HOCKEY/Obiturary: Billy Carpenter died in Cork on Sunday, aged 98, just hours before the Ireland Under-18s won the European Youth Nations Cup in Rotterdam. He would have chuckled with delight.

Happily, there were two other achievements in hockey circles in 2002 in which he joined in the celebrations with gusto. One, a month ago, was Ireland's first defeat of England at senior international level since 1949. And, perhaps more specially, on the first weekend of May, Cork Harlequins - with whom he was a livewire figure throughout his life - became all-Ireland champions for the first time.

Twice president of the Irish Hockey Union (1963-65 and 1973-74), Billy Carpenter also held innumerable positions in the Munster Branch and was an Irish selector and international umpire.

Yet he was primarily associated with Harlequins, of whom he was a founder member and filled every office. He had many stories to tell. One was that in playing at a variety of different locations in the club's first 35 years of existence before settling at Farmers Cross in 1961, they once turned up at a rural venue - only to find that their field (pitch) had been ploughed.

We were expecting another vigorous handshake from Billy at Belfield this week. Instead, before today's Ireland-Italy match, a minute's silence will be observed in memory of a true character. - D.A.