Have fun hurling

  • Published
  • By Maj. Tim Neylon
  • 48th Medical Operations Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  "Goal keepers ready?"

With a quick glance to either end of the field, the referee throws the ball midfield, and the Wild Geese, Lakenheath's Hurling club, are at it. Six hours and several matches later, the Lakenheath side, tired and bruised, emerges as the third place finisher of six teams in a recent hurling tournament held in Brussels, Belgium.

Making their third visit to the European mainland this spring, Lakenheath was greeted warmly by the other clubs. Hurling is an Irish game, dating back more than 3,000 years. The existence of an upstart team like Lakenheath surprises the European clubs. What has impressed them and earned their respect is the dedication and sheer enjoyment the Lakenheath players exhibit. With almost no experience to speak of, Lakenheath continues to show up for matches, treating each one as an opportunity to learn and a chance to have a good time. Some days the Irish lads don't seem to know quite what to make of this gaggle of novice players.

To round out our side in Brussels, the Geese were paired up with the six members of the Paris Gaels and the addition of these seasoned players contributed to Lakenheath's performance. The Zurich and Den Haag clubs, who'd recently each played matches against Lakenheath, noted the improvement in both the individual and overall performance of the Wild Geese. Almost as soon as the last match was finished, the question was being asked, "will ye be coming to Zurich?"

In Gaelic sports, such as hurling and Gaelic football, the name on the back of the jersey is that of the club, not the individual. It takes the entire club and beyond to support the team and win. In Ireland, it is said that it takes the county to win.

I believe this approach matches well with our core values. The credit for the club's growth and success belongs to the players themselves. I organize things, but they're the ones who talk it up amongst their friends, they're the ones who show up in the rain for training, and they're the ones who are willing to travel for matches.

The Wild Geese will next travel to Zurich, Switzerland, for another tournament July 17, and hope to field a camogie squad this time out. Camogie is essentially the women's version of hurling, with all-women teams. Our girls usually play alongside us, but we're hoping to have enough of them for the camogie competitions. Having seen our girls and their style of play, I am confident they will do quite well.

The club welcomes new players, who can jump in at any time. If enough people express interest, a league will be developed, with inter-unit competitions. With the Air Force's emphasis on fitness, it's a great way to get in shape while having a good time.

The club is also working on a fall tournament coordinated with the club from Cambridge, and hopes to invite teams from Ireland, Britain, and Europe for a day of "friendly" matches.

We have a similar event in Chicago every year called 'Hurlapalooza" and it will be a blast. In the meantime, anyone interested is welcome to give hurling a try. It's a great way to stay in shape, travel, and make new friends.