NZ Beach Hockey Champs kicks off

The New Zealand Beach Hockey Championship is taking place outside the Mount Surf Club in Mount Maunganui today. Photos and Video: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Sixteen teams from around the country will vie for the title of New Zealand Beach Hockey champions in Mount Maunganui today.

About 100 hockey players are competing in the fifth annual championships which kicked off outside the Mount Surf Club on the Main Beach at 9.30am.

'We've had teams here from all over the country here since 7.30am setting up their tents. The wind might pose a little bit of a challenge today, so it's all hands on deck,” says local organiser Kate Savory.

'Today we might also see the faces of local Blacksticks Francis Davies and Amy Robinson coming down, they're the two new girls who've been selected recently.”

Beach hockey is a fast-paced game which features teams of five duke it out over five minute halves inside an inflatable surround. Players use specially made hockey sticks who smack about a ball which is similar to a mini soccer ball.

The first championships were held in Mount Maunganui and Kate says it's always amazing how much support the tournament receive from the local community each year.

'It's really good to see the local support. We've had people donating vouchers, come down to help us set up, bakeries making us lunches,

'We encourage everyone to come on down to have a look and check out the action.”

The final of the NZ Beach Hockey Championships will take place at 5pm.

For more information visit: www.facebook.com/NZBeachHockey/

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