GET your tackling, dribbling and goal scoring skills ready– the annual Sandy Sticks beach hockey tournament wants you!
The Douglas Hockey Association and Beach Hockey Australia are running a family beach hockey tournament on Port Douglas’s Four Mile Beach on Saturday October 16, 2021. The round robin beach hockey tournament is designed for both juniors and adults to compete.
Our local hockey club is also excited to announce that Toni Cronk will be joining the Beach Hockey tournament. Toni is an elite goalkeeper who made her debut for the Australian women’s national team in October 2001 in the test series against New Zealand in Melbourne. Nicknamed “Cronky” she was a member of the Hockeyroos at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain.
Toni will also be running a goalkeeper clinic for us the week following Beach Hockey, more news on this soon.
“This is the second year we’re running this event and we have great hopes for a strong turnout on glorious Four Mile Beach. This is the only event of its type in Australia and we are excited to be bringing this sport to one of Australia’s best known beaches. In the future we hope to see it being played in coastal regions throughout the country.”
Douglas Hockey Association President, Greg Mill
“We have regional teams attending from Townsville, Cairns, Atherton and Cooktown competing against the best players from the Douglas Shire. It is a jam-packed program of events, taking full advantage of our wonderful beach environment and local food & accommodation.”
The Sandy Sticks tournament this year will be played on two giant inflatable beach hockey pitches, one of which was recently funded by the Douglas Shire Council through their 2021 grant’s program.
Junior and adult matches will be running from 9am-4pm with presentations and awards following the finals. Junior, Senior, Mixed and Celebrity teams are now open for registration, each with five players a side (eight per squad) playing a round robin style tournament.
A barbeque and refreshments will also be set up at the northern end of Four Mile Esplanade, with all money raised going to support junior hockey development in the region.
For the full weekend-long program, please visit the Douglas Hockey Facebook page.
Email: info@douglashockey.org
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