Ali Arsahd
Downing, CUHC, 1998-2003
Where are you now?
Consultant cancer surgeon in Southampton
What are your sporting career highlights?
Cheshire U21 Hockey, Blue 2001 & 2002. Wanderers Colours 2000 & 2003. CUHC president 2002. Hawks Committee 2001 & 2002.
What are your fondest memories of Cambridge Sport and The Hawks’ Club?
Really too many to mention- however CUHC did have a reputation for being quite a fun club particularly on nights out. This wasn’t shared by some of the other clubs. One year, the CUBC president, a celebrated International oarsman, instructed the Blue Boat hopefuls that they needed to have “more fun and be more like the hockey boys” and got them to have several fancy dress outings starting and finishing at the Hawks on a Saturday night, not that far away from the boat race. They certainly had fun, but sadly came second that year on the water!
What do you miss most about Cambridge/The Hawks’ Club?
The camaraderie of Saturday evenings in the hawks bar. The friendly inter-club rivalry, hawks committee dinners and the atmosphere of a home from home the club provided.
If you could relive any sporting moment from your lifetime, what would it be and why?
If you could relive any sporting moment from your lifetime, what would it be and why? 2001 hockey varsity match at the National hockey stadium in Milton Keynes. We were massive underdogs with Oxford in the National league (we were one league below). We were 1-0 up at half time, 2-0 through a cracker of a deflected goal, then 3-0 with one of the best goals I ever saw from Jamie Parker on the reverse from an impossible angle. They got a consolation goal but the feeling at the end was immense. The pride of wearing the blazer that evening was unforgettable.
