Parkes Hockey Incorporated was thrilled and honoured to host another state hockey championship at its grounds in Baker Street last week.
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The 2019 Hockey NSW under 13 Girls Field State Championships ran from July 11-14 and saw 41 teams from across the state descend on the town, filling up local hotels and eating at local restaurants, pubs and clubs.
Up to 114 games were played across five divisions in the fresh winter air, with an estimated 2000 people turning out each day.
There was also 21 Hockey NSW officials present and six local junior umpires officiating, with Hockey NSW CEO David Thompson in attendance on the Friday and Saturday.
Parkes was able to enter three teams into the championships, with one side making it into the finals.
Parkes 1 Team finished runners-up in Division 2 after narrowly losing 1-0 in the final against Far North Coast.
Three of Parkes' junior umpires - Toby Collins, Olivia Thompson and Ryan Dunford - officiated finals matches on day three of the carnival.
Parkes Hockey Incorporated also arranged a disco for the girls on the Friday night of the titles that saw 200 people attend, thanks to local stalwart and organiser Cherie Johnstone.
And two goalkeeper clinics were also held, with more than 35 goal keepers attending.
"A massive thank you to our extremely passionate and hardworking executive team and committee, as well as the many members and parents who also put in countless hours and effort to help make the weekend run so smoothly," she said.
"It was such an incredibly rewarding event for both Parkes and our hockey community.
"I'm extremely proud of all that was achieved over the weekend and so honoured to have been involved in such a successful event, alongside a truly amazing group of dedicated volunteers."
Cherie estimated about $1.3 million was injected into the local economy, through accommodation, people purchasing food and dining out and shopping.
Cherie crunched some numbers from the weekend, and said their canteen and barbecue tent that operated from 7am to 8pm for the three days, sold 773 coffees, 488 hot chocolates, 615 bacon and egg rolls, 430 buckets of chips and sold out of soup all three days in a row.
Cr Louise O'Leary - who is Parkes Shire Council's representative on the Parkes Sports Council and an avid hockey player herself - updated her fellow councillors on the titles at their ordinary monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 16.
"These state championships are the icing on the cake for Parkes Hockey Incorporated," she said.
"One of our Parkes teams made it into the finals so it shows that budding Hockeyroos and Kookaburras are alive in Parkes."
Cr O'Leary said Parkes Hockey Incorporated has a very strong executive and is very much a family orientated club.
"Everyone is there for the success of the club," she said.
"We have members from as young as five years old to players in their 70s so it really is a game for all."