Eddie Ockenden and Josh Beltz celebrate Commonwealth Games gold
Hobart’s Eddie Ockenden and Josh Beltz have finished their Commonwealth Games campaign in style, with the Kookaburras again claiming gold in the men’s hockey final on Monday night.
Tasmania
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HOBART’S Eddie Ockenden and Josh Beltz have finished their Commonwealth Games campaign in style, with the Kookaburras again claiming gold in the men’s hockey final on Monday night.
The win was the Kookaburras seventh straight gold at the Commonwealth Games, winning every tournament since 1998.
The 7-0 win against India saw Ockenden and Beltz add two more gold medals to Tasmania’s tally in Birmingham, taking the final medal count for the state to 13 - 10 gold and three bronze.
The 10-gold is the state’s second best return at a Commonwealth Games, just shy of the 12-golds won on the Gold Coast in 2018.
The Kookaburras stormed through the group stage on their way to gold, and while they survived a huge scare against England in the semi-final, they were never seriously challenged by India in the gold medal match.
While Ockenden says he expected a tighter final, he was incredibly happy with the performance his side was able to put together.
“Playing like we did was really impressive to see from the back (half), guys creating really good shots and finishing off really well.
“And to not let any goals in was key. In finals, I think if you’re not letting goals through, we’re always going to score ourselves.”
Australia’s most-capped international, Ockenden ends the Games on 398 appearances but the 35-year-old is not in any mood to retire yet.
“My career feels like it has gone quick but it’s been quite long. When you’re a kid and think I’m going to go to Comm Games and Olympics, you just don’t think you’re really going to do it, you just want to be able to play for Australia. But then you get a chance and it’s been incredible,” Ockenden said.
“You won’t find anything else in your life that you can do so passionately. To be able to play hockey and do it for so long, I’m very, very lucky.
“If I’m playing well I’ll give myself a chance to make squads and I’m pretty happy to keep playing.”
For Beltz, playing in just his 71st match for the Kookaburras, winning gold was a dream come true.
“I grew up watching Eddie play the Comm Games so to be alongside him at one is really special,” Beltz said.
“We’ve got such a great history, not just in hockey, but across all sports at the Commonwealth Games, so to be able to continue that legacy is really, really special.”
After his family missed seeing the 27-year-old claim silver at the Olympics in Tokyo, Beltz’s girlfriend, her parents and his own parents were in attendance to see him go one better in Birmingham.
“To have them here is incredible and being able to share this moment with them is really cool,” Beltz said.
With 13 medals heading back to Tasmania from Birmingham, the luggage of a number of athletes will return home just a little heavier than it left.
Our golden girl of the pool Ariarne Titmus claimed four gold in another dominant display, cyclist Georgia Baker rode her way to three gold medals and along with Ockenden and Beltz, Tasmanian Tiger Nicola Carey returns home with a gold medal after the Australian squad won the women’s T20 tournament.
Triathlete Jake Birtwhistle, track cyclist Josh Duffy and swimmer Jake Templeton all return home with bronze medals and while Rebecca Van Asch (lawn bowls), Hayden Armstrong (para triathlon), Erica Burleigh (para triathlon), Sam Fox (mountain biking), Emily Meaney (diving), Stewart McSweyn (athletics - withdrew) and Jack Hale and Jacob Despard (athletics) didn’t complete their campaigns with a podium finish, they all made the state of Tasmania proud.
Our golden girl does it again in Birmingham - August 8
TASMANIAN Georgia Baker has once again claimed gold at the Commonwealth Games, winning the women’s road race in Birmingham.
A week after winning gold in the points race and team pursuit victories, the 27-year-old won a bunch sprint to become a triple Commonwealth champion.
“I’m pretty happy. It was a whole team effort and I’m just so proud that I could pull it off for the team,” Baker said.
“I think this is great for Australia because they get behind the Commonwealth Games so much and it’s great that they can support us and our sport.
“Birmingham has been really good for me. It’s been a really impressive Commonwealth Games for Australia and it’s been a privilege to be a part of it.”
The victory was made that much sweeter for Baker with her mum and sister arriving the night before to see her claim gold.
Baker believes her success at the Games across multiple formats was proof riders were able to strike a balance and have success in both track and road events.
“The way that Australian cycling is developing and moving forward we should be able to do this more in the future and be able to transition easily,” Baker said.
“We have all managed our loads well and been able to support each other with our ambitions on the track and the road and so far it’s worked great.”
Tasmania’s success in Birmingham was not lost on Baker, even if the state’s seven gold medals have come from just two competitors, with Ariarne Titmus claiming four in the pool and Baker the three on the bike.
“To be a part of that medal tally for Tassie is great,” Baker said.
“Ariarne has got four and we’ve got the hockey boys to go and I follow that with Eddie (Ockenden) being our flag bearer as well so we’re not finished yet.”
Ockenden and fellow Hobart-native Josh Beltz will look to bring another gold medal back to Tasmania when the Kookaburras face India in the men’s hockey final on Monday.
After cruising through the group stages, they faced an almighty scare in Saturday’s semi-final match against England.
The Brits stormed to a 2-0 lead before the Kookaburras fought back to win 3-2.
“India are another quality team and we know we’re going to get another tough game,” Ockenden said.
“They have exciting skillful players, they’re fun to watch, tough to play against and are well-rounded and a solid world-class team.”
Beltz, competing in his first Commonwealth Games, was eager to claim another gold and add to Australia’s Commonwealth Games legacy in the sport.
“It would mean a lot to me to win this. Playing with Eddie and the rest of the squad and obviously Australia has got a very proud history with this tournament so to continue that legacy would be really special,” Beltz said.
The Kookaburras will be chasing a seventh straight men’s hockey gold at the Commonwealth Games in Monday night’s final while Ockenden will be pursuing a fourth gold medal.
Heartbreaking reason McSweyn ended Games campaign - August 4
Tasmanian running star Stewart McSweyn has bowed out of his Commonwealth Games campaign after struggling to shake the flu.
McSweyn made the news known to his fans on Instagram on Thursday morning.
“Unfortunately I have had to withdraw from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games,” the long-distance runner confirmed.
“I picked up the flu travelling back from the World Champs and sadly haven’t been able to shake it in time for tomorrow’s heat.”
It comes as yet another blow this year after McSweyn was diagnosed with pericarditis – inflammation around the heart – after receiving his COVID-19 booster in March.
McSweyn was expected to run a heat in the 1500m on Thursday night Australian time.
The track star remained hopeful of returning to the course soon.
“My focus is now on getting back to full health for the remainder of the European season,” he said.
Originally published as Eddie Ockenden and Josh Beltz celebrate Commonwealth Games gold
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