Canterbury Hockey Club played host to the first Grand Masters Hockey European Cup over the weekend of 22-24th June, which featured teams from England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Scotland.
England Grand Masters (Over 60) opened their campaign with a hard-fought game against the Netherlands, winning 1-0 after surviving a penalty stroke in the dying minutes. There were then more comfortable wins against Italy and Scotland before the deciding match against world Grand Masters champions Germany. England always looked in control and had a comfortable 2-0 lead midway through the second half thanks to goals from Neil Major and Mike Surridge. A goal from Germany gave brief encouragement to the visitors only for England to seal an impressive 3-1 win with a final goal from centre forward Stephen Stowell, well-fed by Imtiaz Mahmood-Sheikh.
In the Great Grand Masters (Over 65) event the title was again decided on the final morning. Both England and Germany had won their previous two games but Germany had a better goal difference which meant that Germany only had to draw to be the winners whereas England had to win. At half time there was still no score with England, although having more of the game, experiencing difficulty in putting the ball in the net. Shortly after half time England scored from a short corner by John Seear and not long afterwards Keith Hedley for England deflected a ball into the net but was adjudged to be outside the 'D'. England then survived a number of late German short corners to come away the winners.
The Tournament Trophy for non-national and national B teams was won by England LX Red who were narrow 2-1 winners over their fellow club members England LX Blue with goals from Martin Kavanagh and David Gill for Red and David Brampton for Blue. The LX sides had disposed of Germany and the Netherlands in their semi-finals. England Hockey Chief Executive Philip Kimberley and Canterbury's Olympic gold medallist Sean Kerly were guests of honour at the closing ceremony and presented the winners' medals.