The 12th annual Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival is scheduled for 24-27 November 2016 at the National Gymnasium in Georgetown Guyana. This hockey festival is among the longest running indoor hockey competitions in the region and continues to attract top teams from the Caribbean region and North America.
The Festival comprises of three divisions being Men Open, Women Open and Veterans, which comprises of players over the age of 35 years. Although men’s teams from Canada have taken the trophy in that division on four occasions, the Pepsi Hikers of Guyana are boast the record for the most Festival victories with a total of six. The women’s competition sees leading local club, Pizza Hut GCC matching the men’s record with six Festival wins as well while the strongest contender over the years has been Malvern Hockey Club who captured the title on three occasions. The Hickers have secured the past four Veteran division wins to become the most successful team of this division.
Cash prizes and trophies will once again be awarded to the winners and runners-up in the male and female and veteran categories. The winning teams in both male and female tournaments will each receive USD$3,000 while the runners-up will cart off USD$500. The winner of the veteran tournament will receive USD$500 with the second place teams receiving incentive prizes.
The tournament is named after the brand of water locally produced by platinum sponsor, Demerara Distillers Limited, who has been a partner of the Guyana Hockey Board from the inception of the festival. Popular Caribbean brand, Carib Beer has also been a mainstay with the Festival in sponsoring the Over-35 division since 2006.
This year’s competition will once again feature some of the top talent in the game. Teams from Canada, USA, Trinidad and Barbados have already signalled their intention to join those from Guyana for what promises to be yet another exciting competition and camaraderie.
