Dundee Festival - not this year
2025-08-08 12:00 - 2025-08-10 16:00 (Europe/London) | 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Euros - M65, M70, M75 Ludwigsburg - withdrawn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.
—————-
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.

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.

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.
————-
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.

LX Sept Fest, Cambridge, Ladies
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
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.

Lille - M60-75, Open - Apply for
2026-03-13 10:00 - 2026-03-15 15:30
APPLY FOR: The Jacques Levy Tournament, Lille, France.
Date: Friday 13 to Sunday 15 March. 10am Friday, all day Saturday, finish 3.30 Sunday.
Location: LUC Rochin Hockey Club. 111 Rue Sadi Carnot, 59790 Ronchin, France
Thistles Team: Open event men ages 60-75, underage possible.
Opposition: France (2), Holland, Belgium, Germany, LX, Dragons and Shamrocks.
Lille is the first foreign tour of the year. This is a popular event that we go to with a strong Thistles ethos to play good hockey and enjoy a great social. Lately opposition teams have been a little younger and a little more competitive so this is an Open event with core age group of M60-75, players outwith this 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. Ten teams play 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 at 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.
New Apply For System 2026
By clicking on the Submit button you apply for the event. This does not confirm you a place but informs the Coordinator you are interested in playing. Apply For can be done by various means: this button or by WhatsApp, Email or direct contact with the Coordinator.
The squad will be chosen using the procedures applicable to the event and a subsequent COMMIT TO link will be forwarded. To use this link you need to be a Full Playing Member and registered on the new Membership System.
For more information on the Apply For system click here .
To withdraw please contact the Coordinator, failing which email sixtiesplus@scottishthistleshockey.org

The list shown below is for the convenience of the Coordinator and only shows those who have used this event page button to apply. Other applicants can have used WhatsApp, email and direct contact.
Submissions so farSteve Bilham John Michalik Clifford Martin Carlos Michelsen Peter reid Ian McCreath Mark Stuart-Thompson Graeme Marshall Donald Dunbar Chris Palmer Paul Bateson

Indoor WC Nottingham - M55ish - Apply For
2026-03-26 09:00 - 2026-03-31 17:00
APPLY FOR: International Masters Cup section of the Indoor World Cup, Nottingham.
WMH World Cup is for National teams; Thistles compete for the WMH International Masters Cup (IMC) at the same event.
Date: Thursday 26th March to Tuesday 31st March.
Location: David Ross Sports Village, Beeston Lane, Nottingham, NG7 2RD
Thistles Team: Selected event entered at M55 (assume 50-64 should apply).
Opposition: National B teams from England and Wales; National A teams from across the world including Australia, USA and Guyana (!).
The Thistles coordinator is John Swift (fiftiesplus@scottishthistleshockey.org) and to apply please make direct contact with him.

New Apply For system for 2026. The squad will be chosen using the procedures applicable to the event and a subsequent COMMIT TO link will be forwarded. To use this link you need to be a Full Playing Member and registered on the new Membership System.
For more information on the Apply For system click here .
To withdraw please contact the Coordinator, failing which email sixtiesplus@scottishthistleshockey.org

Tilburg - M60, M65, M70, M75/80 - Apply For
2026-05-01 12:00 - 2026-05-03 15:30
APPLY FOR: International Super Veterans Tournament, Tilburg, Holland
Date: Friday 1 to Sunday 3 May. 12 noon Friday, all day Saturday, finish 3.30 Sunday.
Location: HC Tilburg. Bredaseweg 447, NL-5036 NA Tilburg
Thistles Team: Selected Event for teams at ages M60, M65, M70, M75/80
Opposition: Holland, Germany, Belgium, France, Alliance, Dragons and more. England send small boats full of teams: Archangels, Angels and our colleagues in LX.
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.
This is a selected event and Thistles will send the best squads we can. Hotels often used are: the Auberge du Bonheur (expensive but walking distance), Mercure in Tilburg centre (bus and taxi) and the Ibis on the ring road (car or taxi).
The train system is excellent and has direct (premium price) and same platform changing trains from Schiphol airport to Tilburg.
New Apply For System 2026
Apply For can now be done by various means: this button or by WhatsApp, Email or direct contact with the Coordinator – the Submit button on this page is for all age groups. Apply For does not confirm you a place but informs the Coordinator you are interested in playing.
The squad will be chosen using the procedures applicable to the event and a subsequent COMMIT TO link for your specific age group will be forwarded. To use this link you need to be a Full Playing Member and registered on the new Membership System.
For more information on the Apply For system click here .
To withdraw please contact the Coordinator, failing which email sixtiesplus@scottishthistleshockey.org

The list shown below is for the convenience of the Coordinators and only shows those who have used this event page button to apply. Other applicants can have used WhatsApp, email and direct contact.
Submissions so farRob Campbell Jimmy Shankland Brian De Mattos Iain Lynvh Mark Stuart-Thompson peter klein Graeme Marshall Alan Parker John Smith bill gemmell Donald Dunbar Tim Lorimer Chris Palmer Peter Reid David Lancaster Murdoch Shirreffs Paul Bateson Ian Chitty Paul Brooker Philip Joyce Derek Johnstone Terry Duffy DUNCAN MITCHELL Graham Conkie Colin Wilkie Clifford Martin Neil Ward Carlos Michelsen Chris Breese Philip Bell Garry Hardwick Peter Haines Neil Mackenzie Ian McCreath

Namur - W60 upwards - Apply For
2026-05-01 12:00 - 2026-05-03 16:00
APPLY FOR: Four Nations Women’s Masters Hockey Tournament, Namur, Belgium
Date: Friday 1 to Sunday 3 May. estimate is 12 noon Friday, all day Saturday, finish mid afternoon Sunday.
Location: HC Namur. Montagne d’Hastedon 49, 5002 Namur, Belgium
Thistles Team: Ladies, probably two teams: a younger and a less younger. Underage may be possible.
Opposition: Belgium, LX, Wales
The Namur Festival now has a posh name and has been chosen in place of Tilburg for the close knit atmosphere enjoyed last year.
This is a brief summary of details for the website and will be updated as more becomes known. For other details and to apply for the event please contact Charlotte via WhatsApp or email ladies@scottishthistleshockey.org

New Apply For System 2026
Apply For can now be done by various means: this page (*) or by WhatsApp, Email or direct contact with the Coordinator. Apply For does not confirm you a place but informs the Coordinator you are interested in playing. The squad will be chosen using the procedures applicable to the event.
Subsequently a COMMIT TO link will be forwarded for access to a web page similar to this. For 2026 in order to play in a Thistles event you need to use this link and be a Full Playing Member registered on the new Membership System. This link confirms you accept the financial commitment, the Thistles requirements and any special conditions for the event.
For more information on the Apply For system click here .
To withdraw please contact the Coordinator, failing which email president@scottishthistleshockey.org
(* Normally there will be a Submit button on this page however for convenience all applications should be straight to the Coordinator.)
