Toowoomba hockey stars shine in new-look Club Glenvale Challenge

CUP STARS: The 2024 Club Glenvale Challenge pit Toowoomba’s stars against the best Ipswich had to offer. Here’s our look at the best junior and senior players from the tournament.

Titans Alex Maddison (left) and Flexers Eli McCurley Ault compete for the ball during the inaugural Under-16 Junior Mixed Club Glenvale Challenge. Picture: Annette’s Action Shots.

Another chapter in the rich Toowoomba-Ipswich sporting rivalry was written at the weekend.

The two cities shared senior grand final honours in the new look Bradnam’s Windows & Doors Club Glenvale Challenge.

This year saw the addition of junior teams and senior Ipswich ‘representative’ sides to the annual pre-season hockey tournament.

Toowoomba’s Stafford Welding Strikers edged out Ipswich in a thrilling men’s final shootout but Ipswich Women squared the ledger with a 1-0 against Cronk’s Design Crusaders.

“I was really impressed with how quickly the team gelled on and off the field,” Crusaders coach Kirsten Dodd said.

“It’s challenge bringing together players from different (Toowoomba) clubs but everyone put the team first and that showed in our performances on the field.

“We were a little bit unlucky in the final but the players gave it everything they had.”

Tow It All Toowoomba Titans won the inaugural Under-16 Mixed competition sneaking past York Realty Yorky Bears in a tightly contested final.

Strikers play line up for another set piece.

Yorky Bears Evie Phillips.

Teams in both the senior and junior competitions were ‘drafted’ from a pool of Toowoomba’s top talent, however senior mentors also played their younger counterparts in the junior competition.

“It’s not just the junior players who are benefiting,” THA manager Jessie McCartney said.

“Our top senior rep players are now on field sharing their knowledge and role modelling positive behaviours to help inspire the next generation of Toowoomba hockey stars.”

McCartney also praised the support of the Toowoomba community with the sponsorship support from businesses helping the competition grow and prosper.

“We are indebted to our local business community. Their impact on programs like this will help hockey maintain its stature as a place of strength and belonging in our community for years to come,” he said.

With the 2024 challenge wrapped up here’s our look at some of the senior and junior stars who made their mark.

Katie Harland (SQPS Scorers): The experienced striker led the line well and created plenty of headaches for opposition defenders due to her positive, attacking mindset.

Erin McCurley Ault (SQPS Scorers): One of the team’s most consistent performers over the course of the tournament, Erin was impactful and created opportunities for herself and her teammates.

Aimee Dobeton (SQPS Scorers): Playing between centre half and attacking mid, Dobeton expertly steered her team around the field.

Savannah Trapp (Cronk’s Design Crusaders): Fresh from being named in the Northern Territory U21 side, the Crusaders skipper was named Player of the Tournament. Trapp was a constant threat upfront – using her speed to her advantage.

Rachael Macready (Cronk’s Design Crusaders): The experienced star was strong in the middle of the park and distributed the ball well.

Jess Moffat (Cronk’s Design Crusaders): The young midfielder was an absolute workhorse in every game. New to Toowoomba she also caught the eye of opposition players and officials with her speed.

Jarrod Carseldine (Ipswich): A standout player in what was a very talented Ipswich team. Jarrod was named Player of the Tournament in the men’s competition

Junior stars

Hayden Macready (Fit Lab Flexers): Despite his young age, the 2023 Queensland U15 Gold medallist, was selected as a senior mentor for the Flexers. Macready was a positive influence and was named Player of the Tournament.

Eli McCurley Ault (Fit Lab Flexers): The diminutive striker, who never shied away from a challenge, scored a number of goals early in the tournament and set up his teammates as well.

Holly Purcell (Fit Lab Flexers): A speedy star who created and scored goals.

Erin Seibuhr (Fit Lab Flexers): The determined defender ‘stayed in the fight’ every game, made a number of critical tackles and distributed the ball well.

* A number of teams did respond to The Chronicle calls prior to the publication of this article.