17 February 2023, Issue 1147
Masters of the turf It’s the biggest one yet and it’s going to be held right here in Tauranga! From Sunday, February 26 to Saturday, March 4, about 1500 hockey players aged 35-plus will descend on Blake Park to smash their way towards glory in the Vantage National Masters Tournament,
hosted by Tauranga Hockey Association. They’ll also be vying for selection for the next World Masters Hockey Games in 2024. “There are 96 teams coming which is approximately 1500 players, plus management and supporters,” says tournament manager
Ruth Tuiraviravi. Eleven Tauranga-based teams will compete – including 62-year-old hockey player Jocelyn Sawyer (pictured), who has been competing in this tournament for more than 20 years. “Getting selected for the New Zealand
Masters is always a bit of a buzz!” says Jocelyn. “Tauranga is a hub of top sportspeople,” says Ruth. The tournament will be a hive of hockey talent and a great action-packed event to watch. Read more on page 6. Photo: John Borren.