Three Dundee hockey players help Scotland strike gold as Masters World Cup challenge awaits
- Andrew Batchelor
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
Three Dundee hockey players are preparing to represent Scotland on the world stage once again after helping the national Women’s Over-65s side secure a stunning gold medal at the Summer Nations Tournament in Southgate, England.
Joyce Mcartney of Dundee Wanderers Hockey Club, together with Pat Lindsay and Scotland captain Ali MacFarlane of Grove Menzieshill Hockey Club, were part of the Scotland squad that lifted the international title after an impressive tournament against strong opposition.
The victory is the latest success in what has already been a remarkable year for the team. Earlier this year, Scotland also claimed the silver medal at the World Masters Indoor Hockey World Cup in Nottingham, narrowly missing out on gold after facing a formidable German side in the final.
For the Dundee trio, however, the medals represent much more than success on the pitch. They are the reward for months of training, travelling and personal commitment, with every member of the Scotland Masters squad funding their own opportunity to represent their country.
Unlike many elite sports programmes, Masters hockey receives no central funding, meaning players pay their own travel, accommodation, tournament and training costs while continuing to balance everyday life with the demands of competing at the highest international level.
That dedication is something Dundee knows well.
Across the city, a growing number of male and female players aged from 35 through to over 70 proudly represent Scotland in Masters hockey, regularly travelling across Europe to compete against some of the world’s strongest nations. Dundee continues to produce players capable of performing on the international stage, with Joyce, Pat and Ali among the latest to showcase the city’s sporting talent.
Joyce, who was the Scotland goalkeeper throughout the Summer Nations campaign, described the squad’s commitment as being driven simply by the pride of wearing the Scotland shirt.
Their success has also been supported by another Dundee connection. Scotland’s World Indoor Cup campaign was led by head coach Audrey Sime, who is affiliated with Grove Menzieshill Hockey Club, adding yet another local influence to the team’s international achievements.
Now, there is little time to celebrate.
Attention has already turned to the World Masters Hockey World Cup, which takes place between 6 and 16 August in Brasschaat, Belgium, where Scotland will once again test themselves against some of the world’s best.
The Women’s Over-65s side will begin their campaign with group matches against England, the Netherlands, Argentina and the United States, with some matches set to be televised.
Scotland’s fixtures are:
7 August – England v Scotland (3:05pm)
9 August – Scotland v Netherlands (1:15pm)
10 August – Scotland v Argentina (9:20am)
12 August – USA v Scotland (9:50am)
(All times UK.)
With Summer Nations gold already secured and World Indoor silver added earlier this year, confidence within the squad is high as they prepare for another major international challenge.
For Joyce, Pat and Ali, it is another opportunity to proudly represent Dundee, their clubs and Scotland on one of the biggest stages in Masters hockey.
“As you can imagine, we are all committed to playing for Scotland, and hopefully we can bring back a medal from Belgium,” Joyce said.
