Photo: Supplied.
CONTRIBUTED BY REDLANDS HOCKEY
What a weekend of hockey for the Redlands Hockey Association’s “old boys”. Redlands had three teams competing at the Queensland Men’s Masters Hockey State Championships at Chermside during the May Day long weekend, with one team in the 45-54 age division and two in the Over 55 division.
The Over 45 Redlands team was placed fourth in Pool D, the Over 55 Redlands 1 came second in Pool CC and the Over 55 Redlands 2 was third in Pool CC.
How did we have two Redlands teams in the O55s? The second team consisted of orphans without a home as this age group is difficult to field a full complement of players from the association. Redlands showed its true heart in allowing the team of players from Tweed, Gold Coast, Fraser Coast, Maryborough, Bundaberg, Northern Rivers and Armidale to play under its association banner and challenge for state representation.
From that team there were five or six players chosen to represent Queensland at the coming National Championships in Perth and without Redlands’ support, they could not have had that opportunity.
When the teams were announced on the Sunday, these players were all very appreciative of the role Redlands had played in helping them gain selections. All expressed their keenness to play with Redlands in any future events.
We wish to thank the Redlands Hockey Association board for its assistance in allowing two teams to play in this year’s championships. The team may have lost all its games, but it was the on-field time in front of selectors that was more important.
