FOR many years now Port Stephens has been the envy of other councils when it comes to sporting facilities, with the Tomaree touch fields laying testament to that claim.

It was no surprise then that the Nelson Bay Touch Football club was last Thursday handed the highly popular Peter Wilson memorial championships for the next three years running.

In terms of numbers the tournament is the biggest on the Tomaree peninsula, attracting in excess of 130 teams, 2,000-plus participants, 800 officials and volunteers plus a staggering 7,000 spectators.

“It just keeps getting bigger every year, starting with around 70 teams in 2007,” Nelson Bay Touch president Nev Gear said.

“This is a massive win not only for the regional touch fraternity but for the Port Stephens economy as a whole.”

The tournament is to be played over the weekend of 3-4 February, 2018, with representatives from five regions in the under 14, 16 and 18 years age groups.

The Hunter region, the largest in NSW with more than 55 affiliated clubs, will provide the logistical support for the championships.

Hornets technical director Karen Davies said it was their job to ensure the games continued to tick over in a timely manner.

“We look after the fixtures, the referees, the scheduling, the catering and the results,” she said.

“It is a massive weekend and the more volunteers we get the easier it becomes for us to manage.”

Nelson Bay had to beat off five other regions that tendered for the Peter Wilson Memorial, with the winning tender ensuring the tournament stays in the Bay until February 2020.

“In addition to having the finest facilities here at Tomaree, Nelson Bay has the added attraction of accommodation,, infrastructure and sightseeing,” Ms Davies said.

Port councillors John Nell and Steve Tucker, who attended the announcement last Thursday, said they were proud of the high standard of sporting facilities locally and the economic benefits the gathering of thousands of tourists of all ages would bring to the area.

 

By Charlie ELIAS