Hockey players from across the state will converge on the Bundaberg Region on Sunday for the Hockey Queensland U15 Men State Championships.
Bundaberg Hockey Association treasurer Kerri-Anne Lund said the hockey championship would give some of the young local players the chance to be selected to go to the Australian titles.
Kerri-Anne said it was an honour for the local association to be chosen to host the Queensland titles, and previously the U13 Girls, U13 Boys and Women’s Masters State Championships had been held in the region with great success.
“Not every association is approached by Hockey Queensland to hold a state championship, so we are always proud to be invited to host,” she said.
“As there will generally be the turf surface and three grass fields being utilised during the carnival –it’s often commented by players and Hockey Queensland that we have the best grass fields in Queensland due to the diligence of Greg Wixon, our groundsman.
“He spends countless hours and takes great pride in preparing the fields.”
Hosting a state event like the U15 Men State Championships allows associations to promote hockey in their community with a view of increasing participation, growing the sport and raising the profile of local hockey players.
Kerri-Anne said there were 22 teams travelling from as far north as Cairns, south to the Gold Coast and west from Toowoomba to take part in the Hockey Queensland U15 Men State Championships.
“It gives Bundaberg Hockey the opportunity to promote our local area and showcase the talents of not only our local players, but the many players and officials that will be travelling to Bundaberg,” she said.
“Being able to promote our sport of hockey to the Bundaberg area allows people, both young and old, that generally would not attend our normal season to be able to spectate and hopefully wanting to join – whether this is in the form of a social comp or a competitive nature in junior and senior grades.”
There will be one home team competing in the Hockey Queensland U15 Men State Championships, and Kerri-Anne said as it would be the first time some of them had played together, giving them an opportunity to show their strengths.
“The Bundaberg team this year is a new mix of players from 13 through to 15, as they change each year with players moving up into the next age group,” she said.
“This will be the first time a lot of them have played together as a team.
“They are all consistent players but (I’m) not sure any of them would be nominating for the Queensland representative team selection this year.
“We’re always hopeful our players will be taken into consideration by the selectors – we have had a few of our players chosen in Queensland training squads or teams already this year.”
The Hockey Queensland U15 Men State Championships will help boost the local economy as families flock to the region for the start of the September school holidays.
“As a state championship brings many families from all over the state to Bundaberg, it’s always a great way to promote the Bundaberg and Wide Bay Region.
“We often have families love their stay here and what Bundaberg has to offer so they return for future school holidays and vacations.”
The Hockey Queensland U15 Men State Championships will be held at the Bundaberg Hockey grounds, 1 Thornhill Street, Bundaberg North, from 19-22 September.
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