WHEN four busy mums decided to get together for a fun game of hockey they never dreamt that eight months later they would be in the running for a sports team of the year award.

It was freezing cold February night and the rain was pouring down but Sarah Martin-Denham and her friends loved every minute of that first training session in the grounds of Wolsingham Sports Centre in Weardale. Despite the weather conditions and only having cheap plastic hockey sticks to play with, their love of hockey was ignited and it was not long before word got out.

Fast forward eight months, and the Durham Dales Hockey Club has more than 70 members of both sexes and of all ages and abilities, from across County Durham. This includes a thriving junior section. Thanks to support from England Hockey, the sport’s governing body, and Weardale Area Action Partnership, the club now holds three training sessions per week. Players also compete in friendly matches against other North-East teams and there are plans to join the league next year.

And last month, the club was nominated in the Sports Club of the Year category in the County Durham Sport Physical Activity Awards for Mid-Durham and the Dales.

Mrs Martin-Denham, a mother-of-two from Wolsingham, said: “I am amazed by how far we have come. To see all these people here on a Friday night playing hockey together when they could be at home with a glass of wine is just fantastic.”

The Durham Dales Hockey Club prides itself on being a welcoming club, open to men and women of all abilities who want to enjoy a more active lifestyle. For many members it is the friendships forged within the club that make it so special.

Mother-of-two Mel Sheppard from Crook had not played any sport since having children but soon caught the hockey bug. Sadly she has not been able to play as much since she was diagnosed with breast cancer and began chemotherapy but she can still be seen on the sidelines, cheering her teammates on.

“When I became ill I was overwhelmed by the kindness and support I received from club members who I’d only known for a short time,” she said.

The club, sponsored by Peggoty’s of Wolsingham, holds mixed training sessions at Wolsingham Sports Centre on Friday from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. A junior session takes place on Sunday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm followed by a women’s session from 4.30pm to 6pm. Anyone interested in joining or any businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact Mrs Martin-Denham on 07958-134741.