It was orthopaedics pitted against heart and cancer survivors – with the addition of women’s teams for the first time – when hockey players from all walks of life competed in Perth at the end of last year.
The annual Chest Rad Western Hockey Masters Gala Day was held at Perth Hockey Stadium on December 10.
After its success across the past few years and expansion in 2021, the event was bigger and better than ever, with the combination of the annual Bionic Cup played between knee and hip replacement patients, and the heart versus cancer Survivors Cup, and the OBE Cup for men aged over 80.
There was also an inaugural women’s match – the Nice’n’Kneesy versus Breast Friends Cup – where women with hip and knee replacements came up against cancer and heart survivors.
The results were:
- Chest Rad Inaugural Cup ladies (Nice’n’Kneesy v Breast Friends): 4-2
- Survivors Cup men (Cancer v Heart): 1-2
- Bionic Cup men (Hips v Knees): 3-6
- OBE Cup men (White v Gold): 4-1
Tony Jones was part of the event’s organising team along with Dan Hill, Simon Thompson and Bob Bowyer in 2021, and was back behind the wheel for round two of the successful event.
Having overcome prostate cancer himself, Jones said the event had evolved into a huge success.
Its origins began with the ‘Hips versus Knees’ tournament in 2016, with 15 knee replacement recoverees playing against 15 who had undergone hip replacements.
It was such a success over the years that it turned into a gala day, providing a community for people to come together.
An eagerly-anticipated day for many, survivors are able to join forces for a day of hockey fun, and to celebrate the advancements of modern medicine.
“I think it’s very special,” Mr Jones said.
“Medical science is allowing people to get back into some sport they love and still be competitive and enjoy it. Survivors of key life dramas are able to move on and enjoy sport in their lives, and both genders participated this year.
“Hockey can be played at all ages. We have two teams of over 80-year-olds actively running around and competing in a physical sport.”