HASLEMERE Hockey Club launched the new season with a Club Weekend at Woolmer Hill.

Despite the drenching weather on Saturday, Haslemere Ladies 4th Xl opened events with a rousing 6-2 win against a side from local rivals Aldershot & Farnham.

The scheduled ladies 1st XI match was cancelled by the opposition, but new coach Peter Crook put the Haslemere players through their paces with an intense training session.

The men’s 1st XI won their friendly fixture, 1-0 at Bournemouth, while the 2nd XI defeated Winchester II 3-2 at Woolmer Hill.

On pitch 2, meanwhile, more than 30 enthusiastic players of all ages and experience, long-time members and newcomers, played some scratch mixed games.

The weather more than cheered up for Junior Club Day on Sunday and, following the Sport Haslemere Festival of Sport initiative on  August Bank Holiday, there was a great turn-out across all age groups.

l The men’s 2nd XI match between Haslemere and Winchester was a replay of last season’s stirring Hampshire Cup final (Haslemere lost 4-3).

This time, Haslemere twice came from behind to win another close encounter, 3-2, with goals from Charlie Millsom and Elliott Hall (2).

l Haslemere men’s 1st XI play their first ever Hants/Surrey Regional 1 match on Saturday, October 1 when they host Chichester II at Woolmer Hill.

The men’s 2nd XI, also promoted as champions, travel to Gillingham in their opening Hampshire 1 fixture, also on October 1.