Hockey NSW say under-13 state selections could return to Port Macquarie

The news came after Port Macquarie-Hastings Hockey Association held the event in the region for the first-ever time last weekend.

And the locals made an impression.

PMHHA president Simon Thresher said the governing body would also “lend their support” for work to start on an upgraded clubhouse at the facility.

Currently, it is little more than a shipping container.

“It’s good to get the state body and their hierarchy up here to see what we’ve got,” Thresher said.

“They loved coming up here and are pushing for me to get the clubhouse up and running because they want to bring other events back here.

“They’re lending their support from their end and giving us letters of support to go on with the grant applications.

“All the feedback I’ve received has been that they’d love to bring hockey back here for a three or four day carnival.”

Thresher said Hockey NSW had indicated the under-13 selection trials would return to Port Macquarie next year, but the association had even greater plans.

“We’re trying to attract the masters up here next year as well which is 55s,” he said.

“They’re trying to make it a permanent fixture here for the 13s because it went so well and they’re trying to bring it back here every weekend to coincide with the masters weekend for the foreseeable future.

“Most associations shut down for that weekend so they’re pretty keen to bring it back here in the next couple of years.”

Thresher admitted current limits at the facility would prevent them from making a play for senior men’s and women’s and under-18 men’s and women’s events.

But the news of the under-13 selection trials was welcomed with open arms.

“We can’t have (the seniors and under-18s) because we need grass fields and water-based fields, but we’re looking at 13s and 15s age groups and in the men’s masters age groups as well.”

It was reward for the hard work everyone involved with the association had put in over the last couple of years.

“They (Hockey NSW) talked about bringing the accelerated athlete program up here as well,” Thresher said.

“That usually happens in about February and it’s a week-long camp where they do all their training and use the local facilities like the pool and the gym to do other training.

“(We’ve got) the facility up to a standard where we can attract these events; it’s just results for the hard work we’ve all put in.

“Hopefully we get the grant and then we can build a clubhouse.”