Sunday 02, May-2004 by SHERRYLYN CLARKE Compliments of the Nation News

Above Maria de la Paz (left) battling with Kriston McCann in the final.

THE Barbados Hockey Federation came in for high praise following the successful staging of the Pan American Women’s Hockey Cup at the National Hockey Centre last week.

During the closing ceremony on Wednesday night, Tony von Ondarza, president of the Pan American Hockey Federation, congratulated the organising committee for staging “a top-level event here in Barbados”.

“It hasn’t been easy. You have had plenty of rain here but everything worked out fine,” he said.

He acknowledged the support from the Ministry of Sports and the Barbados Olympic Association in making the event happen, and also thanked the technical staff, officials, volunteers and athletes.

“You have proved to be worthy athletes, you have played the sport in the spirit that we want you to play. Congratulations to you because you are all winners,” Tony von Ondarza, president of the Pan American Hockey Federation, added.

Defending champions Argentina retained the trophy with an exciting second-half performance against the United States to secure the lone automatic spot for this region in the 2006 World Cup which will be held in Spain.

In addition to the gold medals and championship cup, Argentinian Vanina Oneto was the best striker with ten goals in the competition and No.8 Luciana Aymar was named the most outstanding player.

The best goalkeeper award went to Charlotte Hartmans Van Der Rijdt. Although 34 goals passed her, she saved twice as many and jumped for joy when her name was called. It was the first time her country had participated in the competition.

Each visiting team received a plaque commemorating their participation in the tournament which saw 123 goals being scored.

Canada were the bronze medallists, followed by Uruguay, Chile, Barbados, the Netherlands Antilles and Trinidad and Tobago. With this result Barbados gained automatic qualification for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia in 2006.

Compliments of the Nation News

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