Sports talk: Dr Max Price (second from left) and Prof Mike Meadows, chair of the UCT Sports Council, share drinks and sporting insights with members of the men's hockey first team.

After their first Western Province Grand Challenge triumph since 2004, the men's hockey side deserved a celebratory reception. Which is what they enjoyed with the vice-chancellor, Dr Max Price, at his Glenara residence on Sunday 3 October.

The occasion, a leisurely braai, allowed Price to congratulate the team on their performance, and laud them for their dedication to what amounts to an extra-curricular activity. But the club is renowned for its overall organisation and spirit - and a popular internal league - so it wasn't just the boys who got to hang out with the VC; the women's first team also joined in the fun.

And while they had a less-than-spectacular season, finishing eighth in the women's Grand Challenge, better times may be ahead now that the once-invincible Stellenbosch outfit has been dethroned, giving other sides a look-in for the first time in years.