Festival a winner for 'hockey-mad' Bay family

Simon Nation and his daughter Sophie both played in winning teams during the Festival of Hockey.

To say hockey runs in the blood of the Hawke's Bay-bred Nation family is an understatement.

The past week has seen Simon and Sarah Nation and their three "hockey mad" children practically living at the Unison Hockey Turf in Hastings for competitions within the Hawke's Bay Festival of Hockey.

Provincial hockey representative Simon Nation plays for the Hawke's Bay men's side who beat NZ Maori 5-4 in the final on Saturday night.

His daughter, third-generation representative Sophie, also played, in yesterday's secondary schoolgirls' tournament final for the Furnware Cup, helping her Napier Girls' High School beat Iona College 1-0.

Mr Nation says the level of competition played in the affiliates' tournament has been extremely high.

"Overall, it's been the best hockey we've ever had to play in order to make the final," he said.

Crowd numbers this week for all games have been better than expected, considering the wet weather, something Mr Nation believes stands the region in good stead to host an Eight Nations tournament next year.

"This has been great for New Zealand hockey. Now that we have a major tournament held here for the next 10 years sells it really.

"I think we will get the Eight Nations next year, we've done a good enough job to do that."

He mentors all three of his children as well as coaching the NGHS First XI and the HB U15 Prems sides.

He says the opportunity for secondary schools to play alongside their Black Sticks idols has been immense.

"I don't think they quite understand how lucky they are, in four to five years' time they could be emulating their idols right on their back doorstep."

Graeme Findlay, Dylan Thomas, Charlie Jenkins, Brennan Alexander-Parker and Mac Wilcox scored for HB men in the final.

NZ Maori won the the Margaret Hiha Trophy for the affiliates' women's tourney after beating Australia Country 2-1.

In the Furnware Cup, Woodford House won the third-fourth playoff in a torrid battle against Gisborne Girls' High 3-2 in a penalty shootout.