Scottish Thistles Masters Hockey Club

LX Sept Fest, Cambridge, Ladies
2025-09-23 12:00 - 2025-09-25 16:00 (Europe/London) | Cambridge University, Cambridge University Sports Centre Wilberforce Road Hockey Ground, Adams Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0EQ, United Kingdom
The 2024 September Fest was highly enjoyable and Cambridge an excellent location and we are looking forward to sending mens teams and ladies teams to this mid-week event in 2025. Format last year was ten year age spreads and I don’t know if this idea will continue or go to back to smaller clusters. For the Ladies we are not using the “Apply For” button and you should email ladies@scottishthistleshockey.org
– Date: Tuesday 23th Sept – Thursday 25th Sept
– Venue: University of Cambridge – three astros and one college astro a short drive away.
– Teams: One or more of W60+, M60+ and M70+ Under-age is feasible. Other age groupings may be used.
– Opposition: LX, LX regionals, Wales, Holland, Belgium.
– Format: Four 50 mins matches.

LX Sept Fest, Cambridge, Men
2025-09-23 12:00 - 2025-09-25 16:00 | Cambridge University, Cambridge University Sports Centre Wilberforce Road Hockey Ground, Adams Rd, Cambridge, CB3 0EQ, United Kingdom
8th July update: Invite received for M60 and M70 and we have enquired about a further team but no info yet. The poll is heavily subscribed and is now closed until the Age Group Coordinators can sort out provisional squads. Apologies, but it may mean that some who applied will not be able to attend. More when known.
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The 2024 September Fest was highly enjoyable and Cambridge an excellent location and we are looking forward to sending mens teams and ladies teams to this mid-week event in 2025. Format last year was ten year age spreads and I don’t know if this idea will continue or go to back to smaller clusters.
– Date: Tuesday 23th Sept – Thursday 25th Sept
– Venue: University of Cambridge – three astros and one college astro a short drive away.
– Teams: One or more of W60+, M60+ and M70+ Under-age is feasible.
– Opposition: LX, LX regionals, Wales, Holland, Belgium.
– Format: Four 50 mins matches.

Jersey, September, Men
2025-09-05 15:00 - 2025-09-07 14:00
Jersey is a favourite mixed-age social hockey event (fierce on-pitch, high interaction off) which Thistles re-started attending last year. Games Saturday and Sunday with the possiblity of Friday. There is an advised hotel and good social opportunities in the evenings.
Date: Friday 5th to Sunday 7th September. Times shown are suggested only and to be updated.
Venue: Jersey with teams all encouraged to stay together at the Hotel de France in St Helier.
Teams: A broad spread of ages
Opposition: Jersey based team, two LX social teams, possibly Dragons.
Format: Flexible to fit the teams attending.

Euros - M65, M70, M75 Ludwigsburg - withdrawn
2025-08-21 09:00 - 2025-08-30 17:00
With great regret we have had to pull our application for Ludwigsburg for our 65s, 70s and 75s men and we shall not be attending.
Decisions like this are not taken lightly. Dispensations for under-age that we used to ensure attending IGMHF are not given for the Euros. Some players we were expecting to be available for Thistles have been called into National. Some are just not available due to the dates – schools restarting for example.
Contacts were made outwith Thistles but with a decision having to be taken before 23rd May or we lose our large entry fee there was not enough confidence of calling in sufficient guests to go ahead.
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The WMH European Championships are being held in Germany for M65 – M80 for National and Spirit of Masters (i.e. Thistles). This is a selected event and Thistles will send the best squads we can.
– Dates: Thursday 21st to Saturday 30th August. (Note: the training session will probably be Wednesday 20th.)
– Venue: updated to Ludwigsburg, Germany. Event probably also extends to another club a short drive away.
– Teams: Thistles M65, M70 and M75 (also National)
– Opposition: SoM teams from Europe and invited teams from across the world.
– Format: six or seven full FIH rules matches.

Dundee Festival - not this year
2025-08-08 12:00 - 2025-08-10 16:00 | Dalnacraig Pitches, , Dundee.
With great regret we’ve had to decide to forego the immense joys of our Dundee Festival this year. Feedback from teams who would have attended is that with the Euros straddling the Dundee dates * means that at the first registration date they could not commit to sending teams. Rather than drag it out hoping for more attendees the Exec has had to make a sensible decision. (* pitch availability limits the dates that we can hold our event.)
2026: Watch out for the major relaunch with much fanfare of the Mike McInally festival – like the Dundee Festival but so much better…

Euros - Ladies - Nottingham, August
2025-08-08 09:00 - 2025-08-17 17:00 | Nottingham Hockey Centre, University Blvd, Nottingham, NG7 2PS, United Kingdom
The WMH European Championships are being held for Ladies and M55, M60 for National and Spirit of Masters (i.e. Thistles).
– Dates: Friday 8th to Sunday 17th August. (Note: the training session will probably be Thursday 7th.)
– Venue: Nottingham University, Nottingham.
– Teams: Thistles Ladies (also all Ladies and M55, M60 National and SoM)
– Opposition: SoM teams from Europe and invited teams from across the world.
This is a selected event and Thistles will send the best squads we can.

Euros - M55, M60 - Nottingham, August
2025-08-08 09:00 - 2025-08-17 17:00 | Nottingham Hockey Centre, University Blvd, Nottingham, NG7 2PS, United Kingdom
18th May update. The squads are nearly full and registration has been disabled. If you are interested please email fiftiesplus@scottishthistleshockey.org
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The WMH European Championships are being held for Ladies and M55, M60 for National and Spirit of Masters (i.e. Thistles).
– Dates: Friday 8th to Sunday 17th August.
– Venue: Nottingham University, Nottingham.
– Teams: Thistles M55 and M60 (also Ladies and National)
– Opposition: National B and SoM teams from Europe and invited teams from across the world.
This is a selected event and Thistles will send the best squads we can.

Dragons Swansea - confirmed 19/20 July
2025-07-19 10:00 - 2025-07-20 16:00 | University of Swansea, King George V Playing Fields, Swansea, SA2 9AU, United Kingdom
update 29th May: Taken the poll offline. To enquire if still space or to be on standby please email sixtiesplus
update 26th May: Graeme Marshall (Wee Milky) has agreed to take on Event Coordinator. Initial invites have gone out.
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This is a regular Thistles event; great social and very enjoyable on the usual two quality astros at Swansea University Sports Park. This is an “Open” event though a little fairness will be needed if heavily oversubscribed.
– Date: CONFIRMED Saturday 19th July 10am to Sunday 20th July 4pm.
– Venue: Pitches are at King George V Playing Fields SA2 9AU. The Sketty Lane entrance SA2 8QB is for the university building and the large overflow car park.
– Teams: Mixed age and ability teams from across out Sixties Plus age groups with scope for possible under-agers
– Opposition: Dragons (2 or 3), LX (2), Gatfers and other west of England.
– Format: Multiple 50 mins matches.
There is either a dinner on the Saturday evening at the University or a BBQ at the pitch pavilion.
Single room accommodation at the adjacent halls of residence (walking distance to ground but all single rooms) at £TBA + VAT per person per night for Friday and Saturday nights or only Saturday night is available if notified in advance. There are many hotels to choose from in Swansea and the Mumbles area.

IGMHF WGMA Cup - Nottingham - June
2025-06-29 09:00 - 2025-07-06 16:00 | Nottingham Hockey Centre, University Blvd, Nottingham, NG7 2PS, United Kingdom
18th May. Both squads 60s and 70s are full and players informed. If you have any interest please email sixtiesplus to see if space is available.
27th March: With Celtic Cup unexpectedly overlapping the dates the numbers remaining who are not is not involved in National meant we had to take difficult decisions. To ensure the maximum number of Thistles get to play we have pulled the o65s and topped up the o60s with the younger and the o70s with the 68yr olds plus. Sadly a very few have missed out. The poll is now closed but if you are an o60s player or o70s player (68 plus) you are invited to email sixtiesplus to see if space is available.
4th Feb note: Preliminary invites are due to go out shortly so please apply now to add your name.
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“WGMA are inviting all Spirit of Masters teams around the world to a festival tournament which will be hosted by LX England in Nottingham from 29th June-6th July 2025. This will be much in the style of the tournaments held in The Hague 2024 and Barcelona 2022.”
Plan to arrive on Saturday 28th for an afternoon practice session.
Matches start Sunday 29th June from 9am.
Matches finish Sunday 6th July late afternoon.
Location: Nottingham University, Nottingham
Thistles Teams: Ladies team and M60 M65 M70 plus potential of an M75. Note M60 allowed to feature some underage within limits.
This is a selected event and Thistles will send the best squads we can.

Loch Lomond Veterans Festival, Ladies
2025-06-07 10:00 - 17:00
The annual Loch Lomond Veterans Festival is being held in June. For this we are not using the “Apply For” button and to register your interest you should email ladies@scottishthistleshockey.org
– Date: Saturday 7th June (change from first date advertised).
– Venue: Helensborough
– Teams: Ladies
– Opposition: Regional and invitees
– Format: not known

AGM only
2025-05-24 13:00 - 15:00 | High School of Glasgow, 637 Crow Rd, Glasgow, G13 1PL
update 22 May: The AGM is still being held at 4pm as detailed below however due to a lack of numbers (holidays, Valencia, training sessions etc) we have cancelled the open day games before hand.
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Date: Saturday 24th May
Time: games (cancelled). AGM starting at 4pm.
Location: High School of Glasgow water astro – 637 Crow Rd, Glasgow G13 1PL.
Bring: Dark and Whitish shirts to change into at the pitch.
The AGM will follow in the room above the bar of the old pavilion.
Pre-registration using the poll helps and you are welcome to bring along a guest who is interested in Thistles.

Lakes, Cockermouth, 10-11 May, M60-69 and M70
2025-05-10 09:00 - 2025-05-11 13:00
27th Mar note: Poll now closed and if you are still interested please email sixtiesplus and I’ll pass it onto Paul Bateson who is acting as Event Coordinator. He can then advise if there are any remaining spaces.
4th Feb note: Registration is good and a few more players mean we can enter two teams however they would need to know this soon so please apply now.
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To fit in with the LX calendar Lakes is earlier this year. An excellent social weekend in a beautiful surroundings with daytime activities for partners. We usually provide two teams: average age mid 60s and aged in the 70s, though this mix may change.
Saturday 10th May 9am – 3pm. Round robin five teams including Reivers.
Saturday evening is the popular hog roast and ceilidh and they ask for lots of (if not all) Thistles to attend.
Sunday 11th May 9am until lunchtime. One full match for each team .
Venue: Cockermouth, Cumbria
Opposition: North of England LX teams and Rievers

Namur, Belgium - Ladies
2025-04-25 12:00 - 2025-04-27 16:00
Belgium Panthers have established a Ladies event at the same weekend for teams unable to register with ISVT Tilburg. For this we are not using the “Apply For” button and you should email your registration interest to ladies@scottishthistleshockey.org
– Date: 25-27 April
– Venue: Namur HC, Namur, Belgium
– Teams: Ladies
– Opposition: At least Belgium Panthers and LX.
– Format: To be advised.

Tilburg ISVT Holland, 25-27 Apr
2025-04-25 10:00 - 2025-04-27 16:00
4th Feb note: Squads are pretty much complete but email just in case or to be on standby. Sadly M75 remained undersubscribed and has been unregistered.
31st Dec: The poll is closed. Squad selection is in progress and invite emails will be issued early in the new year. M75 is undersubscribed and if you wish to join M75 or be on standby for anyone who pulls out of the other age groups then email sixtiesplus.

The ISVT tournament Tilburg is one of Thistles premier events in the calendar. It has become highly competitive with the countries often using this for final selection of national teams and therefore is a Selected Event. Hugely enjoyable with a great social, Thistles have been regular attenders for many years and our (then) o68 team won the gold medal in 2019.
Date: Friday 25th to Sunday 27th April 2025. It is advisable to arrive Thursday, however it is possible to leave on the Sunday late afternoon.
Venue: Tilburg HC, Holland – seven astros. This is about two hours from Schipol airport.
Thistles Teams: Ladies, M60, M65, M70 and hopefully M75 if numbers allow.
Opposition: Holland and Germany, possibly Belgium and Italy, Wales and Ireland. England send small boats full of teams: Archangels, Angels and our colleagues in LX.
This is a selected event and Thistles will send the best squads we can. There will be no block booking of hotels and the choices from previous years are: The Auberge du Bonheur (expensive but walking distance to pitches), Mercure in Tilburg centre (bus and taxi) and the Ibis on the ring road (car or taxi).

Jacky Murray 7s, Wellingborough, Ladies
2025-04-12 10:00 - 2025-04-13 16:00
The annual Jacky Murray ladies 7s is being held in April. For this we are not using the “Apply For” button and you should email ladies@scottishthistleshockey.org
– Date: 12-13 April
– Venue: Wellingborough
– Teams: Ladies
– Opposition: LX Ladies regional.
– Format: Sevens

Lille - Men 60-75, Open
2025-03-14 10:00 - 2025-03-16 16:00
31st Dec: Closing the online registration but there are spaces still available so email sixtiesplus to apply.

Jacques Levy Tournament, Lille, France. This has been confirmed for the dates shown below. Lille is an Open event and is the first foreign tour of the year. A popular event that we go to with a strong Thistles ethos to play good hockey and enjoy a great social. France will field two teams and all the home nations usually attend along with Germany and Holland. Lately teams have been a little younger and a little more competitive so whilst this is an Open event outwith the core ages of 60-75 will be included if space is available.
Run over three days it is recommended you travel on the Thursday and depart either tea-time Sunday or on the Monday. The event will start either early or at lunchtime on Friday depending on the number of teams. It is played as two leagues with playoffs on the Sunday usually finishing about 3.30. For social reasons the majority stay in the Mercure Hotel at Lille Airport though some stay in Lille town centre. You can reserve your room directly with the hotel via Christine +33 3 20 87 46 04 and indicate that you are players of the Jacques Levy Masters Hockey Tournament of the Luc Ronchin Hockey.
For travel Lille is an hour from Calais by car and can be reached by Eurostar direct from London and direct train from Charles De Gaulle, Paris airport. Be aware that new EU passport rules will apply.
Date: 14-16 March 2025. 10am Friday, all day Saturday, finish 3.30 Sunday.
Location: LUC Rochon Hockey Club, near Lille, France
Thistles Team: Open event ages from M60 upwards, underage possible. One team of mixed ages with the possibility of a second team.
Opposition: France, Holland, Germany, LX, Dragons and Shamrocks.

Wigton M65, M70 - Confirmed Sunday 19 Jan
2025-01-19 13:00 - 16:00 | Wigton Rugby Club, 9 Lowmoor Road, Wigton, CA7 9QR, United Kingdom
The season opener is now confirmed at Wigton, Cumbria on 19th January. An older demographic but if M60 please apply as spaces are available.
Usually the first game is just after lunchtime and both are finished by 4pm. Decent food after is usually offered. Final details will be forthcoming in due course.
Age groups: M65, M70 and room for some underage
Location: Wigton Rugby Club, Cumbria
Date: 19 January 2025
Opposition: LX North

Open Day - Sunday 8th Dec - CANCELLED
2024-12-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Mary Erskine School, Craigleith Rise, Edinburgh, EH4 3NT, United Kingdom
Sadly not got the sign ups necessary to run this. Hopefully more interest in one next year at the end of the league hockey season.

LX SeptemberFest, Cambridge, M + W
2024-09-24 13:00 - 2024-09-26 13:00
Over 60s are in need of at least four stronger players. Over 70s also have a couple of spaces. Email sixtiesplus@scottishthistleshockey.org to register. The format is four matches of 50 mins (2*25 halves) – one Tuesday afternoon, two Wednesday, one Thursday morning
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After the successful event in October LX have announced their festival (games are competitive but it is not a competition) for 2024. To avoid World Cup preparation the dates and location have been booked for:
Date: Tuesday 24th Sept – Thursday 26th Sept
Venue: University of Cambridge.
Teams: W60+. M60-69, M70+
Opposition: LX, LX regionals, Wales, Holland, Belgium.
Format: Four 50 mins matches.

Jersey, probably M65-80
2024-09-06 17:00 - 2024-09-08 15:00
Still spaces available. Email sixtiesplus@scottishthistleshockey.org or contact Paul Bateson who is organising for us.
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Jersey is a favourite social hockey event which Thistles used to regularly attend. Stopped for lockdown it returned last year and Thistles have been invited once more for 2024. Normally in the upper age range (o65 upwards) it may be possible to take some o60s and more details will be provided once we have an idea of interest. Games Saturday and Sunday with the possiblity of Friday. There is an advised hotel and good social opportunities in the evenings.
Date: Friday 6th to Sunday 8th September
Opposition: Jersey based team, two LX social teams, possibly Dragons.

Dragons, Swansea WEEK EARLIER
2024-07-20 10:00 - 2024-07-21 16:00
8th July. Response to the recent emal has helped so the poll is closed however if you are still interested then please email sixtiesplus and I can put your name forward or on the waiting list.
29 Feb: CONFIRMED as 20/21 July – i.e. a week earlier. (Pitch already booked on usual dates.)
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Saturday 20th July 10am to Sunday 21st July 4pm. This is a regular Thistles event; great social and very enjoyable on the two quality astros at Swansea University Sports Park, Sketty Lane, Sketty, Swansea SA2 8QB.
This is an “Open” event though a little fairness will be needed if heavily oversubscribed.
Last year Dragons wanted teams of mixed ages and abilities with no age streaming so open to all our Sixties Plus age groups.
There is either a dinner on the Saturday evening at the University or a BBQ.
Single room accommodation at the adjacent halls of residence (walking distance to ground but all single rooms) at £TBA + VAT per person per night for Friday and Saturday nights or only Saturday night is available if notified in advance. There are many hotels to choose from in Swansea and the Mumbles area.

Duisburg Germany fallen through
2024-07-19 10:00 - 2024-07-21 16:00
Duisburg 2024 for us has fallen through. They had limited spaces and because we were needing to send a mixed age team and this required dispensation (it is a WMH sanctioned event) we were put on standby if space allowed however the organisers have filled the slots available. They are happy for us to apply in 2025 by which time we should hope to be able to send two teams.

Location: Club Raffelberg, Duisburg, Germany. 25 minutes from Dusseldorf airport.
Date: Friday 19th – Sunday 21st July. Probably 10am Friday to 4pm Sunday
Thistles Teams: M70, M65 or mixed age M65 and under.
