World Grand Masters Association
8th European SuperVeterans Trophy Tournament, Barcelona
22nd - 24th March 2008
Photo by Toon van Dam
The Netherlands win Grand Masters event
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World Grand Masters Association (WGMA)
(officially recognised by FIH)
8th European Super Veterans
Field Hockey Tournament
Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
21st - 24th March, 2008
Men's Veteran Over 60 Teams from 6 European Countries -
England, Scotland, Wales, The Netherlands, Germany, Italy.
also Alliance (mixed Nationality Team)
Grand Masters 60+ Great Grand Masters 65+
Senior Grand Masters 70+
at
Junior FC
Sant Cugat del Vallès (Barcelona)
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Further useful links to Sant Cugat :8th European SuperVeterans Trophy Tournament, Barcelona
22nd - 24th March 2008
Photo by Toon van Dam
The Netherlands win Grand Masters event
The Netherlands won the Grand Masters (60+) event for the first time, beating England (GM European champions) into 2nd place.
The Great Grand Masters (65+) was won by England who narrowly beat Germany in the Final. In the Senior Grand Masters event (70+), 3 teams, England, Germany and The Netherlands took part, with Germany coming out winners, and The Netherlands second.
The Tournament Trophy for non-national teams was won by England LX Red with Alliance 2 as runners-up.
The Grand Masters tournament was held for the first time in Spain at the Junior FC club in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona.
This event was organised under the auspices of the World Grand Masters Association (WGMA) with the full support of FIH/EHF.
WGMA was formally recognised at the FIH Congress in London in 2006 as being the sole organisation responsible for Veterans hockey for players of age 60 and over in the world.
The tournament was organised with the kind assistance of Leandro Negre, President of the European Hockey Federation (EHF), who, despite his duties at the Euro Hockey League tournament at nearby Club Egara, frequently appeared to watch the matches.
Sen. Negre also attended the Gala Dinner on Sunday evening.
Other prominent guests on the evening were Mr. & Mrs. Martin Gotheridge (Vice President of EFH and President of England Hockey), and Mr. Jan Albers (President of the Royal Netherlands Hockey Federation (KNHB), who all expressed enthusiasm for the WGMA’s efforts in organising such events for Veteran hockey players of 60 and over in Europe and the rest of the world. Further important visitors were Johan Wakkie, Exec.Director of KNHB, and Lex Donia, also of KNHB.
Bernard Verbunt (Vice President of WGMA) did an outstanding job as Tournament Director. Bernard, together with Peter Child (WGMA President), did the major work in the difficult task of organising such an event for the first time on Spanish soil. It is hoped that the standard of hockey displayed will encourage Spain to organise a Grand Masters team for future tournaments.
Altogether 19 teams took part, namely :
60+ Grand Masters : England, The Netherlands (De Zestigplussers), Scotland, Germany, Italy and Wales (first appearance).
65+ Great Grand Masters : England, The Netherlands (De Zestigplussers), Scotland, Germany.
70+ Senior Grand Masters (first time!) : England, Germany, The Netherlands (De Zestigplussers)
Tournament Trophy : England LX (2 teams), Germany B, Alliance 2 teams), De Zestigplussers.
Despite the cold weather, the tournament proved to be a great success, and was well organised, with excellent hockey played in a friendly atmosphere. Over 300 players took part.
Thanks are also due to Marcos Hofmann, Chairman of the Junior FC Hockey, for his efforts in having everything well organised at the excellent Club facilities and pitches.
The Great Grand Masters (65+) was won by England who narrowly beat Germany in the Final. In the Senior Grand Masters event (70+), 3 teams, England, Germany and The Netherlands took part, with Germany coming out winners, and The Netherlands second.
The Tournament Trophy for non-national teams was won by England LX Red with Alliance 2 as runners-up.
The Grand Masters tournament was held for the first time in Spain at the Junior FC club in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona.
This event was organised under the auspices of the World Grand Masters Association (WGMA) with the full support of FIH/EHF.
WGMA was formally recognised at the FIH Congress in London in 2006 as being the sole organisation responsible for Veterans hockey for players of age 60 and over in the world.
The tournament was organised with the kind assistance of Leandro Negre, President of the European Hockey Federation (EHF), who, despite his duties at the Euro Hockey League tournament at nearby Club Egara, frequently appeared to watch the matches.
Sen. Negre also attended the Gala Dinner on Sunday evening.
Other prominent guests on the evening were Mr. & Mrs. Martin Gotheridge (Vice President of EFH and President of England Hockey), and Mr. Jan Albers (President of the Royal Netherlands Hockey Federation (KNHB), who all expressed enthusiasm for the WGMA’s efforts in organising such events for Veteran hockey players of 60 and over in Europe and the rest of the world. Further important visitors were Johan Wakkie, Exec.Director of KNHB, and Lex Donia, also of KNHB.
Bernard Verbunt (Vice President of WGMA) did an outstanding job as Tournament Director. Bernard, together with Peter Child (WGMA President), did the major work in the difficult task of organising such an event for the first time on Spanish soil. It is hoped that the standard of hockey displayed will encourage Spain to organise a Grand Masters team for future tournaments.
Altogether 19 teams took part, namely :
60+ Grand Masters : England, The Netherlands (De Zestigplussers), Scotland, Germany, Italy and Wales (first appearance).
65+ Great Grand Masters : England, The Netherlands (De Zestigplussers), Scotland, Germany.
70+ Senior Grand Masters (first time!) : England, Germany, The Netherlands (De Zestigplussers)
Tournament Trophy : England LX (2 teams), Germany B, Alliance 2 teams), De Zestigplussers.
Despite the cold weather, the tournament proved to be a great success, and was well organised, with excellent hockey played in a friendly atmosphere. Over 300 players took part.
Thanks are also due to Marcos Hofmann, Chairman of the Junior FC Hockey, for his efforts in having everything well organised at the excellent Club facilities and pitches.
World Grand Masters Association (WGMA)
(officially recognised by FIH)
8th European Super Veterans
Field Hockey Tournament
Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain
21st - 24th March, 2008
Men's Veteran Over 60 Teams from 6 European Countries -
England, Scotland, Wales, The Netherlands, Germany, Italy.
also Alliance (mixed Nationality Team)
Grand Masters 60+ Great Grand Masters 65+
Senior Grand Masters 70+
at
Junior FC
Sant Cugat del Vallès (Barcelona)
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Message from Leandro Negre, President of the European Hockey Federation (EHF) on 7th April, 2008
Dear Peter,
It was for me a great pleasure to be between all of you and I enjoyed a lot watching all the GM playing hockey. Also I spent a nice evening during the official dinner at the restaurant “Can Cortada”.
I am very pleased about how all of you are running this tournament and I am sure the relations between your side and the EHF will increase in the future and together we can have great achievements.
Looking to meet you soon my best regards and congratulations,
Leandro Negre
Looking to meet you soon my best regards and congratulations,
Leandro Negre
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Goes Travel
www.goestravel.com
A young travel agency specialising in organising sport tours in Barcelona, providing accommodation, transport and any other services like guides, excursions, etc. to the clubs that are invited to tournaments.
They have a very good relationship with FC Junior as they have been working together with them for a long time. They were the offical travel agency for the 17th Women Indoor Hockey Club Championships in February 2006, and have organized the accommodation and transport for several Hockey National teams like Chile, Italy and Argentina. Also they have organized an international tournament for schools (goES Hockey Cup) that took place at Junior FC in January 2007.
Please do not hesitate to contact them if you are interested in receiving more information and some proposals.
Contact :
Sandra Angulo Eva Castells Laura Puig
Email : sandra/eva/laura@goestravel.com
goES Travel Consultants · Tel. +34 93 301 85 27 · Fax +34 93 342 90 97
08010 Barcelona, Spain · C/Roger de Llúria 9, 2-2
www.goestravel.com
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