Eleven representatives from Gold Coast Hockey to take part in Masters World Cup in Spain

FORMER international hockey umpire Julie Ashton-Lucy is making up for lost time as the city’s “golden oldies” prepare to give the Masters World Cup in Spain a Gold Coast flavour.

FORMER international hockey umpire Julie Ashton-Lucy is making up for lost time as the city’s “golden oldies” prepare to give the Masters World Cup in Spain a Gold Coast flavour.

At 52, the Labrador defender will play her third Masters World Cup when she joins 10 other Gold Coast Hockey Association veterans at the event in Terrassa from July 27 to August 5.

COAST TILT DRIVES US OPEN QUEST

An Australian junior and Queensland senior representative, Ashton-Lucy put her promising playing career on hold in her mid-20s to launch an 18-year umpiring stint that carried her to three Olympics.

(Front row) Julie Ashton-Lucy, Megan Ward, (back row) Gail Lomas, Leanne Ferguson, Sonya Palmer, Karen Iwanuscha, Ingrid Woods, Maggie Schiller, Sharni Mott and Kathy Devitt will take part in the Masters Hockey World Cup in Spain from July 27 to August 5. Picture: Mike Batterham

After returning to her first love in 2013, she helped the Australian over-50 team lift the Masters World Cup three years later — and is confident they can repeat the effort with her as captain this time around.

BULLETIN SPORT’S FAST FIVE

“I think we’ve got a very good team so we have a strong chance of winning but in the 50s age group we actually have the most teams, there are 16 different countries. We’ve had some fairly tough games the last World Cup and there’s some countries we haven’t played against before so I’m quite keen to see how teams like the Netherlands and Argentina go because they are very strong nations in hockey,” the Arundel resident said.

TITLE ON THE LINE IN KEY CLASH

“I certainly am making up for some of the playing opportunities I may have missed (when I was younger). I have such a passion for the game, I’m just really enjoying reconnecting with some of the people I knew from many years ago on the playing field.”

Among the Coast contingent is international debutant Maggie Schiller, 38, who is in her first years of masters hockey.

COLTS CLING TO FINALS HOPE

“I think any time you’re representing Australia you go in with pressure so for us, we want to make everyone proud and do the best we can and hopefully come out with some good results,” the Burleigh midfielder/striker said.

THE COAST CONTINGENT

OVER 35: Sharon Clarke (Labrador), Sharni Mott (Roosters), Margie Schiller (Burleigh) OVER 50: Julie Ashton-Lucy, Sonya Palmer (Labrador)

OVER 55: Leanne Ferguson (Labrador), Ingrid Woods, Karen Iwanuscha (Capri)

OVER 60: Kathy Devitt (Mudgeeraba), Megan Ward (captain, Labrador)

OVER 60 WATTLE: Bel Davis (Labrador)

OVER 45: Gail Lomas (manager, Labrador)