Combined Services

The Combined Services is the "tournament team" selected at the completion of the New Zealand Inter-Services Tournament from players and officials of the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Air Force and the New Zealand Police teams. Both men's and women's teams are selected to compete annually at Softball New Zealand tournament such as the Inter-Provincial Championships.

It is believed that initially, softball competition between the Navy, Army and Air Force representative teams began in the mid 1960's. The Inter-Service Softball Tournament had not been formed at this stage; therefore, each Service softball team attended the National Provincial tournament and would compete against each other in the 3rd Division draw, plus other provinces that fell into the 3rd Div category. The Service team who finished the highest out of the three Service teams would be deemed the Inter-Service softball champions for that year. It is also believed that it was the Air Force who started attending the provincial tournament first, followed a year later by the Army, and three year later by the Navy. The Combined Services representative crest at the time consisted of the Army crowned lion standing on a royal crown, the Air Force eagle and the Navy anchor (pictured).

The Combined Services Softball Teams during this early period would play against the Province that was nearest to the tournament venue.

1967 Combined Services Men's team (AW-10-1220-6).

It is believed that the women's Inter-Service competition began in 1964, due to the women's tournament trophy, the Prendergast Cup, being engraved from 1964. The Prendergast Cup is believed to have been donated by Mrs Prendergast who was involved with softball in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The inaugural winner of the women's competition was the Air Force Women's Team.

The men's Inter-Service Softball Tournament trophy is called the Lauthala Bay Trophy. It is believed that the trophy was donated by the Air Force. The first winners of the men's trophy were the Army in 1967. It was also in 1967, at Burnham Camp, Christchurch, that the New Zealand Police teams joined the Inter-Services Tournament. The Police teams would remain part of the tournament until December 1995.

The inclusion of the Police meant that the tournament teams were selected from the four Services for both men and women, and were called the New Zealand Combined Services. A representative pocket (pictured) with the Combined Services crest embroidered was presented to those selected into the team.

1973 Women's Combined Services Softball (AW-10-1220-3).

Combined Services teams were regular participants at the National Provincial Championship tournaments. In 1988, at the Rothmans National Provincial Championships in Invercargill, the Combined Services Men's Team performed extremely well and finished the tournament in 4th place, which is the highest any Combined Services team has achieved.

1988 NZ Combined Services Men's Team NPC at Invercargill (AW-10-1217-1).

In 1992, at the National Provincial Championships in Dunedin, the Combined Services Men's Team beat Auckland 2 - 1 in the B Section final to win the Dick Headifen Memorial Trophy for the first and, to date, only time.

1992-93 NZ Combined Services Men's Team NPC at Dunedin (AW-10-1217-1).

NZ Combined Services Softball Coach Adam McDonald has the final say as the curtain comes down on Combined Services Softball at the 1995 Men's National Tournament at Cuthberts Green, Christchurch December 1995 (AW-10-1220-1).

In 1995, the curtain was lowered on Combined Services sport across all codes. This brought an end to Inter-Service Tournaments and a remarkable era of strong New Zealand Defence Force sport representation around New Zealand. In softball, the Combined Services were regular top 8 finalists at National level and have beaten some of the countries top provincial teams along the way, and in doing so, have built a respectable name within New Zealand Softball. At the 1995 Men's Provincial tournament, hosted by Canterbury, the Combined Services Men's Team beat Australia 6 - 5 on diamond two at Cuthberts Green during pool play.

1995 The NZ Combined Services Men's Softball Team the end of an era at the Nationals at Cuthberts (AW-10-1217-2).

In February 1997, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Inter-Services Softball Tournament was reformed again, this time with teams from the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The Inter-Service Tournament continues to this day with the three Services. A fourth team can be invited to attend the tournament and in recent times, the Australian Defence Force Softball Association (ADSA) Teams have frequented our tournament. In 2009 at Whenuapai, the New Zealand Police Men's Team attended the tournament for the first time since 1995. The Police attendance was well received and NZ Defence Force softball officials will look to involve the Police and ADSA at future tournaments.

Air Force Mens vs. NZ Police (AK-09-0748-034).

To check where the next Inter-Service Softball Tournament is and the dates, please view our Events Calendar.

There is an intention to hold a Combined Services Softball Reunion in Auckland during the ISF Men's World Softball Championships in North Harbour in February 2013. The exact dates are not known at this point in time, but will be displayed on the Events Calendar in due course. View an image of a previous reunion.

Combined Services Women (AW-10-1220-8).

If you have represented Combined Services Softball and have team or game play photographs and would like to loan them to Army softball who will scan and preserve this photographic history, please contact us.

"Yours in NZ Defence Force Softball"