Otago Hockey Association general manager Rachel Minton-Smith is hoping the region's success at the national masters tournament will inspire people to stick with the sport or even take it up for the first time.
The Southern women's (50-plus) team won a bronze medal at the national masters tournament in Napier earlier this month, and seven players from the region - five from Dunedin - were named in national teams which will take part in the Transtasman Challenge in Melbourne in May.
Dunedin's Paula Daniel, Wendy Waghorn, Vicki Rewcastle, Peter Ashton and John Daniel all play hockey in the city, while Lynne Dickie and Judy Nelson also live in the region.
''This is an outstanding achievement for all involved,'' Minton-Smith said.
''If it encourages a few more masters age players - which, by the way, is 35-plus - to dust off their hockey sticks and shin guards, then great.''
Ashton (66), who will represent New Zealand in the over-65s at the Transtasman Challenge, has never lost the drive to compete.
The University club stalwart was selected in the New Zealand squad which prepared for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
However, he injured his knee while playing a social game of rugby and never got to go.
''I've been through the age groups now - the whole lot from 40 right through,'' Ashton said.
He has also played a lot of hockey with John Daniel throughout the years.
''There is nobody our age playing down here so we've both been playing for Canterbury.''
That said, Ashton said there was a good solid group of people older than 50 playing hockey in the region and some are ''very, very good''.
''We are a bit slower but we are still very competitive.''
