Championship History

The development of Hockey Australia’s Men’s Masters as an Interstate and International competition in Australia had its genesis in a group of Hockey players from several States who got together in Perth in 1979 and decided to have a few hits around the field for old times’ sake.

The following is a brief chronological summary of its evolution

1979

Discussions on the concept were held in Perth around Easter time during preparations for the Esanda Trophy World Tournament to be held later that year in April.  During the Esanda Tournament a group of friends from all over Australia organised a few games for Veterans players to add to the enjoyment of the Tournament.

The experiment was so successful that several players from around Australia including people such as Peter Kennedy, Ted Jones, Alan Berry, Colin Wansbrough and others formed a committee to organise a formal Veterans Tournament in Perth the following year.

1980 

The first Australia wide competition took place in Perth in October with teams from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, A.C.T., Western Australia and W.A. Country.  A number of important initiatives commenced at that Carnival which have continued throughout the development of the championships such as the “Character of the Carnival”, which followed on from a large 2 metre tall hockey stick presented to Harold Smith at that first Championship.

1981

A similar Australian Championship was again conducted in Perth in October of 1981.  In this year an Australian representative team was selected to play in the inaugural Pacific Rim Masters Competition.

1982

The Tournament expanded to a second division, and was played in Melbourne, Victoria, at the end of the regular winter season on the brand new (and as yet unfinished) Stadium at Royal Park.  Players needed to dodge builders, tradesmen, climb over ditches full of mud, avoid piles of building material, etc. but the surface itself played well and the Carnival was another outstanding success.  The Competition was held just before the 1982 Esanda Tournament which was held in Melbourne in November and allowed for many Veteran Hockey players to stay on for a few extra days and watch the best teams in the world playing in the Esanda Tournament.

1983

The Tournament was again held in Melbourne, this time with a finished stadium, and with a large increase in the number of players attending.

1984

The Championships were held in Townsville, Queensland, and remains one of the most memorable, held on beautiful grass grounds that played as well as most synthetic turfs.  The Stadium in between the grounds was well visited with television replays of “interesting” moments held during the matches.  The Tournament was continuing to expand and it was decided to hold an exhibition match of over 50 year old players as a further development.

1985

The Championships were held in Canberra at the A.I.S. grounds and again a record number of players attended.  The over 50’s competition was now officially launched with teams from most States and Territories.

1986

Tamworth in country NSW was the 1986 venue with an artificial surface and grass grounds – attracting yet another record attendance.

1987

The Championship was held in Hobart, Tasmania, with a further expansion of teams with several 3rd division teams.  The Welcoming Function held in the newly built Wrest Point Casino was one of the most sophisticated ever held with nearly 1000 people at the sit down dinner.  Certainly the Casino did not expect the number of attendee’s.

1988

This year the tournament was held in Adelaide, South Australia, at the newly completed Pines Stadium and a synthetic ground at Port Adelaide.  An exhibition match of Over 55 year old players was held at Port Adelaide with a view to assess interest in expanding the competition to a further age group.  Needless to say it was again an outstanding success with many players qualified and willing.  This year the International Masters Pacific Rim Tournament was expanded to include the Senior Masters (over 50’s) as well as the Masters (Over 40’s).

1989

The tournament was planned to be in Perth but unfortunately had to be abandoned due to the infamous Pilots Strike and players from around Australia were not able to get there.

1990

The Championships returned to Melbourne this year to be held in conjunction with the 1990 Esanda Tournament.  As the Esanda Tournament used the State Hockey Centre most afternoons, games needed to be held in a variety of venues and as a consequence the tournament was disrupted somewhat.  All who attended, however, were treated to the fantastic experience of seeing the best hockey players in the world competing.

The evolution continued with the exhibition matches leading to an Over 55 year age group from most states.

1991

The Championships were held in Perth in searing heat at several venues.  The suggestion of playing four quarters instead of two halves for some of the older age groups was accepted if requested by the Captains.  There was now a full competition in Over 40’s, 45’s, 50’s, & 55’s, comprising of State Over 40’s, State Over 45’s, State Over 50’s, Div 2 Over 40’s, Div 3 Over 40’s and Over 55’s.

1992

The championships returned to Townsville, this time on a good artificial surface and some grass grounds.  The tradition of Queensland hospitality was continued and if anything, enhanced.

1993

Canberra was the venue this year over several grounds.  The event had now expanded to such an extent that even accommodation was difficult to arrange for the number of teams attending.

1994

This year the Championships were held in Darwin in the Northern Territory on their new artificial surface and several grass grounds.  At this carnival there was a further evolution with an exhibition match arranged for the Over 60’s age group.

1995

In Launceston, Tasmania the championship was held on three grounds – a new wet synthetic turf, a sand-filled turf and one grass ground.  The competition had now expanded to two divisions in the Over 55’s age group.

1996

This year the competition was held in Newcastle, a major regional centre in NSW.  Newcastle had two water based pitches either side of a large pavilion complex.  This made for a very successful tournament with many new friends being made in the convivial surroundings all close together with the close proximity to the Hunter Valley also adding to the enjoyment. 

The competition had now expanded to include the Over 60’s age group.  An Australian Past Masters (Over 45’s) team was selected in addition to the Masters and the Senior Masters teams, but did not tour – however the International opportunities were expanded to include the selection of an Australian Over 55’s team called the Vintage Masters who made an inaugural tour of England and Europe.  This was followed shortly after by an Australian Grand Masters (Over 60’s) team who also visited England.

1997

The competition was again in Adelaide, following the FIH Men’s Champions Trophy.  This again afforded Veterans Hockey players with the opportunity of watching the best Hockey in the world combined with the enjoyment of meeting up with old friends again and playing in an Australian Veterans Championship.  An Australian Past Masters Team (Over 45’s) was selected for the inaugural international tour to New Zealand.

1998

The Championships returned to Perth yet again.  By now the tournament has grown so large that some creative divisioning needed to be invented to allow for the number of teams nominated in some age groups.  The divisioning still needs some refining if the competition continues to grow at the current rate.

1999

This year the Championships were in Toowoomba Queensland, and was again superbly run by a committed regional organisation.

The competition comprised over 50 teams in three divisions of Over 40’s, one division of Over 45’s, two divisions of Over 50’s, one division of Over 55’s and one division of Over 60’s.  Australian teams selected for each age group except the Over 60’s are competing in International competitions.  The Australian Women’s Veterans Championships were held at the same time in Brisbane and a number of women visited Toowoomba during their Rest Day to support their fellow State players.

More information coming soon…