Players from all over the country, including from the Upper Lachlan Shire, are going to take part in the Australian Indoor Hockey Festival, which is set to return to Goulburn’s Veolia Arena for the second time from Friday January 4 to Saturday January 26, 2019.
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The festival is expected to bring an estimated $3 million in economic benefits to the regional centre. 88 teams and their families, along with event officials, will be staying in Goulburn for the duration of the festival.
Hockey Australia CEO, Matt Favier said, “we’re thrilled to have Goulburn host the 2019 Australian Indoor Hockey Festival once again, having done an outstanding job in 2018.”
“The festival has grown with the addition of the Masters event in December and we have seen an increase in competing teams, which is extremely pleasing as the indoor hockey community comes together nationally.”
The festival will build on Goulburn’s status as a national centre for indoor hockey, with teams travelling to Goulburn to represent each Australian state and territory, and this year will see a women’s team representing New Zealand for the first time in the open women’s division.
Goulburn Mulwaree Council Mayor, Bob Kirk said, “I am pleased to again welcome the Australian Festival of Indoor Hockey to Goulburn. The event is a wonderful boost to our local economy, and is always popular as it draws in some of the best players from around the country.”
“Goulburn Mulwaree and the wider region is known for producing great hockey players, and we will again have a strong local showing at our event; I’m sure they are excited to compete in their own city in 2019.”
The inaugural Indoor Masters Challenge represented the first part of the Australian Indoor Hockey Festival which took place from December 14 to 16, 2018, and a further five divisions will be played throughout January 2019.
The Under 13’s division will kick off the tournament, set to be played from January 4 to 7, followed by Under 15’s from January 8 to 12, Under-18’s from January 13 to 17, Under 21’s from January 18 to 22 and the Open division from January 23 to 26, 2019.
The 2018 festival, which also took place in January at Veolia Arena, saw a number of NSW teams claim titles across a wide range of age divisions, including the Under 13’s Girls, Under 13’s Boys, Under 15’s Girls, Under 15’s Boys, Under 18’s Girls, Under 21 Women, and the Open Men, who won their grand final against the ACT 4-3 in a thrilling encounter.
For a full preview and draw of the festival visit www.hockeyaustralia.com.au.