Mangamahu teenager Jimi Blinkhorne returned the country yesterday with an Australian roller hockey gold medal around his neck.
The New Zealand age-group representative spent last week playing for the Melbourne-based Mordialloc club's under-17 side in the Australia Day Cup national roller hockey tournament.
The tournament was held in Melbourne fromJanuary 18-22 and featured the best clubs from around Australia.
Blinkhorne impressed the hosts scoring seven goals in the under-17 tournament culminating in scoring a hat trick in Mordialloc's 5-1 win over Brisbane club Stafford in the final.
While there the 15-year-old also took the chance to play in the senior competition turning out for New Plymouth which sent a team over the ditch.
It was his first taste of senior competition and a big step up in quality given some teams had Australian senior representatives.
Still, Blinkhorne managed to score three goals in the senior side's six games.
He said he felt comfortable in the under-17 competition and his performances earned praise from Mordialloc's club captain who called him an asset to the team.
The trip to Australia was a chance for him to develop his game and gain experience in what is a quiet period for roller hockey in New Zealand.
He said the Australian style of play was a lot more focussed on technique and skill whereas New Zealand roller hockey often required power and strength.
Part of the national title-winning Wanganui youth team last year and also a Whanganui High School field hockey player, Blinkhorne said he had enjoyed his Australian experience and planned to return for next year's title defence.
But before that his father Paul is hoping to get him to Barcelona in June for a training camp and hopes to seek out sponsors.
"To get taught by the best you've pretty much go to go there," Paul Blinkhorne said. "He's good enough to go a lot further."
