01/09/2026
Roll call from the World Cup - from the club president.
As the 2026 World Cup draws to a close, it’s fascinating to see the Penzance Hockey Club connections to such a prestigious tournament.
From July the various age groups have been performing in Holland.
It is not always polite to mention a lady’s age but again the wonderful Linda Webb - usually seen leading the line for PZ ladies - has represented England.
Linda’s selflessness and high work rate is a shining role model for any young, aspiring player and has been rightly rewarded with many caps.
Now a name that a few will remember: Nick Dugan. Nicholas joined Penzance as a schoolboy, along with his older brother Jeremy, and made many appearances in the men’s first team.
Adulthood has taken him far and wide, and he’s now residing in Perth, Western Australia. Nick is a lovely player and a personality to match. He has represented Australia, playing for their Southern Cross masters’ hockey set up in the men’s Over 55 category.
Now another Nick, this time a Curnow. Nick followed his father and uncles into playing our game and representing both our club and Cornwall. His father Howard was a county goalie, so Nick focused on the other end of the pitch and continues to play as a striker, captaining a successful PZ men’s first team for a number of years before he also migrated to the New World.
While stopping over to visit him mum in Goldsithney on his mammoth trip from Christchurch to the Netherlands for this summer’s tournament, I had the privilege of training with him (being his ball boy) for two hours while he practiced his shooting. He’s lost none of his sharpness. Nick represented New Zealand in the O50s.
Next up is the sublime Ben Eddy. It was only natural he would follow his father Alan, another former county player and men’s first team captain, into playing for Penzance and Cornwall. Ben has the ability to demonstrate Einstein’s theory by creating time and space by one simple pass, and this was no doubt part of why he was selected to represent England O40s, while living and working in Switzerland.
Finally to young Henry Curnow, a second cousin to Nick, who travelled to Amsterdam to play in the World Youth Festival for Hockey Mentors Under 18s, winning a bronze medal. A player with a very upward trajectory.
A roll call to be proud of. These players play to their full potential and play without regret and represent both a history and a future for PZHC that we should all be proud of.
