By Helen Manley

CARADON Hockey Club kick off their new league season this Saturday with the men’s first team in the dizzy new heights of the Premier Division in the West Hockey League.

Following their remarkable promotion which saw them win 20, draw one and lose as well as net 100 goals, they now face some of the top teams in the South West with regular away trips to Bristol and Wales on the cards. They start by welcoming Isca to Lux Park (2.15pm).

The men's second team will hope to build upon winning the Cornwall County Plate with new captain Liam Champion taking the reigns for their Piran Division Two campaign which gets underway at their Penzance counterparts (2.45pm), while the thirds, who start at Falmouth Seconds (1.45pm), will take their mix of youth and experience in the club’s development team into Piran Division Three.

All four women's teams have welcomed new faces as well as returning players. The firsts finished third last year in Division One South following relegation and welcome University of Plymouth to Lux Park (9.30am), while the twos head to Truro (12.30pm) to see if they can improve on last year’s second in Division Two South.

The Women's thirds and fourths see their respective seasons in Trelawney divisions one and two get a new look and set-up with all teams playing each other three times. The thirds host Penzance Seconds on Saturday (11am) with the fourths tackling Penzance Thirds straight after (12.30pm).

In between league fixtures there are cup games with the Cornwall County Cup starting next month, while the club have entered two mixed teams, the Mens Seconds and an Over 35s women's team, into the England Hockey Cup competition series.

Following the past three weeks of pre-season friendlies and tournaments, Caradon are keen to see what they can achieve over the coming months.