Peter Wimble Trophy 2004 – Southsea

Southsea Skate Park was the venue for thirty six top games of roller hockey this weekend as nine teams of veteran skaters fought for the National Roller Hockey Association’s Peter Wimble Trophy. The excellent south coast sunshine, especially ordered by Southsea secretary Eddie Spencer (along with the hot dogs and burgers also proved popular with the families who travel to this event every year.

The Southsea club started proceedings with a 3-3 draw against last year’s finalists Middlesborough. Grimsby stamped an early claim on the trophy with an emphatic 4-0 win over Letchworth. Reigning champions from Spain, Geieg, entered the fray with a 6-0 win over one of the two teams from Guernsey.

At the end of Saturday’s play, Geieg and Grimsby were front runners, with no losses by either team. They met early on Sunday, for what was to prove the deciding game of the tournament. And the result, a nail biting one-nil win to the Spanish, effectively put the trophy in their hands.

The final placings saw Geieg winning by one point from Grimsby. Middlesborough took third slot, with Southsea only one point behind in fourth place, a repeat of last year.
The tournament also offered the opportunity, taken by several new referees, for assesment, as well as the chance to double referee with more experienced referees.

Out of this event has come invitations to play later in the year in Geieg’s home town of Gerona, and early 2005 in Guernsey.

The attraction of outdoor roller hockey in England is undeniable. It even tempted National Roller Hockey Association President Keith Allen out of retirement. Two days later, in an email accompanying the results, Keith uttered those immortal words or a veteran re-entering the fray, “I hope that you are all hurting as much as I am.” So he oviously enjoyed himself.