Star coaches to lead Classic

The coaching cohort for the 2021 Ric Charlesworth Classic has been announced, with a plethora of experienced talent chosen to lead the sides from Friday, 5 March at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University. 

Three changes have been made to the line-up of coaches from 2020, with current women’s Head Coach for the hockey program at the Western Australian Institute of Sport, Jeremy Davy, replacing Kobie McGurk for the women’s Highlanders; former gold medal winning State Team coach and Hockey WA life member Colin Brandis replaces Tate Napier for the women’s Suns side and former Kookaburra champion Chris Ciriello takes the reins from 2020 Classic Gold Medal winning coach Des King who is taking up a more strategic coaching role within Hockey WA. 

The remainder of the talented coaching line-up is unchanged from the inaugural tournament, headlined by ex-Kookaburra and 5x FIH World Player of the Year Jamie Dwyer, ex-Kookaburra and former UWA club champion Tristram Woodhouse and former Hockeyroo representative Kate Denning. 

“I’m really looking forward to going around again this year at the Ric Charlesworth and hopefully bringing a play style that’s attacking and exciting for fans; we want to stay unpredictable and let the ball do the work, so I’m hoping there’s a heap of goals as a result of this,” men’s Highlanders coach Tristram Woodhouse says. 

“We’re really fortunate here in Western Australia to be able to do what we do and provide this product for not only the fans, but to be able to give the opportunity for high-level competition for players that may not usually be exposed to such a thing is amazing for their development.” 

Curtin University Hockey Club star and former Hockeyroo representative Kate Denning is looking forward to the challenge of acting as player-coach for the women’s Breakers once again, stating her delight on the opportunity to hit the pitch before the Premier League season starts. 
 
“It’s great to be able to get out there, experience some competition before the Premier League season begins and play some extremely high-quality hockey while also having a bit of fun.” 

“Being player-coach is great because I feel as though I get to know the players I’m playing with on a different level, but I’m also very fortunate to have assistant coaches who do a majority of the work on the sidelines while I get to play and try lead the side to a win,” Denning says. 

The Ric Charlesworth Classic begins Friday, 5 March at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University, with entry to weekday matches a gold-coin donation, in support of Telethon. Entry to weekend matches is $10 for adults, with 50% of net proceeds going back to their Hockey WA club of choice. Entry for kids under 18 is free. 

2021 Ric Charlesworth Classic Coaches 

Highlanders 

Women’s - Jeremy Davy  

Men’s - Tristram Woodhouse  

Suns 

Women’s - Colin Brandis 

Men’s - Chris Ciriello 

Outbacks 

Women’s - Phil Hulbert 

Men’s - Jamie Dwyer 

Breakers 

Women’s - Kate Denning 

Men’s - Murray McIntyre 

RIC CHARLESWORTH CLASSIC FIXTURES

FAMILY FUN AT THE RIC CHARLESWORTH CLASSIC