Hockey extravaganza scores with officials

HAVING A BALL: Hawke's Bay Cup international women's hockey umpires manager Barbara Hunniford (left), from England, and tournament director Lillian Chee, from Singapore, in a moment's time-out as the tournament took a day's break before today's semifinals. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

The second Hawke's Bay Cup international women's hockey tournament in Hastings received a big thumbs-up from two leading visiting officials yesterday heading into the semi-finals and finals over the weekend.

Both tournament director Lillian Chee and umpires manager Barbara Hunniford seemed mildly surprised that such a fledgling tournament, away from the traditional capitals of global hockey, could tick so many boxes.

Unhesitatingly, each said they'd be back if they had the chance, and Ms Hunniford, deputy principal of Wimbledon King's College School, says: "It's not just the beautiful setting, but the warmth of the hosts and the organisation. The attention to detail is excellent."

The observation comes despite the busy schedule. In short, being an official at an international hockey tournament is no junket.

As our interview at the Quality Inn in Napier ends, the two are opening folders and pads and pulling pens. It's back to business on a day when the Marine Parade and the sunshine seems a much more appealing prospect.

Ms Chee, deputy director of marketing for the Singapore Tourism Board, is living a dream which she hopes will one day include being an official at the Olympic Games. She had about 15 years in the Singapore women's team, but they never got near qualifying, she says.

The tournament already has a special place in international hockey, where it is rare outside of Argentina and Amsterdam to see crowds of more than 10,000 at matches. Ms Hunniford says most invitation tournament have no more than four teams, but the Hawke's Bay tournament, with eight teams and its "affiliates" tournament alongside, offers many opportunities for development of players and for the game.

New Zealand has a big reputation in the sport, highlighted by the men's Olympic Games gold medal in 1976 and the women's team's semi-final performance in 2012.

Despite the high degree of skills, crowd numbers, on a global scale, never compare with those of other major sports - it may get 10,000 in key venues in Amsterdam, or Argentina.

The Regional Sports Park seats are expected to be filled throughout the weekend, however.

As it is for the players and the officials, it's something special.

"It's a once in a lifetime experience," they say.