Hockey: Indoor tournaments attract top players

Sensibly, indoor hockey dominates the scene this weekend, with the preliminary rounds of the English Club Championship taking place at East Grinstead and in Worcester to find the last six for the National Finals at Crystal Palace on 7 February.

The defending champions Old Loughtonians, St Albans and the home side are likely to go through from East Grinstead although Reading, with Britain's goalkeeper Simon Mason on parade, could cause a surprise. At Worcester, the current outdoor leaders Cannock, with the high-scoring Bobby Crutchley in their squad, look the only certainties to make progress.

The enterprising Glasgow City Council's World Cities Indoor Championship today and tomorrow at Kelvin Hall is likely to be a sell-out with BBC Scotland cameras covering the final. With four national squads, including Scotland representing Glasgow, playing as part of the build-up for the European Cup in Lievin next weekend, the competition is going to be fierce.

The Scottish champions Menzieshill, from Dundee, provide five of the Glasgow squad, including their captain, John Christie. Madrid, the Spanish representatives, include nine of their Olympic silver medal side and are the favourites for the final, probably against Glasgow, although Johannesburg could create a surprise.