Hockey: Growing Harbour getting the results

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The North Harbour Hockey Association is less than 10 years old but has emerged as a real force in the national game.

The region's first real show of strength was the triumph of its men's team in the Lion Foundation national league last year.

An indication of the depth in the association was the rare double success of its under-13 boys and girls teams in the Hatch Cup-Collier Trophy this season.

Backing these achievements were the runners-up spots filled by the North Harbour men's national league team, the under-18 boys (for the third successive season), the boys and girls under-15 teams at their national tournaments and the first and third places taken by the under-13 girls in the Collier (combined subsidiary) tournament. The under-13 boys' B team finished third at the same tournament.

The men's second XI won division two and promotion to the national senior B competition.

With 3569 players, North Harbour is the second-biggest association behind Auckland (3899) but has the biggest junior membership in the country.

The association has four artificial surfaces (three water-based).

"We knew this was going to happen," Hockey Federation chief executive Ramesh Patel said. "They have a large number of junior players and an administration which has got its act together. They have outstanding facilities which help to attract prospective players."