A new northern powerhouse?

While most in this part of the world will be more concerned with how their club fares as the domestic season enters its second week this Saturday, those who like to keep tabs on the action in the other provinces could do worse than monitor the progress of the fledgling Ulster Elks. The Jordanstown-based college side, previously known as UUJ, have made a number of big-name signings over the summer via the introduction of an international scholarship, specifically aimed at female hockey players. Irish internationals Emma Clarke and Shirley McCay have both decided to forego Irish Hockey League action by making the move from Randalstown, while the Elks will have a cosmopolitan look about them thanks to the arrival of French international Philippine Berly from Stade Francais and New Zealand international Frances Kreft.

The Elks may – for now – play outside Ulster’s top tier in the Senior Division One, but they could upset some of the big names in national competition this season, if their performances in the group stages of the Winemark Shield are anything to go by. With the likes of Lyndsey Neish and Victoria Pinkerton-Murray dovetailing well with the new girls, the Elks comfortably dispatched Premier Division outfits Victorians (5-0) and an admittedly under-strength Armagh (4-1) over the past couple of weekends, before a 3-0 defeat of Ballymena on Tuesday night all but ensured their place in the semi-finals of that competition. Their ability to make an impact on the national stage will depend on progression to the last four of the new Irish Senior Trophy competition – which would guarantee them a crack at the big guns in the revamped Irish Senior Cup. But the availability of their newly-acquired international stars shouldn’t pose a problem should they make it that far, as national coach Gene Muller invariably releases his players for national competitions. Nonetheless, UCC’s women – who also look very strong this season, boasting three internationals of their own – may be looking on with some trepidation at the Elks’ rapid progress. They are likely to meet them at some stage in their defence of the Chilean Cup intervarsity title in Kilkenny at the end of October. However, there is some good news for the Cork students, as they won’t have to face down Christine Quinlan this year. Quinlan, who was handed her international debut by Gene Muller at the Setanta Sports Trophy in June, was UCC’s tormentor-in-chief as she fired UCD into the IHL at their expense, but she won’t be involved in the IVs this time around, as she has returned to Irish champions Hermes.