New home, new season

Horsham Hockey Club will host try-outs for the upcoming Wimmera Hockey Association season in its new home in Dimboola Road.

The club has relocated to Horsham Community Oval after 33 years at Horsham Racecourse.

Club president Jarryd Bannan said previous rooms the club built at the racecourse, in conjunction with Horsham Softball Club in 1984, no longer suited the hockey club’s requirements.

He said a lack of water for the playing surface was among reasons club leaders decided to search for a new venue.

“The new site will better accommodate the increase in membership and having our clubrooms in the same location as where we train will be a huge bonus,” he said. “Lights at the new location means training can be run after hours in winter more readily.”

Mr Bannan said with support from Hockey Victoria, the club was running a successful under-12 program.

“This has been a real boost for numbers, allowing the club to run its own internal competition for under-12s,” he said.

The club fields four teams in Wimmera Hockey Association competition, mixed under-12s, mixed under-16s, women’s and men’s.

Mr Bannan encouraged anyone interested in playing, including new and returning members, to attend a tryout and registration day on Sunday at Horsham Community Oval.

Activities will kick off at 10.30am and will be followed by a free barbecue.

People can call club secretary Paul Mackereth on 0400 981 978 for more information.