The Australian Men’s Masters Hockey Championships is underway in Hobart on Friday 22 September running through to Saturday 7 October. The Australian Women’s Masters Hockey Championships gets underway on 29th September to Saturday 7th October in Newcastle.
Both events bring teams from all states across a variety of divisions. This year’s championship at Tasmania Hockey Centre will be the largest in history with 85 teams competing in nine age groups. In fact these combined men’s and women’s events are the largest on the Australian hockey calendar, and is testament to the strength of Masters Hockey in Australia. From both of these events Australian teams will be picked to play in the World Masters Hockey Championships in 2018.
Masters Hockey has come under the wing of Hockey Australia in recent years. From its modest beginnings Masters Hockey now is a prominent part of hockey participation overall and no wonder Hockey Australia decided to recognise its existence and finally embrace it. You would be hard pressed to find another sport that offers National representative pathways for their sport for players into their 70+ age group. Hockey has such an asset in its ability to be a true life- long sport. As someone who has played hockey all his life I get such a ‘kick’ when I meet people who have just taken up hockey in their 40+ age and when asked what do they think about their decision they resoundly say they had wish they had done it earlier.
So why do masters players get such enjoyment out of competing in their middle and late life (body willing). The answers were found at the NSW Masters Women’s Championships held in Grafton this year. The below photos express why these ladies cherish their brief time away from home and family to ‘let their hair down’ by sharing what they enjoy doing with team mates, i.e., playing hard and socialising off the field. What a great picture that represents what hockey can be about.
The ladies at this year’s NSW Women’s Master’s Championships in Grafton were graced with a Pipe Band to bring them into a big game.
In this photo Manning Valley over 45’s years players from the left Jill, Raylee, and Michelle have been coming to this Championship year after year. When asked what do you enjoys bout coming to the championships they were in unicense “giggle, fun, friends, love to play seriously, have ago and dance. The latter is definitely evident during night time, where hotel and club dance floors around the host town are populated with ladies taking their sore bodies after a day’s play to another level.
There is no age limit to participation. Gloria (below) is a well known goalkeeper who first took up hockey at 15 years old and 58 years later she is still going strong. She has represented NSW 17 times in masters hockey.
Kylie, Alison and Nadine are in the Tamworth 40+ age group. Despite their relatively young age they have been playing hockey for a combined 105 years. They love the fact they can get a break from the family responsibilities and enjoy the comradship as representative players as they normally play against each other.
If you know of players currently representing their State at the Australian Masters Men’s nd Women’s Chamionships is is the link to get the latest results. CLICK HERE
Source: various
