TIMES Sport continues its series of looking at the history of West Devon sporting clubs. This week it turns the spotlight on Okehampton Hockey Club.

IT was the women of the town that started the ball rolling when the Okehampton Columbines were established in 1919. Many of these early hockey players played an important part in the business, social and sporting life of the town. Although the idea of a Hockey Club was mooted before the First World War it was in 1919 that the club was formed with Mrs Vincent-Thomas  being a driving force, although initially under the banner of the 'Heather Hockey Team' but soon changed to the familiar 'Okehampton Columbines Women's Hockey Club'.     In those early days, the Club played against such local iteams as Chagford, Brentor and North Tawton, who of course today no longer have hockey clubs. Along with other ladies clubs they relied on schools to provide pitches for their games and youngsters to play. There were no changing facilities, and the youngsters often played for the school in the morning and their local club in the afternoon on grass pitches. Things have changed somewhat in the modern era and joining the Sun Life West Hockey League in the late 1980s gave the Columbines a higher standard of game in the league. The new all-weather pitch was soon to follow and for the first time in their history Okehampton ladies were able to have regular training under floodlights throughout the winter. However, during the 1980s the emphasis on hockey in schools had all but disappeared, and around the turn of the century the Columbines found themselves facing closure with only 13 members. By 2006 they were bottom of the league in Trelawney two and could fall no further. With nothing to lose a radical shake up was introduced with regular coaching and a drive to increase fitness. Also, it was around this time that Richard and Jane Jones started the Saturday morning junior club bringing in much needed new blood. The results have been astounding with the first team moving up into South division for 2012/2013 season, and the introduction of a second team into the league (currently Petroc two) in the same season. n The ladies' training starts on the first Wednesday in August (8pm at all-weather pitch) and new members are always welcome.

WHEN at was announced that an all-weather pitch was to be opened at Okehampton College in 1991 an opportunity appeared to establish a men`s hockey team in Okehampton. John Jarvis, Richard Jones and Andy Collyer were playing league hockey at other clubs but relished the chance to reduce their travel time and play their home matches locally. A meeting was called and it became clear that there was sufficient interest from some keen adults and a number of present and former students who had been introduced to the sport at the college to field a team. The club played friendly fixtures for the first two seasons and established good links with Okehampton Columbines, which proved mutually beneficial for umpiring, fundraising and joint coaching sessions. Numbers grew and in 1993 Okehampton Hockey Club men entered the Sun Life South West League structure and also arranged some friendly fixtures for a second team. Standards continued to improve and by 1997 the first XI had risen through the leagues to South two — stretching from clubs in Newquay in Cornwall to Shepton Mallet, Somerset. The second XI was also developing fast and also entered the league system in 1999. Unfortunately, over the next few seasons several players left the area and many promising youngsters moved on to university. As a result the first XI suffered relegation and in 2002 the club withdrew its second XI from the league. If the club was going to return to its former glory things needed to change and a decision was taken to put time, money and energy into junior hockey to build for the future. Working closely with England Hockey and OCRA, the club obtained a Sport England 'Awards for all' grant to begin to develop links with schools in the area, and gained ClubsFirst accreditation. Thanks to the efforts of Richard and Jane Jones Saturday morning junior coaching has gone from strength to strength and two sessions are now needed to cope with up to 70 young players. Many club members have gained coaching and umpiring qualifications and U12s and U14s teams play in the Devon leagues. A men's second XI re-entered the league in 2007 and is well established in South East two. With larger numbers of junior players making a successful transition to the senior teams the club has once again developed rapidly and in 2012 was named Active Devon 'Club of the Year'. Since 2009 the first XI has gained several promotions and is now playing in Southern 1, the highest standard it has ever achieved. They were also runners up in last year's Devon Trophy and have reached the final again this season, which will be played in Okehampton on April 12. With the opening of the Pavilion in the Park the club now has the clubhouse facility it has always wanted and its future looks secure. It looks to continue developing but will also aim to maintain its culture of sportsmanship and friendliness. With thanks to Richard and Jane Jones, Mike and Hilary Wreford and Alex Collins.