Black Stick Bridget Blackwood was back in her home town on Wednesday, checking out the young talent at the Gonville hockey turf.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who left Wanganui to study in Christchurch, was guest of honour at Hockey Wanganui's Olympic dress-up day.
Forty-three school teams were in action during the
afternoon and all were encouraged to dress up as a hockey-playing nation. Wigs, painted faces and national colours were the order of the day, with Kai Iwi and St John's being voted the two best-dressed teams.
Blackwood, who played for the Junior Black Sticks at the Junior World Cup in 2009 and turns out for Canterbury in the National Hockey League, visited Wanganui Collegiate and Gonville schools before heading down to the turf to join in the Olympic celebration. Hockey New Zealand has had a number of internationals visiting cities to lift the profile of the game and inspire the next generation of players.
Meanwhile, Wanganui's under-18 boys representative team will be in action in Palmerston North this weekend with games against Hutt Valley and Wellington.
