Labrador Tigerstix Division 3 Gold team playing in the Gold Coast Hockey Association local open competition boasts one of the oldest teams in the competition and they wonder if they are the oldest team in Qld playing in an open age (non-Masters) comp?

The self-titled, “Solid Gold” team has an average age of 52.6 years of age with two players aged 64, two aged 63, one 62 year old, two 61 year old, 60 year old, 59 year old, 50 year old, 44 year old, two 37 year old’s, a 34 year old and the baby being just 30.

The team have a great camaraderie which is strengthened by their ‘team meetings’ held after training Tuesdays and after matches on Saturdays. Despite the apparent maturity, the team don’t take themselves too seriously and a solid gold award is chosen each week by the past recipient with the winner receiving the team mug to enjoy their post-match beverage with the team. Photo below of last recipient Bec Guild with arm in sling due to a broken scapula – that’s putting your body on the line!

Don’t be fooled by the easy smiles in the team photo above, this team like to be competitive and have been somewhat riled that a few too many matches slipped away with a draw or loss by one goal in the extremely competitive Gold Coast Div3 comp – yes, the team has beaten every team in the comp, except for the ladder leaders, fellow Labrador team Div3 Black.

At the State Masters Championships this year Solid Gold team members trialled for Qld, or played for Gold Coast 2, Gold Coast 3, Tweed 3, and Cairns 2 – a very mixed bag.

In a testament to their competitive spirit, the eight Solid Gold players over 60 were selected into Hockey Queensland Team 1 or Team 2 to compete at the National Championships on the Gold Coast in September 2019. Well done team – that’s Solid Gold!