Age no barrier to winning three hockey golds in a row

The North Harbour Women’s 65 plus team won its third gold in a row at the annual Vantage National Masters hockey tournament last week.

Suzanne Jackson, a research coordinator at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Co-created Ageing Research, is a striker on the winning team, who are known as the ‘Golden Girls’.

“I’m not the oldest on our team  some of the players are 70 and 72.

“I want people to know that age is mind over matter.

“You will get old if you give up your sport, but it keeps you young when you keep doing the things that make you feel good,” says Jackson.

The Golden Girls won four of their five games last week and tied with Auckland, who they beat two-nil in the final.

Opposing teams only scored one goal against them during the tournament from 22 to 28 February at North Harbour in Albany, Auckland.

“Not bad for a bunch of old ladies,” Jackson laughs.

When the Golden Girls won ‘the battle of the bridge’ to take out the national title for the third time, they were “rapt”, she says.

“We all screamed. We’re still buzzing from winning the cup.”

The team practises hard, up to three times a week.

Their close social bonds also give them an edge in matches, she says.

“Most of us have known each other through playing hockey for more than 20 years, so we’re good mates.

“Our slogan is ‘mahi tahi’, which means ‘work together as one’.”

After picking up hockey as a youngster, Jackson was chosen to represent Auckland at the age of about 12.

She stopped playing for a few years after leaving school, but has frequently had a hockey stick in her hands since her twenties.

Winning 15 hockey medals since 2000 has made her dedication to the sport worthwhile.

Valued on the field as a fast runner, Jackson hasn’t been hindered by injuries in the past decade.

“I listen to my body and I don’t push it too hard.

“Rather than running on pavements, I walk briskly, because it’s easier on my body.”

Jackson says the stadium at North Harbour was “packed” for the tournament, with many children and grandchildren turning out to watch 110 teams of masters players from around the country compete.

However, media coverage of the event has been scarce.

“Everybody gets old and it’s important to show that they don’t have to give up the sports they love as they grow older.

"You’re never too old to play.

“Playing hockey makes me feel alive. I plan to keep playing for as long as I can run,” she says.