Sport
22 May, 2026
Bronze for Hockey South West
HOCKEY South West’s under 16 girls’ team has brought home bronze from the 2026 Junior Country Championships.
Held across three venues in Melbourne last weekend, the championships attracted some of the best teams from across regional Victoria.
Hockey South West (HSW) sent four teams to represent the association at the annual competition.
The HSW under 16 girls had a brilliant tournament, finishing third overall.
The squad of 13 players improved on the team’s fourth-place finish last year.
In the bronze medal match, HSW secured a 2-1 win over Ballarat, with goals to Keira Austin and Sophie Burrows.
“The girls did us proud,” team manager Belinda Van Zelst said.
“It was a brilliant tournament with a fantastic team of players who worked so hard and gave everything.”
The State Hockey Centre hosted the under 18 competition where the HSW boys momentum grew throughout the competition.
The side played its best hockey on day two, defeating Hamilton with a 2-0 win in the preliminary final.
In the playoff for third, the boys had multiple scoring opportunities, but in the end East Gippsland was too strong and the team had to be content with fourth place.
Coach Jarrod Knoop said the boys stepped up to the challenge and fought hard, producing a very high standard of hockey.
The HSW under 14 girls and under 14 boys teams played at the Essendon Hockey Centre.
Taking relatively inexperienced teams, the coaches were pleased with their players’ efforts.
Girls’ coach Sharyn Stevenson said there was plenty of growth within the team across the weekend.
“There was also plenty of laughs, fun and smiles off the field,” she said.
Under 14 boys coach, Anthony Leddinm, said he was proud of his team and echoed Stevenson, noting the team’s strength was team play despite coming up against some tough opponents.
HSW umpire Juliette Pinkerton officiated at her first junior country championships.
She umpired eight games and had the opportunity to grow her experience at championship level.
HSW president Kim White said the strong results reflected continuing growth in hockey participation in the south west region.
“Hockey South West encompasses Warrnambool and surrounding districts, including Port Fairy, Terang, Camperdown and Timboon,” she said.
“We have strong junior membership, and we are proud of the success of these representative teams.”
