England dominant as they reach four of five Masters European Championship Finals
The Federación de Hockey de la Comunidad Valenciana brought the curtain down on the opening stage of the World Masters Hockey European Championship Valencia 2025 this past Sunday, with the next block of matches scheduled for 20–29 June. Over ten thrilling days, the Poliesportiu Verge del Carme-Beteró, Tarongers and La Carrasca venues played host to almost 1 500 participants—players, coaches, umpires, officials, volunteers and support staff—alongside families, friends and fans who flocked to Valencia for this celebration of veteran hockey . The FHCV, as hosts, delivered an event that went far beyond international competition, showcasing social hockey and sports tourism in the region .
Men’s +45 Final: England 2–1 Ireland
Ireland looked to be in control when Simon Hunter rifled home early in the third quarter, sending their supporters into raptures. England, however, answered before the break: Tim Johnson—introduced in the opening quarter—struck from a well-rehearsed penalty corner to draw level. Soon after, captain Titch Hanspal pounced on a loose ball to steer England ahead, giving his side a slender lead as the final quarter dawned.
Ireland threw everything at England thereafter. In the 59th minute, Damon Garwood was shown a green card for a late challenge, forcing England to see out the closing stages with only ten men. Yet their defence held firm. Wave after wave of Irish attacks were repelled until the hooter, and when the dust settled, Johnson’s set-piece expertise and Hanspal’s clinical finish had secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory and the +45 title . Meanwhile, the bronze-medal play-off saw the Netherlands overcome Wales 3–1.
Women’s +45 Final: Ireland 1–0 Germany
In a tense, tightly contested encounter, it took until deep into the third quarter for the deadlock to break. E.J. Walsh pounced on a loose ball inside Germany’s circle and confidently slotted home, sending the Irish bench into raptures. Up to that point, goalkeeper Claire Grills had marshalled her defence superbly, while Maike Nissen in the German goal had produced a series of fine saves.
Just before Walsh’s strike, Annika Kuefer-Weiss collected a green card for a late challenge, leaving Germany down to ten players. Two minutes later, Valena Clasen also saw green for a foul, compounding their numerical disadvantage. Ireland were not immune to punishment—captain Linda Maher picked up a green card early in the fourth quarter—but the Irish backline stood resolute. Despite a late German surge, Ireland held on to claim a 1–0 triumph and lift the +45 crown .
Spirit of Masters Final: England B 6–1 Alliance
In the supplementary “Spirit of Masters” fixture, England B raced into a commanding lead from the first whistle. Dan Bleach opened the scoring within minutes of the match’s start, drilling home to leave Alliance reeling. Barely had that celebration subsided when Chris Page doubled England’s advantage. Midway through the second quarter, Edward Hauck swept home a third, and Bleach claimed his second just after half-time to stretch the lead to 4–0.
Although Danny Harwood and Paul Barker both picked up green cards late in the third quarter, England B’s momentum never faltered. Jon Weait added a fifth just on the quarter-time hooter, and after Alliance’s Parimal Mody pulled one back early in the fourth quarter, Bleach completed his hat-trick to seal a convincing 6–1 victory .
Men’s +50 Final: Netherlands 2–2 England (4–3 shoot-out)
England appeared to have the upper hand when Brad King pounced on a turnover in the first quarter and tucked away the opener. They continued to press, and Matt Clark’s composed finish midway through the second quarter doubled their lead. The Dutch defence had looked stretched, but as half-time approached, the Netherlands began to find their rhythm.
Early in the fourth quarter, Bastiaan Bröring halved the deficit with a composed strike, and then Mark-Jan Kleijsen produced a moment of magic to level the scores and send the match into a shoot-out. Joost Weissink and Maarten Burgers had already collected green cards for late challenges, but neither sanction proved decisive during regular time.
In the shoot-out, England converted their first two attempts, only for the Netherlands to respond. Danny Bell denied the Dutch in the second round, but Kleijsen and Co. levelled again in the third. Both sides then missed their fourth attempts, leaving the tie poised. Into sudden death, England scored followed by a Dutch response; after a pair of misses in the sixth round, England’s seventh attempt was saved, allowing the Netherlands to slot home and clinch a 4–3 shoot-out victory and the +50 crown .
Women’s +50 Final: Netherlands 2–1 England
England struck first in the second quarter when Lynn Wright—introduced early on—calmly slotted home at 25 minutes, giving her side the lead. Moments earlier, Sacha Bal had been shown a green card for a reckless challenge, but England carried that advantage into half-time.
Early in the third quarter, Lianne Blaas Degroot saw green for a late tackle, reducing the Dutch to ten players. Undeterred, they regrouped and fought back in the final quarter. Nienke Lokhorst drew the Netherlands level with a calm finish, and just four minutes later Maaike Schröeder cut inside the English defence to fire home the winner.
England searched desperately for a late equaliser, but goalkeeper Eline van der Veen marshalled her defence superbly to deny every effort. When the hooter sounded, the Netherlands had secured a 2–1 victory and lifted the +50 title .
With the +45 and +50 contests now complete, Valencia looks ahead to hosting the Masters +35 and +40 categories from 20 to 29 June. The Championship is organised by the FHCV with support from the Real Federación Española de Hockey, the Ayuntamiento de Valencia, the Diputación de Valencia, the Generalitat Valenciana and the Fundación Trinidad Alfonso, alongside the Spanish Olympic Committee through the PAC-CV programme, and is sponsored by the Fundació Visit València .
