THE Illawarra is well represented at the 2015 Australian Underwater Hockey Championship this week.
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Seventeen members from the Wollongong University Underwater Hockey Club are taking part in the tournament hosted by NSW Underwater Hockey Commission at Knox Grammar School Aquatic Centre from January 19-25.
Seven juniors from the Illawarra are representing NSW at the largest annual underwater hockey competition in Australia.
Wollongong University Underwater Hockey Club member and long-time competitor Eden Brown said Wollongong also boasts 10 competitors in the senior categories.
"We have terrific representation from the Illawarra," she said.
Speaking before the championship, Brown said competitors had enjoyed many training sessions at the UOW Recreation and Aquatic Centre and Unanderra Swimming Pool in preparation for the major tournament.
She said state teams are competing in a double round robin in two courts over five days with grand finals slated for this Sunday, January 25.
Australian team selections for the world champions in Spain in August will be made following the nationals.
Aiden McGoldrick from The Illawarra Grammar School, Kirrily Hopkins and Will Hopkins from Elonera Montessori School are playing for the NSW U15 team.
In the U19 team the region is represented by Nicola Kennedy and Matthew Kennedy from Bulli High School, Jack Hopkins from Elonera Montessori School and Blake O'Gorman from Corrimal High.
Underwater hockey is a non-contact team sport where two teams (six players per side) compete to manoeuvre a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into goal trays.
It was invented by the Royal Navy in the 1950s to keep their divers fit and to improve their ability to move and work efficiently under water.
Underwater hockey started here in 1990 when the pool at UOW was built. Soon after the Wollongong University Underwater Hockey Club was formed.
Today about 30 players drop into the pool each Tuesday night for regular social competitions.
"It is a very unique 3D sport and worth a try," Brown said.
"If you are comfortable in water it's a great fun way to keep fit. Please feel free to come along and play or just take a deep breath, jump in and watch."
