You're never too old to win

75-year-old Kevin Connor, 68- year-old Eric Green and 60-yearold Peter Shepherd all represented Australia at the Veterans Hockey World Cup in The Hague in the Netherlands last month.

And like Goulburn’s Glenn Turner, all three are now world champions.

Kevin Connor was part of the Australian over-75s, who defeated England 2-0 in the grandfinal. They were the oldest Australian team to compete in the tournament.

“They called us the grand vintage masters,” Connor chuckled. “But we knew what we were doing. We played a practice match against those young 70s and we beat them.”

Connor, who has been involved with veterans’ hockey for 32 years, 20 as a player, said the over 75s had as many as seven previous Australian representatives, himself included.

But he wasn’t the oldest. That prestigious mantle went to 82- year-old Bob Robertson from Western Australia.

“My hell he played well,” Connor said.

“I’ve never seen an 82-yearold run so fast in my life.”

Peter Shepherd played for the 60s who were also crowned World Champions in their group.

He scored the winning goal in their grand-final match against the Dutch 2-1.

Eric Greens was the 75s team’s manager.

Despite being crowned world champs, it was a moment by chance that was one of the highlights for the old blokes.

“We had a day off where we decided to go sight seeing,” Connor explained.

“Then while in a place called Delft, we ran into the Australian Kookaburras.

“I ended up talking to Glenn and I actually asked him if there was anyone from Goulburn on the team. He said, yeah me!”

Connor shows no signs of stopping. At the end of the month he is headed to Perth for the Nationals to play with the NSW over-70s.

“While the legs keep going, I’ll still keep going,” he said.

Although he admits he had the “odd drink” while on tour, he says he doesn’t smoke and rarely drinks.

And his secret to keeping fit… walking everywhere.