Wagga hockey stalwart Helen Lansdown is gearing up for her 20th appearance in NSW colours at September’s Masters National Championships the only way she knows how: by staying active and playing as much hockey as possible.
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Lansdown, 67, will prepare for the national tournament by representing Wagga in the over 50s division at the Masters State Championships in Parkes on the weekend, along with some of the city’s finest players.
They will seek to avenge last year’s grand final loss to Goulburn.
But the Royals striker said she had not continued playing into her sixties to attract attention or chase personal glory, instead raving about the joy of the game and the companionship which exists both among her teammates and within the local hockey community.
“The main aim of the Masters really is the camaraderie rather than the actual outcome of the games,” she said.
“It’s great to win, but it’s even better just to be there competing with women from across the state who share the same passion.”
That tight-knit feeling extends to the local competition, which features a strong family vibe and a string of mother-daughter combinations, according to Lansdown.
“For a lot of women, playing with their daughters is actually what helps keep them in the game,” she said.
“They often aim to play with their daughters and after getting so much pleasure out of that, they carry on playing from there.”
In the lead up to the national championships, Lansdown said her NSW team would be full of confidence, having won the inaugural over 65 tournament last year and the over 60 competition four of the past five years.
“We have a core group of players who’ve been around for a long, long time,” she said.
“So we know each other’s games and strengths extremely well.
“It’s very special to come together as a team once again.”
The Royals veteran is currently battling a rib injury, but is otherwise in peak physical condition.
“The body feels amazing,” Lansdown said.
“I’m able to run very freely, I’m extremely fortunate.
“I’ve always kept myself fit and that certainly helps.”
The Masters State Championships will run from Friday until Sunday, while the Masters National Championships will run from September 23 until October 7.
The state competition is split into NSW North and NSW South due to an overwhelming number of teams competing.
Wagga’s teams will compete in the southern division in Parkes.
