Windjammers win annual Coastal field hockey tournament

Photo by Ron Hawkes

The Camden Hills field hockey team won their first ever preseason Coastal Field Hockey Tournament Championship Monday, Aug. 25.

Photo by Ron Hawkes

The tournament has been an annual event since the early 1980's when it was started by Belfast coach Allen Holmes. A few years ago they moved the tournament to Camden Hills as it was a more neutral location for the local midcoast teams that participate in the event.

Photo by Ron Hawkes

The final standings for the 20087 tournament were, 1, Camden Hills, 52 points; 2, Belfast, 47; 3, Mount View, 43; 4, Georges Valley, 17; and 5, Rockland, 2.

Totals are determined by points scored and shots on goal during 25 minute running time games. A shot on goal stopped by the opposing team is one point while a goal is five points. Each team plays four games and the final point total determines the champion.

Photo by Ron Hawkes

This tournament is traditionally the first preseason play day in the midcoast thus starting the fall sport season for our local schools. While I'm on vacation, I have not missed this event since it came to Camden a few years ago and I find it a great opportunity to see some good field hockey, see many of the athletes that I have covered over the years and renew my association with the coaches.

Photo by Ron Hawkes

Field hockey is a great sport to watch and as a photographer I find it a challenge to shoot. The players are always running with their head down watching the ball as they dribble it up and down the field. This tends to make the all important facial expression in action photography that we look for difficult at best to capture.

Click on the link below to see the photo galleries of the four games I covered today.
Preseason 2008 field hockey photo galleries