BENTSTIX, Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Field Hockey Club was established in February 1996 during the Mardi Gras Festival. At this time we formed the first Gay and Lesbian Field Hockey Club in the world. The Club is active mainly in the summer, when we play in a mixed (male and female) field hockey competition at Little Bay as part of the University of NSW competition. We have approximately 50 members. Each year during Mardi Gras we run an Australian Gay Hockey Championship tournament. |
We became very active during the Sydney Gay Games in 2002 and were responsible for field hockey being included in the program. 10 teams participated from around the world. After the success of the event we formed the Gay and Lesbian International Field Hockey Federation and have begun starting recruiting throughout Europe, North and South America. This will eventually include Asia, the Pacific and India / Pakistan. Our aim is to bring together gay and lesbian hockey players from around the world. |
The Dutch team who came out for the 2002 Gay Games have been responsible for including field hockey in the Euro Games next year in Utrecht Holland. At this event we will run the first ever Pink Hockey Championships. We have decided to go to Holland for the Euro Games in June 2005. This is really a once in a lifetime opportunity for some of us to play hockey with like minded people. |
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Because field hockey is not recognised as an official sport at the Gay Games in Chicago or indeed with "Rendezvous Montreal 2006" we have decided that our best opportunity of playing in an international tournament will be in Utrecht Holland next year during the Euro Games. The Dutch have officially invited Bentstix to participate. We are aiming to send a Women's and a Men's team to this event. We will be running a series of fundraising events including a Harbour Cruise, major party and a raffle to raise money for equipment and travel from November to June next year. We are also looking to establish a scholarship for talented players who may not be able to afford to travel. We are also looking for sponsors to help us get to Holland. |
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History
