The current COVID-19 outbreaks have claimed another victim on the national sporting calendar, with the upcoming field hockey Australian Country Championships and Under 13s Carnival both called off.
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The Country Championships were scheduled to take place from October 16 to October 23, with the Under 13s to begin a month later on November 11.
"Sadly, we have had to make the unfortunate but necessary decision to cancel the remainder of our national championship events for this year," Hockey Australia GM Commercial, Communications and Events, Tim Cherry, said.
"Considering the extended lockdown and ongoing COVID case numbers in the ACT, New South Wales and Victoria, coupled with the border restrictions with other states, holding a safe and successful Country Championships and Under 13 Carnival is unachievable.
"In collaboration with the State and Territory Member Associations, it was determined that this is the right and only course of action to take."
The cancellation of the Under 13s was particularly bad news for the Goulburn District Hockey Association, which had a large contingent of players set to take part in both the NSW and ACT Boys' and Girls' squads.
It is the second consecutive year that both the Country Championships and Under 13s Carnival have been cancelled due to COVID-19. The Under 18s and Under 15s tournaments were the only ones to take place successfully in 2021, while the Under 21s tournament has been postponed until February 2022 in Sydney.
Cherry was sympathetic to the frustration that cancelling the event would undoubtedly cause for all players and organisers.
"It is disappointing for everyone involved," he said.
"The support from Destination NSW and Events Tasmania has been unwavering throughout this challenging period of ongoing uncertainty and we look forward to when we can again bring coaches, officials and the best hockey players from various age groups and regions together to compete on the national stage."
The ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns also raise questions about the Indoor Hockey State Championships scheduled to be held in Goulburn, starting from October.
Veolia Arena is slated to host the Men's Masters, Women's Masters, Open Men, Open Women, Under 18s Girls, and Under 18s Boys Indoor State Championships between October 15 and December 5 this year.
The statewide lockdown in place across NSW is scheduled to end on September 10, but it could yet be extended further and place the indoor state championships in jeopardy.
As yet, there has been no word from Hockey NSW about the standing of the indoor tournaments.
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