THERE can’t be many excuses for not watching your spouse become a national hockey champion – but becoming one yourself on the same day in the same sport is as good as any.
That was the situation for Chesham husband and wife Dawn and Andy Forshaw, with one winning in Nottingham and the other doing likewise just hours later 120 miles away in Southgate.
Dawn, who came out of retirement a few years ago after being inspired by watching her children in action, was playing for St Albans in the Over 35s National Knockout Plate Final.
Husband Andy, who returned to the sport himself after being motivated by Dawn’s second coming, was representing the North in the Over 40s regional final.
She said: “Normally he would have been there to watch me, and I would have been there to watch him.
“So we both missed each other winning national golds, which was a bit of a shame.
“But we were texting each other between matches.”
Dawn was first to strike. She was between the sticks as her St Albans team upset the odds to beat Wimbledon 3-1.
Her husband was still playing his semi-final at the time but he had a voice message waiting for him after the game.
Dawn said: “I won my medal first. Andy hadn’t started his final yet but I called him and all he could hear was the whole team singing ‘champione’ down the phone.”
Properly inspired, Andy, who is also a goalkeeper, went back out there to save three penalties out of four as the North beat the Midlands 3-1 in penalty flicks in their own final.
He said: “It’s quite difficult to phone during tournaments, but I listened to the message and I could hear them all screaming in the background.
“It’s a bit unfortunate we weren’t able to watch each other, but these things happen.”
Quite incredibly, the pair were within a whisker away of repeating it all again seven days later.
This time Andy was in Bristol, playing for the East Over 45s in a national round-robin.
Five wins in a row earned him his second national title in a succession – he has this week been called up by England Over 45s – but again Dawn wasn’t there.
Instead she was in Harrogate, on the cusp on glory in St Albans’ colours again as they won three and drew one of their four matches.
She said: “I was texting Andy to say we’ve won again, only to fall flat on my face during the presentations when they said we came second, even though we beat the team that won it.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t watch Andy, but the tour had been planned a year ago.”
