Hockey: Tournament to remember Richard

Grossflottbecker THGC from Hamburg and HC RGD, a quality side featuring all-time Dutch greats and put together by Richard’s older brother Laurence, are involved, along with Welsh combine Celtic Panthers and Highland Jaguars from Scotland.

Scottish indoor champions Inverleith from Edinburgh and Grove Menzieshill, who were runners-up in Scotland last season, complete the line-up at Edinburgh Napier University’s new Engage Sports Centre on the weekend of January 7-8. Free coaching seminars are also scheduled during the weekend which also features a black tie gala dinner in conjunction with Diabetes UK Scotland in Edinburgh. Richard Docherty, who had type 1 diabetes, tragically died in his sleep last summer.

Graham Stuart, the event organiser, revealed that the tournament will showcase the talents of players with a combined total of over 1500 international caps and 40 international medals, plus world and Olympic champions.

Among them will be all-time Dutch greats Taco van den Honert and Floris Jan Bovelander, triple Spanish Olympian Rodrigo Garza while the German combine will boast a number of the gold-medal-winning German side from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Highland Jaguars will be made up of the Scotland squad who will be in their final preparations for the EuroHockey Indoor Nations Trophy.

Stuart said: “Richard died on June 27, 2010, aged 27. He was a charismatic and talented member of the Scottish hockey community. His memory must never be forgotten and therefore an indoor hockey tournament supporting Diabetes UK Scotland was seen as suitable and fitting way to do that. Over the last 18 months Inverleith Hockey Club has worked alongside Richard’s family to create this event and this is a fantastic opportunity for the Scottish hockey community to see some of the world’s greatest players both past and present.”