The Torbay Festival returns for its 73rd running over the Easter weekend of April 18-21.
With only three other Easter hockey festivals still in existence – a resurrected Blackpool, Skegness and Beanfields – Torbay is the longest continually running Easter festival in the country.
With the astro pitches at Clennon Valley, Paignton and Torquay Girls Grammar School being used, the current entry is 10, an increase from 2024.
Nine of the participating team date back to pre Covid days, with eight each having attended over 60 festivals.
Further entry slots are still available and festival contact details are available at www.torbayhockeyfestival.org.uk
The Festival HQ will again be the Palace Hotel, Seafront, Paignton following a very successful initial hosting in 2024.
The teams fiercely complete for the Bill Stickells Cup for highest scoring team over the weekend, with the Buffaloes from Smethwick H.C. back to defend the Cup which they have won on three of the last four occasions.
However, in the spirit of Festival Hockey, there is the Tony Forward Shield awarded for Fair Play, to ensure the event is enjoyed by all. 2024 winners were the Bluebottles from Bristol and the Torreadors from the local Torbay Club.
On a more sombre note, the Festival has lost two of its longer serving friends, with Don Bryant of the Oddfellows passing away in June./
Don attended his first Festival in 1955, and had clocked up over 60 attendances. Recently in October, Phil Gutteridge of the Stags, West Bromwich H.C. also died. Phil’s first appearance was in 1975 and he had two spells on the Festival committee.
