INLINE HOCKEY NATIONALS ROLL INTO TARANAKI New Plymouth Rollersports will provide the venue for the New Zealand National Inline Hockey Championships being staged at the roller-sports arena at East End Reserve during the first week of the school holidays. The event will provide non-stop action every day over the nine days of competition and offers free spectator entry. Inline hockey is still an emerging sport in New Zealand, but getting noticed when competing internationally. The last 12 months have seen Wellington’s Kendra Manning awarded with the “top goaltender award” breaking the gender barrier in the traditionally all men platinum division at NARCh in San Jose, California (2012), and Louis Taiapa was awarded the “top sniper,” showing the crowd a few moves that will not be forgotten in a hurry. Both players will be in New Plymouth competing for their home club, Capital Penguins in the Premier division. Capital Penguins are the current trophy holder, winning it from New Plymouth Ravens in 2012. There are 10 premier club teams vying for this coveted trophy in 2013. Earlier this year, New Zealand entered six teams in the AAU Junior Olympics and FIRS World Championships in Anaheim, California. The teams returned home with a selection of medals, most notably the senior women placing third at the world championships and the senior men placing third in the World Championships. Teams from all over the north island and the top of the south will make their pilgrimage to New Zealand’s pinnacle inline hockey event. Many of the players competing internationally in 2013 will be in New Plymouth competing for their club teams. More than 50 teams – covering the eight age grades from Under 10 through to senior men, premier and women – will be seeking national honours and the treasured silver trophy. The venue has provided national and international events over the past 10 years with the latest in skating floor technology, IceCourt, being funded by the TSB Community Trust and installed early in 2012. New Plymouth’s Krystyna Beardman, Operations Manager for New Zealand Inline Hockey, is Tournament Manager. She encourages spectators to come and visit the arena at East End reserve to watch the games. The games are fast and action-packed and promise to entertain. Event dates are September 28 to October 6, and game scheduling will be available online a few days prior at inlinehockeynz.org.nz. Information is available at the venue about learning to play the game, with contact information for all clubs available if you are just visiting Taranaki for the holidays.
Posted on: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 09:25:29 +0000