reason for dropping by today is that I want to share something with you. I’ve just touched down in The Netherlands to reunite with my club, Oranje Zwart, for the remainder of the season. OZ has an amazing developement program and everyday that I am at the club it amazes me just how frothing and keen the kids in their youth program are. They practice super hard but all have the biggest smiles on their faces as they run around the fields and clubhouse. One of the youth teams recently played and a young kid scored the most amazing goal. This kid, Lennart Smits, is like 12 or 13 years old, and what he did I would challenge most seniors to do! Watch this clip and decide for yourself!

Till next time crew,

Cheers, Rob

PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTES x HOOFDKLASSE x HAMMOND

The Rabo Hoofdklasse is back underway with the completion of Round 14 last weekend. The resumption of competition welcomes the return of the Worlds elite to The Netherlands following a long lay period due to the 2010 Mens World Cup.

Gryphon’s own Rob Hammond has hit the ground running receiving maximum votes in hockey.nl’s annual Speler van het Jaar awards(Player of the Year Awards) for round 14. His team, Oranje Zwart of Eindhoven, demolished SCHC 6-1 on Sunday. SCHC has only amassed 7 draws and no victories thus far in the competition and are fighting relegation. Here is the excerpt from their site:

Speler van het Jaar:

Rob Hammond heerste en verdeelde bij Oranje Zwart. De kersverse wereldkampioen speelde een hoofdrol in de 6-1 zege van de Brabanders op SCHC en is daardoor speler van de week.

Speler van de week:
10- Rob Hammond- Oranje Zwart
Het Australische blok graniet maakt van OZ een kanshebber op de play-offs.

7- Jaap Stockmann- Bloemendaal
Was de enige die echt scherp was bij Bloemendaal.

5- Jong-Ho Seo- Laren
Ook buiten de cirkel was de Larense wonderkoreaan een plaag voor de Amsterdamse defensie.

4- Timme Hoyng- Pinoké
Was weer helemaal heel en scoorde twee keer. En dat overkomt de ex-international maar zelden.

3- Jamie Dwyer- Bloemendaal
Zijn steekpass die de derde treffer inleidde, was er een voor fijnproevers.

Talent van de week:
Derk van Essen- Hurley
Rots in de branding bij de promovendus. Was zelfs ‘fantastisch’ volgens ploeggenoot Steven Ebbers.

Coach van de week:
Roelant Oltmans- Laren
Eindelijk is Laren waar het al tijden wil zijn. Op de vierde plaats.

“Player of the Year”

Australian granite block returns, Rob Hammond ruled and divided by Oranje Zwart. The fresh world cup champion played a leading role in the 6-1 victory of the Brabant at SCHC and therefore player of the week.

Player of the Week: Votes: 10 – Rob Hammond – Orange Black. The Australian block of granite makes OZ a likely candidate to play offs. 7 – Jaap Stockmann – Bloemendaal Was the only one who was really fierce in Bloemendaal. 5 – Young-Ho Seo – Laren. Outside the circle was Laren wonder and Korean a nightmare for the Amsterdam defense. 4 – Timme Hoyng – Pinoke. Was again a complete performance throughout and scored twice. And that happens rarely for the former international. 3 – Jamie Dwyer – Bloemendaal. His cross pass that initiated the third goal, that was a delight. Talent of the week: Derk van Essen-Hurley Stood out. Was also fantastic, teammate Steven Ebbers. Coach of the Week: Roelant Oltmans-Laren, Laren is finally where it wants to be. In fourth place.

Keep an eye out here for more shout outs to Gryphon’s top players in Holland as the season continues, the players keep doing what they do best and voting heats up.

RABO HOOFDKLASSE x B’DAAL v KAMPONG x VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

It has been a 5 month lay-off in the Rabo Hoofdklasse of 2009/10. With the long break due to the World Cup and the return of top internationalists from all over the world bolstering the local sides, we will see in the next 5 weeks 9 games in this compressed format.

Highlights of round 14 of the Hoofdklasse are of Kampong home to Bloemendaal, with Gryphon’s own Wouter Jolie and Thomas Boerma in action.

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