19th NZ Secondary Schools Underwater Hockey Championships
New Zealand's Underwater Hockey stars of the future will be on show when the 
largest secondary school underwater hockey competition in the world when the 
tournament arrives in Christchurch on 22 August 2003.
The 19th NZ Secondary Schools Underwater Hockey Championships involves 40 teams 
and more than 500 players, coaches, managers and referees.
The tournament has a 19-year history as the springboard for many New Zealand 
Underwater Hockey stars and many of the victorious NZ Under 18 Team members 
will be participating.
This event at QEII Pool is a good shakedown for hosting the World Championships 
in March/April 2004.  The New Zealand U19 Open coach and selectors will be at 
the tournament identifying players for New Zealand's first entry in the U19 
Grades at a World Championships.
New Zealand's quality of secondary school players is of the highest standard 
with the NZ Under 18/19 Teams being undefeated in some 13 internationals since 
2001 against Australia and South Africa.
In 2002, the Howick College (Auckland) won the best school plate at the 
tournament, beating 5 other Schools including Tauranga Girls College and 
Wellington Girls College.  These schools look likely to feature again although 
Hutt International Boys School seem to be favourites to claim the overall 
prise.
The tournament has four grades of ten teams in each, with all teams qualifying 
from regional qualifying events held in June. 
In the Junior Grades (Under 15), Hutt International Boys School looks favoured 
to win the Junior Open Grade having won the Central Region tournament with 
Howick College and James Hargest High School from Invercargill looking likely 
contenders.
The Junior Girls Grade will see Wellington Girls College squaring off against 
Tauranga Girls College with Chilton Saint James School (Lower Hutt), Diocesan 
School for Girls (Auckland) and Hutt Valley High School set to battled it for 
the grade title.
The Senior Girls (under 19) Title looks wide open with any one of 5 teams 
likely to take home the grade honours.  Last years title holders Epsom Girls 
Grammar School from Auckland looks likely to be pushed by Tauranga Girls 
College as well as Hutt Valley High School, Queen Margaret College (Wellington) 
and Wellington Girls College.
The Senior Open (under 19) grade looks like a battle of this years New Zealand 
U18 Open representatives with Wellington College, Hutt International Boys 
School and Otumoetai College (Tauranga) all likely to advance through to the 
semi-finals.
The tournament runs from 22-24 August 2003 and further details are available at the following website  http://www.underwaterhockey.org.nz/mocossc03.htm 
For further information contact:
Tristan Reynard
(025) 495-536 (Mobile)
(04) 570-0417 (work)