BENFLEET’S Jude Hare has her sights set on becoming the oldest hockey player in the world.

Jude may be 71 – and fast approaching 72 – but she is still a valuable member of Thurrock Hockey Club’s third team.

With no sign of easing up and with Jude admitting she “loves the game more than ever”, one or two people have been scouring the record books to find out how close she is to a record.

“I have had a look in the Guinness Book of Records and the record for field hockey is 73 I think, which is definitely within reach.”

Fitness is certainly not a problem for Jude who is also a long-distance runner and recently completed the Amsterdam Marathon.

Her and husband Roger, who are both members of Castle Point Joggers, are aiming to do the London Marathon in 2016 when she would be 73.

“That would be the same year as the hockey record, so that would be something,” she said.

It is the former King John School PE teacher’s fitness that enables her to keep up with the young whipper snappers she plays alongside and against for Thurrock.

“I don’t think there are too many sports where such a diverse age range can play with each other.

“I love playing with the younger ones and a lot of the kids I have played with have gone on to play for the first team which is great to see.

“I do still love playing and Thurrock is such a great club. Winning or losing is not so important to me anymore. It is to our captain Jackie (Simmonds) who hates losing, but we all enjoy it.”

The thirds captain Simmonds will have been in a downcast mood on Saturday night after her and Jude’s side lost 3-0 to Chelmsford.

The team had been boosted by Viv Thomas’ return and Jo Diss ran tirelessly. But it was goalkeeper Eira Booth who performed heroics and won the player of the match award.

The ladies’ first team would have been similarly disappointed as they were thrashed 5-0 by Wapping II, but there was a great result for the second team who beat league leaders Colchester III 2-1.

On the men’s side, the first team were beaten 5-2 by Maldon’s II, but the seconds were celebrating after a 4-2 win over Crostyx III, with Jordan Salmon, Olu Akinwande, Paul Mailey and Jake Lamb on the scoresheet.

The third team were also victors, winning 1-0 at Southend IV.

The decisive goal came in the second half when Callum Harvey's shot was stopped by the keeper but Alex Taylor seized on the rebound and hammered the ball into the net.