The Tamworth arm of the THS Old Boys (from left) Peter Brown, Sean Hofman, Lawrence Mihell (front), Ross White, Chris Mihell and Ian Moxon are ready for the Pan Pacs in Southport from Friday. Photo: Barry Smith 291012BSC02
TAMWORTH High School Old Boys head to Southport on Friday chasing success at the Pan Pac Masters Games.
With three goalkeepers and 10 field players, they have been training strongly as well as playing in local competitions all around the country in readiness for Friday’s 11am opening game against Cavaliers.
They are playing in the Over 40s, one of five age divisions at the Southport Pool over three days, spokesman Sean Hofman said.
The side was originally formed to play in the World Masters Games three years ago in Sydney.
Unfortunately, Olympians Craig Miller and Nathan Thomas, who played in the Masters Games in Sydney, are unable to make it back this time but the side contains a real national flavour, Hofman said.
“We now are a truly national side with players from Sydney, Tamworth, Perth, Moree, Newcastle and Brisbane making the journey,” he said.
David Varga joins the side from Brisbane and Stuart Dart is flying in from Perth as well.
Ross White, Ian Moxon, Laurie Mihell, Chris Mihell, Peter Brown and Hofman are all still playing in Tamworth while Dart and Varga are two of the former THS players now living elsewhere and will be joined by Andrew Pincham, Geoff Keen, Graham Hill, Paul Edwards and Peter Moore.
“Brownie and Geoff Keen both have letters from Ron Surtees making them honorary Tamworth High students,” Hofman added.
The World Masters Games in Sydney were tough too, Hofman said.
“It was a bit hard against the Russians and Croatia,” he laughed.
“The Pan Pacs will be hard too. I haven’t seen a draw yet so I don’t know what we are up against but we have been training hard and everyone has kept their fitness up.”