SIXTEEN teams from England, Scotland and Wales compete in the 16th annual DTZ indoor tournament on January 4 and 5.

The tournament, part of which is held at Wyre Forest Glades Arena in Kidderminster, is a major event in the English indoor hockey calendar, bringing together the club champions of England Scotland and Wales with other leading UK teams.

It is, and always has been, a players' tournament, where the pleasure is in enjoyment of the game and of keen but amicable competition, plus a chance to meet and talk with leading players and officials from around the world.

Not least it provides clubs and umpires who are going into European competition the opportunity to hone their skills for the challenges to come.

National League side Stourport fly the flag for Worcestershire and will play their group games at Wyre Forest Glades, while Birmingham is well represented.

Barford Tigers will be offering their blend of close skills and scoring ability, and like other Midland clubs taking part, they are looking to further success in the National Indoor League in 2003.

Bournville, and Harborne complete the Birmingham line up, with the rest of the Midlands represented by Beeston and Loughborough Students.

Senior Scottish club Dundee Wanderers are keen to get in some high level matches before the European competition in February and also improve their place last year.

Swansea and Newport represent Wales.

From the north come Kingston Upon Hull and Doncaster, from the east East Grinstead and Maidenhead plus title holders Old Loughtonians.

St Albans join the competition for the first time. From the south there will be Southgate.

The tournament will be taking place over two days at Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre in Kings Heath in Birmingham, and at Wyre Forest Glades Arena.

The format is four pools of four teams on Saturday, then a knockout stage on Sunday.

The final will be at Cocks Moors Woods, other place matches at Kidderminster.

Admission to all the venues will be free.

Matches at Wyre Forest Glades Arena on Saturday are:

9.30am Loughborough v Harborne; 10.15am Stourport v Newport; 11am St Albans v Swansea; 11.45am Hull v Beeston; 12.30pm Swansea v Lough-borough; 1.15pm Harborne v St Albans; 2pm Newport v Hull; 2.45pm Beeston v Stourport; 3.30pm Swansea v Harborne; 4.15pm St Albans v Loughborough; 5pm Beeston v Newport; 5.45pm Hull v Stourport.