Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE visits Caradon
Posted by on 28 March 2018
She was the guest of honour at the Club’s End of Season Gala event on Saturday at St Mellion International Resort near Saltash, as Caradon not only celebrated their Club of the Year title, but also their achievements from this season as well as the 10th anniversary of their formation when Saltash Essanians merged with Liskeard Looe Club.
On the afternoon of the event, Kate kindly paid a visit to Caradon’s home pitch at Lux Park Leisure Centre to meet the junior members for photos with her and the Olympic gold medal in an exciting and unforgettable opportunity for the young enthusiastic players. She arrived in a memorable and unique style – in a truck supplied by the Club’s generous and long standing sponsors Burcombe Haulage, which she later said was one of her dreams realised!
Kate also stayed and watched Caradon’s 1st team game (despite the Cornish drizzle!) as they played their penultimate league fixture Tavistock. A half time talk from a hockey icon proved its worth as the home side went on to win the game 5-1.
The evening event was a great success with Club members enjoying a meal and a charity game of Heads and Tails for Hockey World Cup tickets donated by England Hockey, while Kate presented awards to those deserving players in all six of the Club’s men and ladies teams. She also gave an inspiring and entertaining speech to a captive audience, with Olympic anecdotes and what the sport of hockey has helped her to achieve both on and off the pitch.
Admitting this was her first visit back to Cornwall in many years, she said:
“I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Caradon and being involved in the whole day from watching the match in the afternoon to the celebrations in the evening, the warm welcome from all the Club members made me feel very much like part of the Caradon hockey family. There is a great setup in the Club from juniors to seniors to those trying hockey for the first time, seeing it first hand goes to show what an incredibly positive impact sport can have on a community.”
It proved to be a visit which will go down in the Club’s history and members memories for many years to come, welcoming a true sporting legend and ambassador of the sport to the area.
For pictures of Kate's visit, please view our special photo gallery: When Kate came to Caradon
Photo: Jon Harris
