Dubbo Hockey masters claim top four finishes at state titles

Dubbo’s over 40s and over 45s both finished runners-up in their divisions, while the over 50s finished fourth.

The weekend was particularly special for over 50s players Lyn Blinkhorne (76), Mary Dawn Jones, 74 and Wendy Lee, 70, who were presented with their over 75s and overs 70s jumpers respectively.

The trio were among the oldest athletes at the event, but Blinkhorne said they “don’t even think much” about their ages, despite playing against women 20 years their junior.

“It’s possibly because when we play hockey here, we’re playing against teenagers,” she said.

“We’ve always been in that situation because we’ve never been able to get a team where we’re all the same age.

“A lot of the girls are in their 60s but otherwise we’ve always played a lot younger women.”

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The overs 50s played six games over three days of competition, recording a 1-0 win and then a 1-1 draw against Bathurst.

That saw them face Griffith in Sunday’s semi-final, but the Riverina side was too good running out 2-0 victors.

Blinkhorne, who has been playing since she was in high school, said switching between turf and grass surfaces posed a challenge for the Dubbo women used to playing on turf.

“I mean hockey’s a challenge anyway!” she laughed.

“I’ve been fortunate because I’ve never had any problem with my knees.

“I think we just enjoy it and we enjoy each others’ company.”

The over 45s recorded wins over Bathurst (1-0), Illawarra South Coast (3-0) and North West Sydney (1-0) and a 1-1 draw with Metropolitan South West on Friday and Saturday to progress to the semifinals where they defeated Nepean 2-0.

But Bathurst edged the Dubbo women out 1-0 in the grand final.

The over 40s recorded three wins and a draw from seven games, their only losses coming against Goulburn in rounds one (3-1) and two (3-0) and the grand final (4-0).

Michelle Osborne played defence in the over 40s division and praised the “strong showing” by all of Dubbo’s representatives.

She said the annual half state championships – as well as the full state masters held every three years – were always a great chance to “play with people from other clubs in town and form new friendships” – and rekindle old ones.

“Most people who play masters have played hockey since they were kids … you get to meet up with siblings and cousins and maybe people you played when you were kids,” she said.

“Everyone has really good sportsmanship, there is good collegiality and good laughs between our own association and other associations that we play against.”

She said the over 70s trio were “inspiring”.

“Everybody wants to be able to say that they’re still able to play a sport that we love so much at that stage of their lives,” Osborne said.

“Win or lose it doesn’t really matter. It’s just about the companionship and enjoying playing hockey,” Blinkhorne said.

“As long and I can play and I’m fit enough to play, I’ll be there.

“It’s about the participation, the friendship and the enjoyment.”