Honoured – that’s how three of Parkes’ hockey representatives are feeling after being selected for next year’s Masters Hockey World Cup in Spain.
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Graeme Tanswell, Maureen Massey and Parkes physiotherapist Sharon Dixon have been selected to represent Australia at the Masters World Cup in Terrassa and Barcelona from July 27 to August 5.
The trio’s selection follows their performances at the Australian Masters Hockey Championships in Hobart, for the men, and Newcastle for the women between September 22 to October 7.
It came as a nice surprise for Tanswell, who at first didn’t know whether he was going to play at the national titles.
Tanswell was selected as a shadow player for the NSW Over 45s Men’s but was called up to play in Hobart, where the side won bronze at the titles.
He’s now been selected in the Australian Men’s Over 50’s World Cup team.
“I am excited,” he said.
“I had a bit of a long wait, I had to wait a week before the 50s teams finished [at nationals] before they announced it.
“[We] played in the first 10 days and the 50s usually play after us.”
So as he waited, he and family explored Tasmania for a few days before coming home for a family wedding.
“When Saturday came I was hanging around the farm to see if I got a call,” Tanswell said.
This will be his second official Masters selection – his last being with the Australian Men’s Over 40’s team which played in the Trans-Tasman Challenge against New Zealand 10 years ago.
Tanswell is looking forward to experiencing his first World Cup, having missed out from playing in a World Cup about five years ago.
“I was selected to play with the Over 45s in the World Cup when it was in Canberra but I couldn’t go,” he said.
Massey was a member of the undefeated NSW 65s who claimed gold with an incredible 8-0 victory at nationals in Newcastle.
She’s now been selected in the Australian Women’s Over 60s team as a goalkeeper.
This will be Massey’s sixth Australian representation after returning home from the UK as a member of the Australian Women’s Over 60s touring team in June.
“It is a huge honour to represent our country and we were all absolutely delighted to be selected,” she said.
“The hours of training have certainly paid off.”
Dixon has been selected as the physiotherapist for the Australian Men’s Over 40s team, making this her eighth time representing the country in this capacity.
