HOCKEY: Ipswich women's hockey team is one of the best in the country with national titles and European medals to their credit. Ipswich men spent two seasons in the National League and are looking to make a swift return to the top flight after being relegated at the end of last season.

HOCKEY

IPSWICH women's hockey team is one of the best in the country with national titles and European medals to their credit.

Ipswich men spent two seasons in the National League and are looking to make a swift return to the top flight after being relegated at the end of last season.

The newly-formed Ipswich Hockey Club is set to become the premier club in the area and begins

pre-season fitness training tonight with an air of optimism and ambitious plans for the future.

The new club, which is part of Ipswich Sports Club, has bought together the teams from Ipswich Ladies, Orwell Ladies and Ipswich Men and is keen to encourage as many new members from all age groups.

Fitness training is for all club members, new and old, men and women. It will be held every Wednesday and will be led by the club's fitness expert starting tonight at Henley Road from 7-8.30pm when it is hoped that as many as possible will participate.

All fitness levels will be catered for at the sessions with players joining is as little or as much as they are able.

The two first team squads will join together to train separately on Tuesdays and the club is keen to attract new players as well as people who haven't played for a while and would like to take the game up again.

There will be a taster session on Saturday at Henley Road to which anyone can attend and receive

coaching from experts between 10am and noon and find out more about how to join.

For any more information contact Ipswich Sports Club tel Ips 251143 or by e-mailing

ipswichsports@talk21.com

ENGLAND has pulled out of hosting the prestigious Champions Trophy events next year because of the fragile situation of the finances of organisers in this country.

The English Hockey Association signed up for both men's and women's events – involving the top six teams in the world – but spiralling debts in excess of £700,000 have forced the EHA to be phased out in favour of a new limited company Hockey England Ltd (HEL).

However, with a major restructuring programme only just started, HEL chiefs felt they could not involve themselves in the risk – both organisational and financial – of hosting the events.