The exhibition will run all the way through the summer, and is timed to tie in with the London 2012 Olympic games, featuring a range of previous local Olympic memorabilia along with a wealth of other local sporting history.

The opening day will see some fun family activities too – including a vintage cycle ride and a number of sporting demonstrations – for more details see this Get Reading article.

At a private preview for contributors held on Thursday evening, presentations from the Mayor of Reading Deborah Edwards, top ladies cricketer (and club captain at Sonning Lane) Claire Taylor and Reading FC’s John Madjeski launched the exhibition.

Special thanks should go to Gemma-Louise Notman who has co-ordinated the club’s considerable contribution to the exhibition, and to all those members who have kindly lent some of their memorabilia for display.

The exhibition is definitely worth a visit when you are next in central Reading – why not drop in and take a look…

It is hockey’s equivalent to the torch relay and Reading was the penultimate stop-over on the route which started in Edinburgh on April 15 and took in 40 venues before ending in Trafalgar Square on May 2.

The dribble, around a specially constructed 100m course, was led off by Sir John Madejski, who was still on a high following his club’s promotion to the Premier League, and international rowers Katherine Grainger and Debbie Flood, who have won a handful of Olympics medals between them.

Philip Kimberley, chairman of England Hockey, also made his first visit to the roadshow.

Among those from the club who supported the event were young players Alice Freeman, Livy Page, Ellle Rayer, Charlotte Daly and Grace Lawes, along with a number of senior representatives.

Preparations for the Test event at the London Olympic venue prevented any of Reading’s internationals attending, but several have given their support at other venues. A Big Dribble organiser said that Alex Danson had helped Southampton to be one of the most successful of all the roadshows.

• Assessment of current skill level
• Specific skill sessions
• Video analysis
• Hockey-specific physical conditioning and advice
• Nutritional advice

The fixed price rate is as follows:-

*reduced rates for groups of 10 or more – please contact for more details
**all cheques made payable to GARC Reading Ltd.

To book a session (or block of sessions), or if you have any questions, please contact Jon Elliott on 07866 302574 or email at j.l.elliott@hotmail.co.uk

In the women’s event the GB ladies faced Argentina, Korea and China and stormed to gold with 4 straight wins and no goals conceded – beating rivals Argentina 2-0 in the final. In the men’s competition GB took on India, as well as the world ranked numbers 1 and 2 in Australia and Germany – eventually taking the bronze with a 2-1 victory over India, and having lost a close encounter with eventual winners Germany and held the world number 1 Australia to a draw. All bodes well for an exciting and successful Olympics…

Reading Hockey Club was very well represented – not only with 6 women and 4 men included in the GB squads for the event, but in the stands supporting and behind the scenes within the army of volunteers that made the week so successful.

The week was only marred by injuries to the Reading participants. Simon Mantell broke the 5th metatarsal in his left foot in the closing minutes of the group match against India, and Alex Danson damaged her shoulder in a collision against Argentina in the final – we wish them both a speedy recovery and hope that the injuries will not affect their Olympic dreams. Iain Mackay also took a nasty knock on the knee early in GB’s opening match with Germany, missing the rest of that match and the following day against India – but returned to play in the last two games.

This success has come on top of them winning the England Club championship West Regional Finals 3 weeks ago and so ends a highly successful season in which they remain unbeaten.

In League and Cup competitions their season record is played 13 Won 11 Drew 2 Lost 0 GF 65 GA 7 – pretty impressive stuff – congratulations girls – and a big thanks and well done to their coaches Roger Wall and Rob Thompson!

GB have named an 18 man squad from the current 27 Olympic hopefuls and will face Germany, Australia and India in one of their last opportunities for competitive matches before selection for London. More details can be found on the England Hockey website.

With 6 of our Ladies also included in the GB squad announced last week, Reading will be very well represented – we wish them all good luck for the tournament.

Earlier Reading Rustlers narrowly missed out on making it a clean sweep for the Reading sides, just losing out 4-2 to a very strong Barnes side in the Division 1 cup final – but with the League title already secured and picking up the England Hockey Over 40 cup, its been a fantastic year for the Rustlers/Redsox squad.

The London Prepares VISA International Invitational Hockey Tournament will be held on the new “smurf turf” in the Olympic park, with GB games being shown by the BBC on the red button – more details on the England Hockey website.

We wish the GB sides – and the Reading contingent in particular – good luck for the tournament.