Ten primary schools have qualified for the finals of this year’s Medis hockey tournament which will be played at the NSC on March 30. A total of 42 teams from 26 schools took part this year with five qualifying competitions being held across the Island. In each round two teams went through - the winner of the round and one other team which was given a fairplay award for good sportsmanship with all of the players in the team receiving Medis fairplay tee-shirts. Arbory, St Thomas’s, Ballacottier A, Marown B and Scoill Ree Gorree all won their qualifying rounds. Ballasalla A, Willaston B, St Mary’s B, St John’s B and Jurby all qualified for the finals after winning fairplay awards. The Medis tournament is run in collaboration with Manx Sports and Recreation’s (MSR) Sports Development Unit. Medis provided funding for new hockey equipment to allow teachers to set up after school hockey clubs for pupils and coaches from hockey clubs have been helping school teams develop their skills. Stuart Colligon, Managing Director of Medis, said: “This year the Medis schools hockey tournament has attracted even more teams than last year and it’s great to see the enthusiasm all the children have for the sport. As well as promoting hockey, the tournament is also encouraging fairplay, hence the awards to a team in each of the qualifying rounds.” The final qualifying round was held at the NSC on Friday March 18 and the prizes were presented by Stuart Colligon and David Cretney MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure. This is the second year of the Medis schools hockey tournament. In 2010 more than 250 children from 19 schools took part in the competition. Medis, which has offices on Circular Road, Douglas, is the Island’s largest pharmaceutical company and part of the Actavis Group. From its Isle of Man base Medis serves customers in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Canada, South Africa, and Australia. - ENDS -