New turf solves logistical nightmare

Kelly Govans can't wait.
First games on the new water-based hockey turf at Clareville are scheduled for next Monday afternoon and no one is more pleased about that than Govans, who is responsible for the organisation of the draw for inter-club games there.
Rather than have just the one turf to call on Govans will now have two and accommodating the 75 teams involved in inter-club play this season will no longer be a logistical nightmare.
In fact, it's been mission impossible to a degree with a different grade each week having to miss out on matches because of the logjam and some of the junior teams having to play on grass.
But from Monday onwards not only will all teams be able to play on the artificial turf surfaces but there will be other huge benefits, like scheduling matches at more convenient times and allowing teams to actually warm-up on the turf before their games.
"It's going to be huge for hockey here, absolutely huge," Govans said of the new turf which has been installed at a cost of around $1.6m and which would have been ready for use several weeks ago but for the inclement weather experienced over the Wairarapa region.
Wairarapa currently has the highest player numbers per head of population in the country with almost 1 in 23 people living in the region playing hockey, a staggering statistic when you consider the national average is about 1 in 89.
Just when the new turf will be officially opened will be decided at a meeting of Hockey Wairarapa on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, Clareville will be the venue of an under-16 boys regional tournament on Saturday and Sunday.
Teams involved there will be Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, Manawatu and Wairarapa.