Hockey player Claire Hales’ life ambition of representing her country is now fulfilled - and she’s a Masters World Cup winner, too.

Hales was selected for the tournament in Cape Town, South Africa with the England over-50s women’s team and the Halfway resident, who plays club hockey for Sittingbourne, picked up the player-of-the-match award after a win over Argentina in the final.

“I enjoyed it so much,” said the primary school teacher.

“It was so good to play at that level and against such good opposition, the best around the world. It brought out the best in my game and was an amazing experience.

“When I went back into school I was made to feel like a bit of a hero!”

England faced six games over 10 days, beating Ireland 2-0, a Spirit of Masters team made up of South Africans 3-0 and then the South Africans 5-2 before defeating Argentina 3-0 to top the group.

Their semi-final went the distance as opponents Germany equalised in the final minute to take the match to a penalty shuffle. A superb performance from the England keeper led to a 2-0 win and a final against Argentina.

Hales teaches at the Academy of Woodlands in Gillingham and last Monday’s final was streamed live into the classrooms as the school stopped to watch. England won the final 2-0, with their teacher’s defensive performance earning her

the player-of-the-match accolade.

“The kids and the school have been amazing,” said the Year 1 teacher. “The school have been nothing but supportive from the minute I told them. ‘Of course, you must go’ they said. It was good for the kids to have someone to aspire to and that is exactly how it has been since I got back. The kids have written some lovely messages and I have shown them my medal.

“They have said things like ‘you have inspired me to follow my dream, to never give up’, stuff like that. It has obviously taken me a long time but I never gave up. It was a great experience out there and everyone was so friendly, even when we beat them!”

Hales had been suffering with an injury prior to the tournament and had already missed out on the Over-45 Masters World Cup because of the Covid pandemic.

She said: “I had a lot of physio and luckily by the time the competition started I was recovered and able to play.”

She’ll be hoping to keep her place in the squad ahead of some more big tournaments but must qualify from more trials, which start again next month.

The Home Nations event next year is followed by the summer’s European Championship in Nottingham and another World Cup in two years.