HARD KNOX MASTERS SOFTBALL

Hard Knox is a Women's and Men's Softball Club based at the Knox and District Softball Association in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.

Membership is open to all Masters age softballers from across Melbourne and beyond. Hard Knox has recently broadened its membership to encourage softball in younger age group players with the establishment of the Hard Knox Panthers who are playing in the KDSA B Grade Women's competition. .

Hard Knox started its life with the World Masters Games in Brisbane in 1994, and has been active at most of the major Masters Games around Australia since that time, and sent a Men's team to the World Masters Games in Portland, Oregon USA in 1998.

We were the "host" Club at the Melbourne 2002 World Masters Games, Knox venue.

Hard Knox has since participated in the Australian Masters Games in Canberra in 1997, Adelaide in 1999 and Newcastle in 2001, with both Ladies & Men's teams. A Ladies team competed in Adelaide in 2007. Hard Knox has also participated in all Victorian Masters Championships, and players have participated in the Asia-Pacific Games on the Gold Coast from time to time. We have also participated in the ASF Masters games at various venues.

Hard Knox sent both a Women's and a Men's team to the World Masters Games in Edmonton, Canada at the end of July 2005. Teams also included memorable holidays in Canada and the USA before or after the WMG. We met up with teams that played in Melbourne in 2002. It is one of the major pluses for Masters softball - meeting up with teams and players from all over Australia and around the world at tournaments. Well done to the Women's team that came away with a Bronze Medal. Planning is underway for the World Masters Games in Sydney in 2009.

Congratulations to the Hard Knox Women who won a Silver medal in E Grade in a very hard fought game at the Victorian Masters Games in June 2008. Congratulations also to the Hard Knox Men's team that walked away with a Bronze medal in the C Grade competition. Some good hitting and outstanding fielding enabled them to make a good start and hold the lead through the game.

NEW MASTER'S TEAMS BEING ORGANISED

Hard Knox are planning teams for the following Master's events. If you are interested in joining us at any of the events, please contact one of the Committee below.

Asia Pacific Games                                 Gold Coast           1 - 8 November 2008

Australian Masters Games                       Geelong                20 February - 1 March 2009

World Vintage Softball                            Hawaii                19 - 26 April 2009

World Masters Games                            Sydney                10 - 18 October 2009

Victorian Master's Championships            Albury                13 - 15 June 2009

If you wish to contact Hard Knox to find out our latest activities, email:

President: Graeme Young at gm.young@bigpond.net.au

Vice President:  Geoff Balsillie at geoff3137@gmail.com

Secretary: Carolyn Raftis at carolynraftis@gmail.com

Treasurer: Margaret de Jager at teragramdj@gmail.com

General Committee:     Dave Winter, Hank de Jager, Lyn Clark, Maureen Young, Di Kendall, Rob Kendall,

                                         Leigh Mammi, Briony Holman, Sharon Piper, Wayne Reynolds, Paul Fairchild, Steve Dunlop

Hard Knox At Waverley For The 2007 Victorian Masters Championships

Hard Backs at the World Vintage Softball Games - Rotorua NZ March 2007

The New Hard Knox Panthers On The Prowl

Hard Knox Women Have a Blast In Adelaide