Hockey: Tourney chance to celebrate

Rotorua Crew player Dominque Chandler (front) in action at the 50th United Women's Indoor Hockey Tournament at the weekend. Photo / Ben Fraser

A popular Rotorua hockey tournament has celebrated 50 years in the city, with local Black Stick Leo Mitai-Wells among hundreds of players taking part at the Sportsdrome.

The United Women's Indoor Hockey Tournament celebrated its 50th anniversary at the weekend with 82 teams competing.

The seven-a-side tournament started as a women's competition but has since been expanded to include a men's and mixed division.

Mitai-Wells, 20, who debuted for the New Zealand men's hockey team last month, said it was a good social tournament and he came down from Auckland to play.

"It was good fun to play with the boys," he said. "It's all about having a laugh and hanging out with the club mates."

Mitai-Wells grew up in Rotorua but is based in Auckland.

He plays club hockey for Roskill Eden Hockey Club, who brought down a couple of teams to compete in Rotorua over the weekend.

One of the organisers, Neroli Lemon, said it was a real family-run event, and her mum and brother had organised the tournament for decades.

A social was held at the Arawa Park Racecourse on Saturday night to celebrate the 50th anniversary, she said.

"A lot of the teams that come every year use it as their end of year get together," Lemon said.

"This is the most teams we have ever had and the first time we have held it over three days."

She said any money left over would be put to good use.

"With the money we make, we put it back into Rotorua hockey, which goes towards things like buying hockey equipment for schools."

About 20 local teams competed over the weekend, with the majority from Auckland. The games went for 10 minutes, and were all played at the Sportsdrome.