Guyana’s hockey enjoyed measurable success during 2010 in high-level regional competitions but the cancellation of the annual Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival planned for the first week in December put a damper on a relatively busy year.
First up the National women’s squad competed in the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Puerto Rico where they placed fifth in the eight-team tournament.
The Guyanese went into the tournament as the underdog s but emerged as a serious challenger to the other competing nations.
They defeated host nation Puerto Rico 1-0, drew with Bermuda and Barbados 0-0 and 1-1, but lost to eventual winners Trinidad and Tobago 5-1 and Jamaica 1-0 in the playoffs.
Next up the National men’s team competed in the Pan American Indoor championships in Venezuela where they placed fifth in the nine-nation tournament where Guyanese-born Jonathan Roberts playing for Canada was voted Player of the tournament after scoring 18 goals.
Guyana defeated Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay but suffered defeats to Canada, United States and Argentina.
The local calendar saw the completing of the GT&T sponsored National Indoor championship at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the Farfan and Mendes first division as well as the Banks Night tournament at Thirst Park.
Junior players were also exposed to training during the August school break.
The Annual Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Festival was cancelled due to the unevenness of the recently refurbished playing surface at the Sports Hall.
Both local and overseas teams were notified of the problem and according to Guyana Hockey Board President Philip Fernandes the Board will resume the tournament next year once the problem is rectified.
Hikers men were crowned national indoor champions while Georgetown Cricket Club women were the female champs. (To be continued)
