MICHAEL York has enjoyed a lot of hockey-associated success.
He captained his country and is regarded as one of the best defenders to play the game. His name is still yielding success with the U11s tournament named in his honour growing at a rapid pace. This weekend’s annual Country Energy York Cup and Kim Small Shield carnival, is shaping up to be the biggest yet, Tamworth Hockey Association president Graeme McKenzie said.
“We’ve got 14 boys’ teams and 10 in the girls so that’s two up on the boys and four up on the girls from last year,” McKenzie said.
The host association will supply seven teams – four in the girls and three in the boys.
That itself represents a growth.
“In the boys we’ve got two from Sydney, one from the Central Coast, two from Newcastle, one from Manning Valley, three from Tamworth, one from Scone, one from New England, one from Grafton, one from Inverell and one from Moree,” McKenzie said.
“It’s a good mix of really strong associations and developing ones.”
The four girls teams will be joined by the likes of Newcastle, Scone, New England and Manning Valley.
“It’s the first time Newcastle have come to the Kim Small Shield,” McKenzie said.
York has regularly attended the carnival, and said he always enjoys getting back to his roots.
“It’s good to come back, support the York Cup and bring the kids home to see mum and dad,” he said.
The carnival was inaugurated in 2004, with the Kim Small Shield being added in 2006.
“It just seems to grow each year,” York said.
“And it’s really quite impressive to see so many kids out there. They’re all beaming.”
He was out at the hockey fields for yesterday’s launch, at which acting regional general manager for the Northern Region Warren Hay spoke about how happy they were to be associated with the event.
“Country Energy are very proud to be involved in events like this,” he said.
“Part of our motto is ‘We Live Here Too’.”
They have supported the carnival for the past two years.
The carnival will run over Saturday and Sunday morning.
Meanwhile Tamworth’s Isobel Hazel and New England’s Rochelle Witherdin have been selected in the NSW U13s Northern Squad following last weekend’s State Championships.