EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE
Christchurch hockey impacted by the quakes The sport of hockey lost several key playing facilities in the September and February earthquakes. The rupturing of fields, liquefaction and the loss of buildings and changing facilities has caused, and continues to cause, a great deal of angst for players, supporters and the sport’s administrators. Four major hockey tournaments which would have been held in Canterbury in 2011 and 2012 have had to be re-located. This includes the National Indian Tournament and the National Hockey League finals, and Canterbury Hockey CEO Tim Shannahan says this is a bitter blow. “We’re facing challenges on many different fronts at the moment,” says Tim. “It’s extremely disappointing we can’t host these prestigious events, but in reality the bigger issue is to simply deliver the 2011 season right now for the local hockey community.”
“In September we lost Christchurch’s two premier fields at Porritt Park,” he says. “Luckily, thanks to NZCT’s support, the Canterbury Artificial Surfaces Trust has been able to get a second field up and running at Nunweek Park. It’s not 100 percent finished –– but we’re using it anyway. The season has kicked off and we need every available field we can get.”
Tim says that despite the lack of facilities, worsened as a result of damage to many of the city’s smaller fields used for junior hockey in February’s earthquake, the number of players who want to ‘swing a stick’ is as high as ever.
“Entries for the current season indicate the sport is growing at both senior and youth levels,” he says. “We assume this is because people want a sense of ‘normality’ and playing sport offers a form of escape from the stress of dealing with the earthquakes’ aftermath.”
To counter the increase in demand and the reduced number of fields, games have been shortened, and the playing schedule is starting earlier and finishing later, so that more games can be played on the fields available.
Tim says times will be tough for a long time to come, but he’s confident there is a good opportunity for the sport of hockey to plan and develop a bright future in Christchurch. Funding will be an issue, and Tim acknowledges NZCT’s support. Other than the two fields at Nunweek Park, one of which NZCT is currently helping to complete, the only other full sized hockey field available is the one which opened at St Bede’s College in 2010. NZCT was a major funding contributor to this field too.
Everyone at NZCT wishes Canterbury Hockey and the players in Christchurch all the best during this frustrating, trying time. It is known that the hockey community has experienced loss of life in this tragedy and many people are experiencing varying degrees of personal challenges in the aftermath. Aware that sport is a good antidote to stress, we encourage as many people as possible to get and stay involved, despite the current challenges.
