Hundreds of young hockey players picked up their sticks and put on their shin pads to wrap up the school holidays by racing around the turf yesterday. The Big Save Youth Hockey Festival kicked off on Thursday with primary schools from inside and outside the region competing for the golden prizes.
Despite other parts of the country being graced with heavy rain and strong winds the Hawke's Bay weather gods put on some good playing conditions for the aspiring Black Sticks.
Hawke's Bay Hockey community manager Andi Cullen said there were 23 teams in total with some children coming from Levin, Taupo, Horowhenua, Ohau and Gisborne to compete.
For the first time a Mini Sticks competition was added to the tournament drawing year three and fours to Park Island in Napier.
Hawke's Bay Hockey administration manager Michelle Francis said the Mini Sticks entries reached full capacity with seven teams registering for the two-day tournament.