East Win the Women’s Over 60 Area Masters Tournament

Women’s Over 60 Area Masters Tournament

Last weekend (30^th and 31^st May 2026), Old Loughtonians Hockey Club hosted, in sweltering heat, the Area Masters Tournament for the Women’s Over 60s category.

The East squad had 7 matches over the weekend and soon built up a reputation for having an impermeable defence.

The East squad was:

Katie Bedford (Bury St Edmunds HC), Pam Begg (Bedford HC), Jane Collins (Harleston Magpies HC), Clare Flynn (Saffron Walden HC), Dawn Forshaw (GK)(St Albans HC), Paula Frenzel (Bishops Stortford HC), Sharon Holton (Capt))( Bury St Edmunds HC), Joy Leeson (Bedford HC), Sue McNaughton (City of Peterborough HC), Jane Peggs (Wisbech Town HC), Annette Thorpe (Ipswich East Suffolk Hockey Club), Patricia Trafford (Ashfield Aztecs HC), Petra Trimble (Stevenage HC), Emma Turner (St Albans HC), Maria Whelan Ipswich – East Suffolk HC) and Maureen Wickson (Bedford HC).

They were coached by Simon Archer, with Susan Trett as Manager and Fiona Jacobs, medic and physio.

On Saturday, the squad beat the Midlands 1-0 then drew with London 0-0, beat West 1-0 and finished the day with a 0-0 draw against the North West.

Yorkshire and the North East were at the top of the table on the Saturday night, though, with 4 wins from 4.

On Sunday, the East drew 0-0 with South Central, then beat Yorkshire and the North East 1-0 and South East 2-0 in the final tie of the tournament. As the East won their last match, Yorkshire and North East were traipsing off the other pitch having ‘only’ managed a draw in their last game against the West.

As a result, the East won the tournament and the trophy by a single point - from Yorkshire and the North East - with the North West three points further back in third.

Sharon Holton (captain) said: “I couldn’t be more proud of this squad of players or more grateful for the support of our fantastic management team. We have all shared a fabulous journey on our quest for silverware. We have prepared well and worked hard for each other since November. Every member of the squad contributed to our success throughout the tournament. Led by our fantastic coach (Simon Archer) and looked after by Dr Fiona Jacobs (medical officer) and Manager Sue Trett, we got the edge over Yorkshire and North East after we won our last game. Lifting the trophy and becoming Area champions is a very special feeling indeed.”

Congratulations to all involved.

Photograph courtesy of Victoria Gallentree