The BDO Hockey Champions Trophy, women is the first important event of 2007. For most of the players here in Quilmes, it is the end of a holiday period. Australian captain Melanie Twitt only picked up her stick two weeks before the BDO Champions Trophy after a hockey free period of three months.

‘It was nice to have some time off’, Twitt explains. ‘The year 2006 was one of the busiest years you can imagine. Commonwealth Games, Champions Trophy and World Cup were the highlights. After the World Cup early October, we definitely needed a rest. For us, Beijing is the priority and the only time to take some time off before the Olympics was right now.’

Twitt enjoys the event here in Quilmes though, where the sun is shining and the brand new hockey pitch gives the players the opportunity to show their best.

She is one of the ‘oldies’ of the Hockeyroos, as the vice World Champion is here at the BDO Champions Trophy with a young and talented team.

‘Australia’s focus was to give new players opportunities before 2008’, she said. ‘As the oldest one on the team I can see that players are younger and younger as years go by. But I am still in a great shape and I am sure that I am not at my top yet.’