Carib Magnolia host big hockey series in Tobago

WITH AN estimated cost of $350,000 to produce, the Carib Magnolias Hockey Club will host their first international competition — the Carib Magnolia International Hockey Festival, in the sister isle Tobago from September 26 to October 1. The event was launched at the Hospitality Suite, Carib Brewery Limited, Champs Fleurs last Wednesday. Outlining the week-long contest was tournament chairperson Sally Hospedales, who revealed that the days will coincide with the Carnival festivities of The Tobago Fest. “We believe that this would give us a wonderful opportunity to allow everyone both local and foreign a chance to experience this in the beautiful island of Tobago,” said Hospedales. The tournament will feature matches in three divisions — men, women and mixed, with registration of teams on September 25 and action flicking off the following day on the Bon Accord Grounds. The preliminary rounds will be played at Bon Accord from September 26-29, with a fun day on September 30 and the finals on October 1 at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet.

The clubs will vie for a jackpot of US $1,000 in each category. Deadline for submitting entries is June 30 while teams expected to fly in from the Caribbean, North and South America, Europe and Australia. Hospedales noted: “In light of our focus of the development of the sport, with particular interest for exposure to our youth, and the general public awareness, we are aspiring to attract teams of a certain standard, and from various countries, whereby the competition would be keen, and the exchange of skills, ideas, tactical plays and technique would be prevalent and beneficial to all.” The tournament chairperson also called for the involvement of the Tobago House of Assembly, TIDCO, NCBA and Tobago Fest Committee in addition to the Tobago Hoteliers Association. “We would like to join hands in partnerships with these bodies, as each one would enhance every aspect of the tournament and fulfil our hopes and realisation of the tournament as we have planned it,” she proposed.

But, mindful of the financial constraints of hosting such an event, Hospedales indicated that the event would be a bi-annual one. “We believe that clubs, players and sponsors will have sufficient time to re-energise and that we ourselves as organisers will be able to evaluate, improve and scrutinise all angles of the tournament, with a view to aspiring to a higher standard each time,” she admitted. Also speaking at the launch were Colin Murray, Public Relations Officer at Carib Brewery Limited (the event’s official sponsor) as well as Sports Minister Roger Boynes. Boynes praised the club’s effort in organising the competition, stating it will go a long way in “establishing Trinidad and Tobago as a sporting hub in the Caribbean.” For further information one can contact Carib Magnolia Hockey Club at 22 Murray Street, Woodbrook, via the world-wide web at caribmags2004@yahoo.com, or call 683-8333 or 682-6338.