Local hockey star Ian Wright is still going strong in his 80s. Photos: Jordan Townrow
Local hockey stalwart Ian Wright continues to show his longevity.
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The Echuca-Moama star represented the nation in the first over-80 world cup competition, held in the Netherlands from August 6-16.
The Australian squad played some additional friendlies, battling in seven matches in total, but its most important three came against the Netherlands, England and Germany in the main tournament.
Although the Aussies started well with a 4-0 win over Germany, defeats to England and the Dutch, both 3-0 saw the side finish third, coming home with a bronze medal.
Wright said that both losses were closer than they appeared from simply reading the scoresheet.
“The score really didn't indicate the number of shots on goal compared to the end result,” he said.
“We had good opportunities that our goal scorers weren't putting in the back of the net, which doesn't help.”
Ian Wright brought home bronze from the over-80 world championship.
Wright was deployed mostly as a wide back, a change from his usual role in midfield, in an attempt to shut down some of the wide threats from the opposition.
“The Dutch team I think they had two guys who had played Olympic standard in their young days and man, they were good, they had good quick skills,” he said.
“(One of them) when I went to right full back when he was playing as a left wing, he never touched the ball.
“But in the other game against us in the other competition, he was playing on the opposite side of the field to me, and he scored one goal which was one of the freakiest goals I've ever seen.
“He was about a foot off the back line, and he roofed it to the back of the net.”
Also still playing domestically with the Echuca Moama River Rats, Wright has no plans of slowing down.
His next tournament in the over-80s will be representing Victoria at the national championships on the Gold Coast.
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