Nomads hockey extravaganza set for Grey High
There will be a feast of quality hockey when Grey High host the 13th Nomads Schools Festival at the Rectory astro in Port Elizabeth from March 20-23.
This annual sporting extravaganza will feature 10 of SA’s top-tier hockey schools, starting with two matches on the Friday evening and culminating in the final fixture between the hosts and Bishops at 12.30pm on Monday.
The Nomads movement arose out of the former Ascension festivals (north and south) when a group of schools felt the need to create an event of a more national character.
In the mid-2000s there were a number of one-off festivals by schools celebrating special anniversaries — Grey College, Grey High and Selborne.
Attended by most of the top hockey-playing schools, these weeks produced an outstanding level of hockey, providing the catalyst to review the festival structure.
During the Selborne event in 2007 eight schools then discussed the creation of what became known as the Nomads Festival, culminating in the first tournament in 2008.
It was decided to hold Under-16 and U14 age groups as well, and each year three member schools would host one of the three festivals.
All Nomads festivals consist of either 10 or 12 teams, depending on the facilities available.
The host school has the right to invite schools of their choice as guests to make up the full complement of teams.
The schools competing later this month are Grey High, Selborne, KES, St John’s, Wynberg, Jeppe, Grey College, Maritzburg College, Hilton and Bishops.
The festival fixtures are: