Cairns to host 2021 Australian Country Championships

Hockey Australia, in conjunction with Tourism and Events Queensland, is delighted to announce this year’s Australian Country Hockey Championships will be held in Cairns.

The 2021 Championships, to run from 7-14 August 2021, will take place in far north Queensland as the best regional hockey talent comes together for a week of competition.

Hockey Australia GM - Commercial, Communications and Events, Tim Cherry said Cairns and Tourism and Events Queensland have shown a real eagerness and appetite to host the event.

“Allowing the Australian Country Championships to be played in Cairns this year is a fantastic outcome for all involved,” said Cherry.

“Tourism and Events Queensland have thrown their hand up to host this year’s championships and we know Cairns will do a fantastic job in welcoming the participants and providing them with a great experience both on and off the field.”

“We thank TEQ for their support and their enthusiasm to make sure this event is a success, particularly after all national championships in 2020 were cancelled due to COVID.

“Importantly, this announcement gives all of the teams plus family and friends sufficient time to organise their travel, accommodation and entertainment plans.”

Member for Cairns and Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy said the tournament would be played at the Cairns Hockey Fields.

“This will bring hundreds of players, support team members and spectators to Cairns, staying 5,700 visitor nights and delivering $1.2m for the Palaszczuk Government’s Far North economic recovery plan,” Mr Healy said.

“Cairns has good facilities at the Lake Street precinct and perfect weather in August for championship hockey.

“I know the Far North’s hockey community will also be looking forward to seeing Australia’s elite regional players in action.”

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Australian Country Hockey Championships had been secured by the Palaszczuk Government’s North Queensland Events Recovery Package.

“With the global pandemic keeping our international border firmly shut, we know how important destination sporting events are to communities like Cairns who relied on overseas visitors,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“The feedback we’ve had from industry roundtables is tourism operators are eager to host events that help bridge the dips in the traditional visitor cycle.

“Hockey’s Australian Country Championships do exactly that.

“Far North Queensland has great sporting infrastructure for competitions and the first-class visitor experiences players and spectators are keen to explore.

“This is a win for hockey and helps Cairns’ tourism operators manage the region’s visitor cycles.”

The Australian Country Hockey Championships is an annual open age tournament featuring the best male and female players from regional associations. The year’s event will consist of 14 teams (seven men’s and seven women’s teams).

The Western Australian city of Albany will host the 2022 edition.