For the first?time since 1996, a hockey season will start on grass as the AstroTurf at Wildey is still not up to the required standard.
And according to new president of the Barbados Hockey Federation (BHF), David Rouse, it is going to cost more than $600 000 to get a replacement AstroTurf.
Rouse told WEEKENDSPORT his first priority was to get the new season started.
“It is a real challenge since the AstroTurf is unsuitable for play and needs replacing without delay,” he said.
“The season would therefore have to be played on grass and this provides an even more serious challenge having to compete with the cricket format that now occupies the club grounds almost every Saturday and Sunday.
“We will have to make some adjustments if we are to complete a full season and the competitions committee is already working on the format,” said Rouse, who added that though a date had not been identified, the season would start next month.
Last season was abandoned after conditions were deemed unacceptable for play.
Rouse said the BHF was determined to get a replacement turf.
“A travel agent in [Britain], who has been bringing teams for many years to participate in the hockey festival in August and the schools’ tournaments around Easter and during the summer, has already indicated that he is not marketing hockey in Barbados until we have it replaced.
“It is therefore vital that we find the finances to get a replacement as soon as possible or lose the festival and other tournaments to other countries like Tobago who we understand is actively working on getting theirs in place.”
The only positive aspect for hockey is that the domestic game will return to the community grounds at Bank Hall, Trents and Dayrells Road, with Weymouth field also earmarked.
However, Rouse made it clear that the best teams would only visit Barbados if high-class facilities were on offer.
“Our goal is to have the turf in place with modern facilities so that we can market an attractive sports tourism package that would encourage teams from all over the world to come and train or compete in Barbados.
“Ideally, we would like to have two pitches so that we can attract major international tournaments such as the World Cup qualifiers or Pan Am Games. International hockey is not played on grass so this is our only route if we are really serious about sports tourism.”
Rouse, a former Maple player, was unopposed as president, taking over from George Bennett, a former Barbados player.
Maria Sealy is the new female vice-president. She replaced Monica Cumberbatch who did not stand for re-election after serving for more than 25 years. Sealy defeated Audrey Cox.
Katrina Alkins was returned unopposed as assistant secretary.
The directors are Leslie Austin (newcomer), Aaron Forde (returned) and Venslough Leacock (returned).
Other board members are: vice-president, Roger Broomes; secretary Sharon Estwick; treasurer Hugh McClean; and directors Audrey Cox, Susan Barnett, Kofi Hinds and Bradley Harris.
