Bill of $5k forces Manypeaks’ Campbell Mayne out of WA Country squad for the Hockey Australia National Champs

Manypeaks’ midfielder Campbell Mayne has pulled out of the WA Country squad heading to the national championships in Victoria because of the heavy cost involved.

Mayne was the sole Lower Great Southern Hockey Association representative in the WA team picked for the Hockey Australia Country Championships in Bendigo next month but has withdrawn after being unable to raise the funds to go.

He said the short turnaround between selection and travel made it impossible to raise the money.

“It was going to cost $5000 and had there been a longer lead-up, it might have been possible to get some sponsorship,” he said.

“It was just too short notice, so I reluctantly had to pull out.”

The men’s and women’s State squads were picked mainly on performances at the CBH Group Country Championships last month.

With the men’s event staged from June 26-28, it left those selected with little advance notice for the nationals, which start on August 8.

Mayne was a linchpin of the LGSHA side which came third in division one of the men’s championships and said he believed he was the only player from that team to nominate for the State team.

The cost of participating probably put people off, he said.

Both men’s and women’s nationals run from August 8-15.

The women’s WA squad includes goalkeeper Zaria Francis, of Warriors and Upper Great Southern Hockey Association, with All Blacks and Uppers’ teammate Chloe Grout named as a training partner.

WA will open their campaign against South Australia and then face Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Defence Force before crossovers and finals.