Hockey federation likely

Press, 22 April 1986, Page 36

Hockey federation likely

By

KEVIN TUTTY

An Oceania hockey federation concerned with promoting and improving the standard of the sport in the region is likely to be established during the first South Pacific hockey tournament in Auckland in September. Officers of the New Zealand Hockey Association met members of the Australian Hockey Federation last week in Melbourne, and the groundwork was done for the establishment of the federation. Dr Bruce Penfold, the chairman of the New Zealand Hockey Associa-

tion said yesterday a meeting of representatives of the countries eligible for the federation would be held during the tournament, and the first officers elected. A number of other matters was discussed by the representatives of the two nations, including regular contests between the New Zealand and Australian teams. No agreement on regular series was reached however, because of the uncertainty of international competition. Major tournaments appear on the international calendar at short notice, and Australia is usually

invited. That could make it impractical to maintain regular dates. Series arranged at relatively short notice, when circumstances permitted, were more likely, Dr Penfold said. Australia was keen to have a regular exchange between the junior teams of the two countries, although it would like any New Zealand tour across the Tasman to take in Perth, where Australian hockey’s institute of sport is established. A Commonwealth tuornament in 1988 had been mooted by Australia, but response from Com-

monwealth nations had been moderate, and it was unlikely, at this stage, to become a regular part of the international calendar, said Dr Penfold. A one-off Commonwealth tournament might be held in Australia in 1988. Hockey will not be part of the second Australia Games, next year, but the A.H.A. proposed holding an inter-state indoor tournament at the same time as the Games — in March — and New Zealand might be invited to take part.