Photos contributed. Main picture is the official gathering for the first ever Torbay Easter Hockey Festival back in 1951
There are less than 24 hours remaining for hockey teams interested in signing up for England’s oldest Easter hockey festival.
The 71st Annual Torbay Easter Hockey Festival will take place between Friday 7th and Monday 10th April 2023, and is one of only two Easter Festivals remaining. Founded in 1951, it is also the oldest. As in 2022, matches will be played between the artificial pitches at Clennon Valley Leisure Centre, Paignton, and Torquay Girls’ Grammar School. Both pitches were relaid in 2019, so provide an excellent quality playing surface. Each team will play seven games (if they so desire!), and there are two trophies up for grabs: the Bill Stickells Cup (for highest scoring team) and the Redcliffe Cup (for fair play, as judged by teams’ opponents).
The Festival will be opened at 9.30am on Good Friday at Clennon Valley Leisure Centre with the customary Flag Raising and Bully Off between the Festival President, Nicole Amil, and Festival Chairman, James Carter. The emphasis is on social hockey, so the festival is suitable for players of any age, gender and ability. It is renowned for the long-standing loyalty of participating teams, with 80% of this year’s entries so far having attended for over sixty years .
Easter hockey festivals have dwindled over the years, and with Blackpool having to shelve their event due to a lack of facilities, there are now only two remaining in the country. The Skegness festival, founded in 1973, is the only festival played on grass pitches.
Club Registration will be at the Festival Headquarters (the Redcliffe Hotel) on the Thursday evening.
While the Festival does still have some spare capacity, the deadline for applications is March 29th, so any clubs interested in taking part should immediately contact either Mike Carter (Press Officer, morewine22@gmail.com , 07768671272), or James Carter (Festival Chairman, jimmyrock20@hotmail.com)
For those visiting from outside the area, the Torbay area offers many attractions for families and players needing a break away from the pitch or bar. These include Paignton sea front fair, Paignton Zoo and Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company. All this in addition to the (usually) favourable weather the Torbay Riviera welcomes over the Easter period.