ROBERT PIKE
Robert “Bob” Pike has had a long and distinguished involvement with hockey in Canberra as a player, administrator, umpire, coach and employee for more than 60 years. Bob has dedicated his life to the sport, and this is best demonstrated by the esteem that he is held by former and current members of the Valleys/Barton, ACT Masters and the broader ACT Hockey community.
Bob was born into a hockey family with his father Gordon being a long-time contributor to hockey here in the ACT and with the Barton Hockey Club. Bob played all his hockey with Barton except for his first senior season, when Gordan forbade Bob from playing senior hockey. Eager to gain experience Bob signed up for St. Pats. He would be collected by Eddie Roots each Saturday and returned home without Gordon’s knowledge. His mother would wash the clothing in secret, and it looked like the perfect plan, until Gordon signed Bob up for the following season only to discover that Bob would require a clearance from St. Pats!
As a player Bob was a player of the highest quality and would represent the ACT Colts and Senior sides at the NSW State Championships twice as captain in 1966 and 1967. Bob would represent NSW Colts and Seniors at the Australian Championships. In 1972 Bob was an inaugural member of the first ACT Side to represent at the Australian Championships as a member of the ACT Open Men. Bob was a member of the South Eastern States XI team that played the 1972 Australian Olympic team as part of their Olympic preparation. Bob also represented the ACT against many touring international sides most notably the 1965 touring British Schoolboys and Japan in 1970. Bob was also awarded the Chris Rawlinson Shield in 1966 for the ACT U21 Male most significant contribution to the association.
Locally, Bob would go on to win three first grade premierships with Barton in 1969, 1972 and 1977.
As an umpire, Bob would umpire the ACT first grade competition and was an umpire coordinator for ACT Hockey for several years.
Bob has dedicated many years to service of the former ACT Hockey Association, ACT Junior Hockey Association, The Hockey Centre Board and the current Hockey ACT Association.
His service as an administrator commenced when Bob joined the ACTJHA as Senior Vice President in 1979. Bob held a number of roles including as selector and Promotions Officer through until 1983.
He served the ACT Hockey Association from 1980 – 1998 holding a number of various positions on committees. Bob served as a selector from 1979-1988. Bob served the Senior Competition Committee from 1989-1993, was a member of the Development Committee in 1980; 1992-1997, the Junior Competition Committee as Chair in 1990 & 1991, member of the inaugural Lakers Committee in 1993 & 1994, Chair of the Indoor Competition Committee from 1995-1997 and was a member of the first Umpiring & Technical Committee in 2001 & 2002.
Bob was a Board member of the Hockey Centre in 1989 & 1990.
Bob has also made an outstanding contribution to ACT Masters Hockey Association where Bob was rewarded with the Gold Service Award recognising his contribution as a player, captain, coach, team coordinator and representative player. Bob represented the ACT on twelve occasions at Masters National Championships between 1985 and finishing at the Over 70’s in 2016. He coached sides at National Championships on five occasions. Bob played in the Monday night competition for 23 years commencing in 1985. Locally, he acted as team coordinator for Barton’s multiple teams continuously from 2012-2023. Hockey ACT Life Member Leo Clarke added: “our records do not include the number of games refereed in that 45 years, but it was a few. We also do not list the contribution on the sidelines: cooking sausages, manning bars, feeding the fire on Jack Thompson’s ute or running the Valleys BBQ at Tuggeranong. I consider myself a million-sausage man, but Bob started well before I did! That shows a man who doesn’t just talk about doing something, he did it”.
In recognition of his on-going support and recognition for Masters Hockey, Bob was made a Life Member of ACT Masters Hockey Association in 2023.
Bob has also contributed locally through his beloved Valleys/Barton Hockey Club where he was involved in the administration of the club between 1984 – 2023. Bob has coached many junior and senior teams during his time with the club. Bob was a foundation member of Valleys Hockey Club and has served the club as a coordinator for the ACT Masters Association. He has served as President on multiple occasions during this time.
In recognition of his service to both Barton and Valleys, Bob was awarded Life Membership on Valleys Hockey Club.
In line with the terms outlined by Hockey ACT for consideration of Life Membership of the Association, it is the opinion of the Hockey ACT Nominations Committee and the Hockey ACT Board that Robert Pike has made an exceptional contribution to the sport and the Association; demonstrated exceptional personal values; has demonstrated ongoing and consistent support of the values of the Association; and made an exceptional contribution as a player, official, administrator and volunteer.
Nominating Club: Valleys Barton Hockey Club
Nominated By: Peter Legge-Wilkinson, Valleys President
Seconding Club: ACT Masters Hockey
Seconded By: Leo Clarke, ACT Masters Hockey President