Masters Tournaments

It was a triumphant weekend for Basingstoke Hockey Club, as it hosted a regional masters competition whilst four members represented both the region and country in top-tier Masters competitions — from Beeston Nottingham, Swansea and on home turf at Down Grange.

At home in Basingstoke, local support turned out in numbers to Down Grange as the South Central Over-45 Men, captained by Greg Smith, hosted their tournament with pride. It was a tough campaign for South Central who missed out on a place in the final, narrowly missing out on bronze to West, with Midlands winning the competition overall against London in the final. It was a bittersweet conclusion for Smith and his squad, who showed tremendous consistency and cohesion but were edged out by fine margins.  Tournament Organiser and Club President Miranda Smith said ‘The event ran incredibly smoothly thanks to the superb officials, volunteers, and of course the participating teams. The standard of hockey was excellent, with competitive but good-spirited matches and fantastic sportsmanship on display. We were especially proud to showcase our local facilities and welcome so many visitors to our club. A huge thank you to everyone involved for making it such a successful and enjoyable weekend."

At Beeston Hockey Club in Nottingham, Claire Griffiths proudly pulled on the South Central jersey in the Women’s Over-45 Regional Tournament. The event had a festival atmosphere, with teams travelling from across the country, many staying over to enjoy the vibrant city. The hockey on show was equally lively — matches were tight and fiercely contested, with evenly matched squads throughout. Claire lined up alongside familiar faces from the region, including former Basingstoke teammates such as Alice Lane, giving the weekend a nostalgic touch.

South Central produced a strong campaign, finishing with four wins, two draws, and just one loss, earning a bronze medal finish — a brilliant achievement in a competitive field. London took gold for the second consecutive year, and West secured silver. Griffiths, a key midfield presence, was instrumental in controlling play and linking defence to attack, helping South Central maintain rhythm and resilience in every match.

Also at Beeston, Alex Miller represented the South Central Over-50 Men in a tough, competitive tournament. South Central opened with a thrilling 2–2 draw against West on Saturday, before being edged out 3–1 by North East in the second game. On Sunday, they fought valiantly but couldn’t turn effort into results, falling 1–0 to Midlands and 2–0 to East, before rounding off the tournament with a spirited 1–1 draw against South. Despite finishing lower in the standings, Miller’s disciplined and determined defending was a vital part of South Central’s resilience under pressure.

Adding to Basingstoke’s representation on the international stage, Sue Pett competed for England Over-70s in the prestigious 4 Nations Competition. With excellent work rate across the pitch and valuable tactical takeaways, the squad is now building momentum for a strong showing in the upcoming Summer Nations Tournament.

These performances underscore the passion and talent within the Basingstoke Hockey Club community — a club that continues to thrive not just at grassroots and league levels, but on regional and national stages. With Back to Hockey just started (Wednesday evenings from 7pm, all welcome), summer leagues in full swing, and summer training beginning in August, there's never been a better time to get involved!