Grass is making way for artificial turf at the Clareville Showgrounds, as construction begins on a new hockey facility in Wairarapa. Trust House chairman Brian Bourke turned the first sod of soil yesterday, as mayors Gary McPhee of Carterton and Garry Daniell of Masterton looked on, flanked by hockey and showgroundofficials and a waiting digger. Mr Bourke said hockey is a major sport in Wairarapa and the new facility would "bring treatments, happiness and recreation to a large number of Wairarapa people". He said organisers had put a convincing presentation for Trust House support. The new field is to sit alongside the current artificial turf ground, and will enable Wairarapa teams to get more practice time and also be a venue for tournaments. Dale Collie, president of the Wairarapa A and P Society that made the land available, said the first field had been built while her husband Gordon was president, back in 1993, and it was satisfying to be part of the next step. An official opening is set for early May next year, and project organiser Bruce Perry said he was planning an exhibition match - profile Wairarapa players. Mr Perry, a trustee of the Wairarapa Sports Artificial Turf Trust, said support from various trusts had played a big part in the funding, including Prime Community Trust, Greytown Trust Lands Trust, Eastern and Central Community Trust, and Trust House, with an application now before the Lotteries Commission. Along with the new turf, a pavilion is planned for between the fields with changing rooms in between and Mr Perry said he is still looking for Wairarapa corporate sponsors to purchase signage around the fields, to fund construction. Mr Perry said interest from businesses had been steady, but time was moving on. "A lot of people have signed up for the supporters' signs, but some are saying they'll get around to it. Maybe they're thinking they'll do it early next year," Mr Perry said. "The hockey association need it now."
