Success for Reivers in Cash for Kids sports challenge

Fjordhus Reivers were given the opportunity by Radio Borders to raise funds in the Cash for Kids – Sports Challenge.

The club was in competition with eight others in the Borders to raise as much money as possible in 25 days.

Reivers raised £25,489.35, with a further £3000 added by Radio Borders making a grand total of £28,489.35.

The club has been working hard to accommodate a huge upsurge in young players wishing to play sport.

As such, it has now added a sixth ladies team and experienced an increase in membership at u16 level by 30 per cent.

Boys’ hockey has also seen a huge increase in numbers. This is primarily due to the continued support and leadership from Ben Horton and the experience of young internationalist Charlie Jack assisting at many of the sessions.

Janet Jack, of Fjordhus Reivers, said: “The club is quite literally bursting at the seams at the moment with no school hockey and is desperately trying to keep up with the numbers joining the club on a weekly basis, but this requires more pitch time. I am determined to accommodate every player that comes forward and asks if there are still spaces.

“We are adhering religiously to the Scottish Hockey Cocid-19 guidelines and ensuring we don’t have cross overs or large groups. It’s all worth it to have lots of happy youngsters tearing about a hockey pitch!”

With the increasing numbers comes an increase in pitch usage. Even with the shortened season last season, the pitch costs for the club posed a challenge.

The club went to great lengths to keep costs down to ensure that cost for a youngster is not a barrier for anyone.

With this in the back of the committee’s mind, it was evident that the Cash for kids – Sports Challenge would be a tremendous opportunity to raise funds to meet these costs.

The club has worked hard over the past couple of weeks fundraising by a number of different methods, but the biggest event of the fundraising was held at Tweedbank where all u18s were given the opportunity to play hockey.

A great deal of preparation was done prior to the event to ensure that Scottish Hockey and Live Borders Covid-19 guidelines, were adhered to.

The u10s and u12s played in a fun small pitch 5-a-side festival. The enthusiasm, engagement and game play was of a very high standard and with each team being led and supported by a number of the more senior girls, much fun was had by all.

This was followed by two very competitive games between the Ladies’ 1s and the Men’s 1s, and a ‘mixed up’ match, between a number of the Ladies’ 2s, 4s, 5s and 6s.

Scotland u16 Girls’ performance coach Kelly Fillingham, assisted by Emma Pate and Charlie Jack, provided a day of coaching.

Every child being given the opportunity to have fun, while learning and developing their skills in line with current Scottish Hockey principles.

Janet said: “The club would like to thank Kelly for giving up her valuable time and travelling all the way from Loughborough where she had been coaching the previous day.

“It was also very pleasing to hear from her how impressed she was with the clubs young players and praised the “club culture”, praising not just the “super” players, but also the volunteers and parents who supported the “fantastic club” on the day.

“The generosity from local companies and businesses has been staggering and they can all be rest assured that every penny raised, and matched by Radio Borders Cash for Kids – Sports Challenge will go towards providing sporting opportunities for youngsters within the Borders Region.

“The club would also like to show their gratitude as always, to their main sponsors Fjordhus and to the small and loyal army of volunteers who work so hard within the club to make it the success that it is.”