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Albany to host 2021 Australian Country Hockey Championships after missing out this year due to COVID-19

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The new Lower Great Southern Hockey Association turf.
Camera IconThe new Lower Great Southern Hockey Association turf. Credit: Laurie Benson

Albany will host the 2021 Australian Country Hockey Championships after Hockey Australia last week announced dates and locations for next year’s various outdoor national tournaments.

The national country championships were set to be held in Albany from August 8-15 but they were among a host of national events cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lower Great Southern Hockey Association were confident they would receive the 2021 championships after initial discussions with HA and Hockey WA and that came to fruition last week.

In their release, HA said all bar one national championship was reconfirmed for next year at the same location as this year’s abandoned events.

“All 2021 events except for the Australian men’s and women’s masters championships, will be held at the same locations as those slated for 2020 that did not go ahead due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the release said.

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The announcement is a major boost for the LGSHA and Albany region, after winning the right to host the championships before the pandemic.

The national country championships, which will involve men’s and women’s teams from various States and Territories, will be played in Albany from August 7-14 next year.

Albany hockey player Charlotte Edwards was the last WA representative at the national champs.
Camera IconAlbany hockey player Charlotte Edwards was the last WA representative at the national champs. Credit: Laurie Benson

LGSHA president Alex Bott welcomed the latest news.

“It was really good to see they followed through on the commitment to honour the champion-ships we missed out on,” he said.

“This will be a great chance to showcase the region and town to the wider hockey community.

“There wasn’t a lot to do on our behalf — it was really just finalising the agreement.”

Bott hoped some local players would be able to represent the LGSHA at State level.

“Hockey WA have moved the country week dates, which serves as selection for this,” he said.

“We are organising teams to take to that and hopefully we get some players representing their State in their home town.”

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