LIGHTNING-FAST requiring an abundance of stamina, strategy and steely-eyed determination, the 2024 Hockey Victoria Junior State Championships descended upon Shepparton Sports City last week from Wednesday, July 3 to Sunday, July 7.
Pushing-off the winter school holidays amidst the sound of whistles, cheers, slaps and flicks, 25 Under 12 teams took to the fields to compete in an awe-inspiring 86 matches followed by the Under 14 and 16 Girls who ignited the pitches with 18 teams competing across 60 matches.
Dazzling in uniforms adorned with colourful and spectacular Indigenous artwork, competing teams were proud to highlight the importance of NAIDOC Week, which coincided with the final day of competition.
Proud to be supporting NAIDOC Week, General Manager of Events and Commercial at Hockey Victoria, Ben Seccull said, “Hockey Victoria is really excited to have all teams wearing uniforms with wonderful Indigenous artwork designed by Papul Art.”
Last hosted in Shepparton in 2021, the return of the Hockey Victoria Junior State Championships to the region was not only a crowd-pleasing way to heat up the school holidays but was great news for the local economy, drawing visitors far and wide from across the state.
