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"Trade Talk..."
If there is one name in the UK sports trade that is synonymous with the game of HOCKEY, it must surely be CHRIS SUTHERLAND. When our man about the trade, JACK LYNES, met up with him he was overwhelmed by his energy, enthusiasm, inventiveness, ingenuity and determination to keep ‘DITA’ as the leading brand name in the game. So what is it about the man and the make that justifies such confidence? After a brief look at the history of the game and the life of the man, Jack catches up with what is new and what is news on the hockey front.
IN THE BEGINNING
NO ONE seems quite sure about the origin of the game of hockey. On the wall of a tomb excavated at Beni Hasan in the Nile Valley by archaeologists in the early 20th Century, drawings of six different sporting activities were found, one of which shows two men holding implements with curved ends closely resembling the hockey sticks used just prior to the First World War. The men appear to be ‘bullying off’ as a round object like some sort of ball, is between the sticks. The tomb dates back to 2050 BC, so hockey may well be one of the earliest stick and ball games.Yet another early example may be seen carved into the old walls of Athens built by Themistocles way back in 478 BC. It is not only the sticks that have advanced, and perhaps more so since Chris Sutherland came on the scene than in all the preceding years, but the present day sportswear manufacturers and retailers too have cause to celebrate as they learn that the said bas-relief depicts half-adozen naked men in naturalistic poses, holding short curved sticks.Again, there is a ball of sorts between the stick ends and two men appear to be bullying off,with the remaining four seemingly waiting their turn to do battle. The Hockey Association formed in 1886 with just seven London clubs and women were showing an interest in the game, forming, just a year later, the first women’s hockey club at Molesey. Wimbledon Ladies’ Hockey Club, formed in 1889, still exists and is the oldest surviving women’s hockey club in the world. Hockey was included in the London Olympic Games of 1908 when England won, beating Ireland 8 – 1. So much to help you for the next sports quiz night.
A REBEL IS BORN
ON NOW to 1949 and the birth of Chris Sutherland in Edinburgh.He was educated at Leith Academy, until 1968, and sporty beyond compare, captaining the hockey team, excelling in rugby, (football was strictly forbidden, being found with a ‘round ball’ meant six of the strap, no questions asked.), League cricket,Athletics (British National League Div.1) Basketball, and much more besides.Academically, unlike so many who excel in sport, he attained nine ‘O’ levels and the necessary ‘A’ levels, and decided to become a sports teacher. But this was not to be, thanks to his headmaster recommending otherwise. This he puts down to the fact that he was often less than cooperative, always knowing what he wanted to do and how he wanted to do it, and not being shy in expressing his desires. Such arrogance was not to the head’s liking which resulted in the lack of the necessary recommendation and something of a quandary.As it turned out, this was not the only head with which he had to contend; the hockey stick head was to be dealt with later,with equal success.
LEFT HANDED DILEMMA
I recounted to Chris how I had been tested in my early days in the trade when in my ignorance, I hunted high and low for a left handed hockey stick, making many phone calls over several hours, and being passed from pillar to post, before realising that a hockey stick must be played right-handed.What I newly discovered by talking to Chris, was that left-handers, although playing right handed, do actually have an advantage due to the way the
stick is gripped. For five months of the year, Chris is ‘on the road’ not simply doing a selling job, but taking the opportunity to see the stores that sell his merchandise and speaking to the guys (and sometimes dolls) who sell, listening to what they have to say, often discovering new ideas to improve product and service. It is no idle talk when he proclaims that the retailer and he are partners feeding in, as he puts it, to the consumer. The days when sticks were sold from the back of van by some ‘wide boy’ at the club are gone, at least so far as the Dita brand is concerned.Ask him about the advantage that left-handers have and I am sure he will find time to demonstrate and explain. Dita can usually arrange next day delivery thanks to an efficient system and a genuinely good stock back up. He spends a further month overseas keeping in touch with the manufacturers. They too are an important part of the chain.
PLAY AS YOU EARN
WHERE in the world could he turn to get paid and still find time, lots of time, to continue his sporting life? He had done well in maths, science, physics and technical drawing.Did someone whisper ‘how about the Civil Service?’ Good thinking.He joined the equivalent of the Department of the Environment’s Government Architect’s Department which had an array of sporting facilities, and was liberal in allowing time to make use of them. Little surprise that he was involved in sport up to his eyeballs whilst there, playing for Edinburgh Civil Service teams, and winning, captaining the hockey team, and so much more besides. He even managed to fly to London and play at the Civil Service grounds at Chiswick, rather than accept the offer of second class rail tickets. What could be better than to ‘play as you earn’? He had even made it to the senior international team while still at school. It is impossible in the space allotted to do justice to his wide range of sporting successes but table tennis must get a mention, if only because it was the ping and the pong that led to his meeting his beloved Eleanor who was working ten floors below him. Their chance meeting meant ‘love all’ at first sight, even if it took eleven years before they tied the knot, and it was only then when he had a day without cricket and he found the opportunity to propose that marriage might be a good idea.Now twenty six years ago. Eleanor, who had been a top badminton player,works with him in the company. I’m sure he has told her many times over, but if she reads this, let it be confirmed that he still adores her and says without hesitation that they have never had an argument. Both their sons, Craig, now 18 and Scott, 16 are sports enthusiasts; the former plays cricket for Scotland and both are hockey Junior International players.
SPEED LIMIT
AFTER eleven years working (if that’s the word) in the Civil Service, though to be fair, I would be the last to question his conscientiousness, it was time for a change, and a planned year in Holland, which was extended to four years. In 1971 Chris had been to Jalundar with the GB team on tour against India and met with stick manufacturers.At that time most, if not all, sticks were made only of wood in either India or in Sialkot, Pakistan. Chris realised that harder hitting, making for more powerful and speedy shots,would be possible if the stick head could be reinforced.He has never taken for granted that what might be good cannot be better and the time had come to set about improving the tools of the game and to enter the world of commerce.He imported some sticks and stripped them down, reinforcing them with glass fibre thus producing the first such stick innovation which actually afforded a better hit. For some fifteen years play was allowed using aluminium sticks with detachable (replaceable) heads, even in three consecutive Olympics, but were banned, thanks to the Health and Safety Brigade, who seemed unaware at the time of their ruling, of the damage that splintered wood (a much more likely happening) could do.As we talked,more and more fascinating details emerged. Did you know that there is a regulatory speed limit for a ball leaving the stick’s face of 125 kilometres an hour.And no, this is not the April 1st issue.
ALWAYS on the search for something better and not afraid to seek new technology, carefully defining what was wanted and then setting about supplying it, the most recent advance has been largely to bid farewell to wood. There are notable exceptions. Today, it’s all about a combination of strength, power, lightness and weight ratio.Whereas the sticks of yesteryear weighed up to 32oz. it is now 22oz, making the game even more attractive to the women who play. In the UK, where there are over half a million players and in the USA, more women than men play, unlike Australia,New Zealand and elsewhere. To help with the dribble and the flick, the balance has to be towards the shaft.Another advantage of modern material and production is that each specific stick of a designated weight and length will be consistent, a situation virtually impossible using wood.You will find a visit to Dita’s online website well worth while. It is lively, informative and easy to manoeuvre. Technical details, such as the meaning of the P.I. (Power Index) are explained. The punter will find recommended prices and a link to his nearest stockists, whilst the retailer, putting in a code,will find costs and clear ordering facilities. Product is well described and illustrated. It is a model site and kept up to date. Good television coverage would substantially increase the popularity of hockey, but ‘good’ means strategic placing of cameras by people who appreciate the intricacies of the game, and this seems seldom to happen.
FOOTNOTES
DITA, of course, has a total hockey collection including protective equipment and a vast range of clothing, all designed with the latest technology. But most impressive is their range of footwear,much neglected by many brands. Long gone are the days when a moulded sole football boot would suffice. Chris has given the same concentrated thought to what is needed and in particular has taken into consideration the new pitch surfaces. Functionality is the key to a successful hockey boot. The newly designed boots take account the differing foot movements peculiar to hockey, and feature essential lateral side support and specially designed Thermo Plastic heel counters and lateral movement studs. The shoe, he explained,must not simply cover the foot but work with it. The latest models incorporate a ‘Quad Stability’ system which is ideal for wear on the now statutory water based artificial grass soaked pitches used in County matches. Lightweight and waterproof boots prevent foot disease and help the player concentrate on that important hit.And it is that important hit that assures Chris and his team at Dita a winning game, a success shared by their sponsored players who include Margaret Rees and Sarah Thomas, (Welsh Ladies) David Griffiths .and Rhys Joyce (Wales),Graham Dunlop (Scotland/GB) Ailsa Robertson (Scotland), Katy Roberts (Wales) and from Ireland, Steven Butler.
Jack welcomes your comments and is always glad to discuss your ideas, problems and concerns. either person to person, or in print. (or both!) If there is anyone you would like him to meet or any product to write about please contact the Editor or Jack (writeawayjack@aol.com) His articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers and are not ‘advertorials’. They are not seen prior to publication by any person or firm to whom they may refer.
