LOCAL HOPES: Tauranga's Michelle Prendiville, Amy Robinson and Frances Davies from the Midlands under-21 women's team at Tuesday night's launch at the Avantidrome in Cambridge.PHOTO/SUPPLIED
The University of Waikato Midlands teams to contest the National Under-21 Hockey Championships at Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga, Auckland from May 3-10 were launched in salubrious surroundings at the Cambridge Avantidrome on Tuesday night.
Tauranga Hockey players selected to play at the nationals - Frances Davies, Michelle Prendiville and Amy
Robinson (women) and Joseph Lyons, Hamish McGeorge, Simon Morbey (GK), Lachie Musgrave and Matthew Taylor (men) - were all in attendance.
In a unique first, the Midlands hockey teams were showcased at the newly opened multi-million dollar facility as part of a new initiative so more elite teams from various sporting bodies are able to utilise the world class training facilities.
Midlands Hockey high performance director, Simon Brill, believes there is a real opportunity for athletes and coaches to learn from the very best in New Zealand sport, with BikeNZ, Rowing New Zealand and Triathlon New Zealand all based in the region.
"At Midlands Hockey, we are actively seeking opportunities to develop relationships for the sharing of knowledge," he said.