Hockey fun abounds at local festival

KNYSNA NEWS - For the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the fields at Sport at Backward Point just outside Rheenendal played host to a hockey festival recently.

The Sport at Backward Point U13 Hockey Festival is organised by Keith Cretchley (who also maintains the fields) and his team, and prior to the pandemic they hosted various hockey festivals across various age groups every year.

But, with the Covid-19 regulations finally allowing enough leeway for the return of the hockey festivals, Cretchley and Sport at Backward Point brought the U13 rendition back to life during the March school holidays.

PHOTO GALLERY: Backward Point U13 Hockey Festival

More than 30 boys and girls teams, made up of at least 11 children each from schools right around the country, descended upon the fields for three days of fun competition from Friday to to Sunday, 25 to 27 March.

Hundreds of children along with hundreds more parents lined the make-shift hockey fields that were set up, with the distinct sounds of clashing hockey sticks and the cheers of parents for their children echoing through the air.

Joshua Harvey carries the ball forward for Oakhill.

Each day was blessed with the perfect weather for endless amounts of fun to be had, and the festival was a roaring success.

"It's been absolutely phenomenal to have everybody back again for some hockey," Cretchley said proudly.

"This is also the most parents and supporters we've ever had out, so it's really great to see everybody up and out and about once more."

Cretchley will for now pack up the hockey equipment and prepare his fields for the Knysna Villagers Cricket Festival yet again.

Oakhill's short corner defenders Yandisa Lithole, Joshua Harvey, Garth Steenkamp, Jake Wood and Adam Goldberg await the short corner injection. Photos: Blake Linder