Old Canberrans' Hockey Club, after 78 years, is the oldest same-name and arguably the most successful club in ACT hockey. The Club was founded in 1936, when two teachers, Arthur `Curly' Martin and Les Williams entered two teams from Telopea Park School in the local competition. The Club entered the A-Grade competition in 1938 as Telopea ex-students and finished as Minor Premiers.
With the formal establishment of Canberra High School in 1938 the Club adopted the name Old Canberrans with its logo taken from the High School badge. Membership was initially restricted to students, ex-students and teachers of the two schools. The name `Checks' by which the teams are generally known, came from the distinctive shirt of black and gold checks, which was used to distinguish it from the Club's other A-Grade team, the `Golds', which in 1947 formed the Waratahs Club.
Checks dominated the A-Grade competition from 1939 until 1953 and more recently from 1988 to 1995. For a period in the 1970s and 1980s there was an active Women's Club, which was re-established in 1998. After a period of separation of 52 years, the Waratahs Club rejoined Checks, allowing the strengthening of the juniors boys teams and the establishment of the women's and junior girls teams.
In 2006 the club achieved its target set in 1998 of re-entering a team in the 1st grade women's competition.
Old Canberrans has maintained a strong Minkey centre at the Jerrabomberra Oval in Narrabundah to provide feeder players into the junior boys and girls competitions.
Old Canberrans Hockey Club, after 70 years, is the oldest same-name and arguably the most successful club in ACT hockey. The Club was founded in 1936, when two teachers, Arthur `Curly' Martin and Les Williams entered two teams from Telopea Park School in the local competition. The Club entered the A-Grade competition in 1938 as Telopea ex-students and finished as Minor Premiers.
With the formal establishment of Canberra High School in 1938 the Club adopted the name Old Canberrans with its logo taken from the High School badge. Membership was initially restricted to students, ex-students and teachers of the two schools. The name `Checks' by which the teams are generally known, came from the distinctive shirt of black and gold checks, which was used to distinguish it from the Club's other A-Grade
team, the `Golds', which in 1947 formed the Waratahs Club.
Checks dominated the A-Grade competition from 1939 until 1953 and more recently from 1988 to 1995. For a period in the 1970s and 1980s there was an active Women's Club, which was re-established in 1998. After a period of separation of 52 years, the Waratahs Club rejoined Checks, allowing the strengthening of the juniors boys teams and the establishment of the women's and junior girls teams.
In 2006 the club achieved its target set in 1998 of re-entering a team in the 1st grade women's competition.
Old Canberrans has maintained a strong Hook in2 Hockey (Minkey( centre to provide feeder players into the junior boys and girls competitions.
