Masters on their mark

TASSIE’S Over 50s men are gunning for gold.

The veterans will be out to upstage the nation’s best after making the finals of the Australian Masters Hockey Championships in Hobart tomorrow. Regardless of the result, Tasmania is already a winner off the field, with estimates the 2300 competitors will have pumped more than $13 million into the local economy.

TASMANIA’S Over 50s men’s hockey side hopes to upstage the nation’s best when the Australian Masters Hockey Championships finish this weekend.

The locals have qualified for tomorrow’s 10.15am semi-final against Victoria, and playing coach Stuart Beltz says anything is possible in the medal rounds.

“Many of us have played together or against each other for 30-plus years, so there’s a lot of history and a real passion to compete,” Beltz said.

“This team includes Michael Irwin, Richard Chapman, Marty Bissett and the Street brothers who all know how to play hard and win, so we definitely have the talent to continue through to the goldmedal game. From there, any- thing is possible because teams find us very difficult to play against because of our tenacity.”

Masters hockey is renowned for being played with the right mix of competitiveness and camaraderie, something the Over 50s will put to

Hockey Tasmania conservatively estimates that our national event hosting will inject over $13 million into the Tasmanian economy

— BOB GREGORY

the test in the hunt for a medal.

Beltz’s side is one of 90 competing in the championships that have brought more than 2300 players, officials and supporters to the state in a boom for the local economy.

“Hockey Tasmania conservatively estimates that our national event hosting will inject over $13 million into the Tasmanian economy from 2016 and 2018,” Hockey Tasmania general manager Bob Gregory said.

“But, anecdotally, I’m hearing that many of these athletes have concrete plans to venture to all corners of the state with their friends and families after the tournament concludes.

“By the end of October, I doubt there’ll be a single Tasmanian who hasn’t spotted a Masters hockey athlete in their colourful tracksuits.”