Rabobank Women Field Hockey Champions Challenge at Virginia Beach

AstroTurf, LLC.
www.astroturf.com
August 5, 2005

Initiatiated in 2001, the Rabobank Champions Challenge is one of the International Hockey Federation's premier events. The tournament traditionally features the teams ranked 7th-12th in the world as determined by finishes in the most recent Olympic Games (and Olympic Qualifying Tournament) or World Cup (and World Cup Qualifier). In addition to an automatic spot for the host nation, the tournament field also includes the team ranked sixth (last) at the previous Champions Trophy.

Held every two years, the Champions Challenge is one of the top events on the international hockey calendar joining the World Cup, Olympic Games and Champions Trophy as the sport's most coveted titles. The winner of the Rabobank Champions Challenge automatically qualifies for the 2006 Champions Trophy featuring the world's top six teams. The 2006 Champions Trophy is scheduled for July 8-16 in Amstelveen , The Netherlands.

The tournament marks the return of a major international field hockey event to the United States for the first times since the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. In addition to the Olympic Tournament, the USA hosted the 1989 men's World Cup qualifier (Intercontinental Cup) in Madison , New Jersey , and the 1993 women's World Cup qualifier in Philadelphia .

The 2005 edition of the Rabobank Champions Challenge took place at the USA Field Hockey National Training Center in Virginia Beach , Virginia . The Training Center was constructed through the cooperative efforts of the City of Virginia Beach and USA Field Hockey. It currently has the AstroTurf System 12 playing surface that is designed for professional field hockey. The venue opened in October 2001 with an inaugural match that saw South Africa defeat the USA , 5-2. The venue has also hosted two editions of the International Atlantic Cup in 2002 and 2003.

Originally scheduled for New Delhi , India in December 2001 as a combined men's and women's event, the firstwomen's Champions Challenge was eventually moved to Randburg , South Africa in February 2002 as a result of regional international situations at the time. England won the first women's event followed by Korea , India , South Africa , USA and Russia .

Held in Catania , Italy in July 2003, the second Champions Challenge was won by Germany followed by Spain , Japan , New Zealand , USA and Italy . Germany went on to win the Olympic gold medal the following year. This year, the Champions Challenge was won by South Africa followed by New Zealand , England , Japan , USA and Spain.                                                                    Click on images to enlarge