Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week
ABBY Watts is going to have to make a big decision really soon.
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The multi-talented 11-year-old has been named in the NSW PSSA touch football and hockey teams for the Pan Pacific Games to be played in Adelaide in December. However, as the sports will clash, she can’t play in both. So she’ll have to leave her hockey stick or touch footy boots at home.
When she spoke to the the Times she still hadn’t made up her mind. And today is D Day.
Abby is the Manning River Times-Iguana Sportstar of the Week, earning a $50 open order at Iguana. She was nominated by Moorland Public School.
It’s been a red letter year for Abby for she has also been named in the NSW under 13 hockey team to play in the Australian championships in Perth in late September. Her sister, Lara, was a NSW under 13 representative two years ago.
Abby was a member of the Manning under 13 side that contested the State championships played in Tamworth. Here her form was good enough to be named in a squad to play further trials in Newcastle where the 16 strong State team to head to Port was selected.
Abby admits she wasn’t at her best in the final trials, but she must have shown enough at Tamworth to earn a spot. She expects to play in the midfield at the national championships, where NSW and Queensland will probably be the dominant sides.
Abbey then had to run in the regional cross country championships, from where she was named in the Hunter team to contest the State titles, before heading to the State PSSA hockey. Here she was a member of the Hunter side that finished third and where she was selected in the team for Adelaide.
Then it was to Wagga with the Hunter touch football team. Again, Hunter was third and again Abby was selected in the NSW side to bring up her State trifecta.
The fact Abby is going to Perth to play hockey for NSW may sway her decision as to what sport she plays at the Pacific Games, even though she admits hockey is her favourite. She’ll be in Perth for 16 days for the national 13 titles.
Abby started playing hockey as a six-year-old with Sharks, albeit a bit reluctantly at first. She’s been a member of the Manning under 13 representative side for three years.
And Abby’s sporting year isn’t over yet.
She’ll be in line to represent Hunter Region in athletics and cricket. She’s been to State for athletics for the past couple of years. Abby’s a versatile runner, contesting the 1500 metres, 800m and 200m.
She’s a batter on the cricket field. Should she make both it’ll mean she will represent Hunter in five sports this year.