Newtown City hockey player Claire Barnes OAM steps out for her 800th match

A genuine icon of Geelong hockey, who is everything from a club president to a league fixtures officer, has set a new playing record which is unlikely to ever be beaten.

Claire Barnes played her 800th match for Newtown City Hockey Club. Picture: Newtown City Hockey Club.

It’s a local hockey record that’s unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

Newtown City Hockey Club stalwart, league legend and grandmother Claire Barnes played her 800th match for the club on April 20 against Geelong Jaguars.

While Newtown went down 2-4 in the division two clash, it will forever be etched into the club’s rich history which has prided itself on keeping meticulous records.

Claire’s journey began back in 1978, when she followed her husband Alan into the sport after he and Gavin Allen, Noel Smith and Dennis Hatton recruited 18 initial players from local primary schools to form Newtown — it is now the region’s biggest club with more than 300 members.

In fact, you could add a further 40-50 games to Claire’s overall tally after playing a few seasons with Deakin University before joining Newtown.

Claire Barnes played her 800th match for Newtown City Hockey Club against Geelong Jaguars on April 20. Picture: Newtown City Hockey Club.

And since then, Claire has rarely missed a game, only when she had daughters Tracey and Kellie, who both followed their parents into the sport.

Sadly, Alan passed away in 2005, but Claire’s passion for the sport has remained.

Playing the majority of her games as a goalkeeper, Claire has arguably had even more impact off the ground.

A life member of both Newtown and the Geelong Hockey Association, Claire is the club’s president, junior co-ordinator, looks after the uniforms and the newsletter and runs its social media.

In addition, Claire is also a GHA committee member, oversees its socials and prepares the season’s fixtures.

Claire is congratulated by an opponent. Picture: Newtown City Hockey Club.

Essentially, the grandmother of one is a 24 carat gold legend of Geelong hockey; receiving a well deserved OAM in 2017 for her services to the sport.

“I’ve basically been everything in the club,” Claire said.

“I’ve never been treasurer, I’ve never been coach of one of the men’s teams, but I’ve probably done everything else (at Newtown).”

The evergreen Claire has remained a loyal player for more than 45 years, only missing games through having children or the occasion holiday during the season.

“You’re not supposed to do that but sometimes I have,” she said with a laugh.

“I’ve missed very few (games) over that time.”

Despite her vast wealth of knowledge and experience, Claire has come to rely on club coach, Deb Barnett, a dual Canadian Olympian, for guidance.

Claire Barnes with her Newtown City Hockey Club teammates. Picture: Newtown City Hockey Club.

“She’s been a mentor and an inspiration, somebody to bounce ideas off and get ideas from,” she said.

Claire said the best advice she’d received in the sport was simply to have a go.

“It’s not about whether you win or lose, it’s whether or not you’re having fun and doing your best,” she said.

“As a goalkeeper, that certainly has to be the motto that you live by.

“You always count: how many did I stop versus how many did I let in?”

Originally published as Newtown City hockey player Claire Barnes OAM steps out for her 800th match